Camp Physics: It Is Rocket Science

Camp Physics: It Is Rocket Science is a summer day camp at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City for high school students and recent high school graduates who want a hands-on introduction to physics. Over four days, campers survey a wide range of physics topics, from Newtonian mechanics and the physics of weather systems to particle physics, neutrinos, the search for dark matter, and astrophysics. Students tour research laboratories on campus, run their own experiments, and apply what they learn to build and launch their own rockets. The camp closes with a reception on campus for families on the final afternoon. The 2026 session ran Monday through Thursday, June 22 to 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day, with lunch provided. It is a day camp, so overnight lodging is not included, though families can arrange housing on or off campus. The 2026 fee was $350, and South Dakota Mines offers need-based scholarships for fee-based camps.

Open to students entering their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school, as well as recent high school graduates. To enroll, families submit the online registration form and complete the required waivers. Need-based scholarships are available. Registration for 2027 summer camps opens in January 2027.