STEPS Camp was developed as an intervention to middle school students abandoning STEM classes in school.  Our funding for STEPS requires us to focus on a specific demographic of students: middle school age.  Priority will be given to rising 7th and 8th graders. 

The lottery format for camper selection was adopted to encourage diversity in the camp roster.  As long as the camper meets the age and grade requirements and is endorsed by an adult, they can apply.  

The registration fee for STEPS Camp is $150. This fee will not be issued until campers are selected through the lottery. When campers are selected in the lottery, they will be given a deadline to pay the registration fee before another camper is selected from the waitlist. 

Please note we have scholarships available for campers who need financial assistance. Please email Kenzie Meyer (STEPS Camp Director) at [email protected] for more information regarding scholarships.   

None!  The registration fee covers all curriculum materials, including an airplane glider, two camp t-shirts, daily lunch, two daily snacks, a water bottle, a backpack, a notebook, writing materials, and all activity fees.  

THIS CAMP HAPPENS ON THE DOWNTOWN CITY CAMPUS IN GRAND RAPIDS.

Monday:  7:30-8:00 a.m. registration & 3:30 p.m. pick-up on City Campus

Tuesday & Wednesday:  7:45-8:00 a.m. drop-off & 3:30 p.m. pick-up on City Campus

Thursday:  7:45-8:00 a.m. drop-off on City Campus.  7:45-8:00 p.m. pick-up at Warped Wings Fly Field in Allendale (5717 Alger St., Allendale Charter Township, MI 49401). Parents and family members are invited to join us for our Fly Night celebration at 5:00 p.m.  Campers will arrive to the Fly Field in Allendale via school bus by 5:00 p.m. There will be a pizza dinner and graduation ceremony, and then campers will fly their planes. Campers will be released to their parents after they have completed their airplane flight.

Fly Night is our graduation ceremony for STEPS, which happens on Thursday evening.  Immediate family members are invited to attend our Fly Night ceremonies at the Warped Wings Fly Field in Allendale.  We start with a light dinner, a brief presentation, graduation ceremony, and then the campers get to fly their planes!  After the campers fly their planes, our staff will convert their plane into an unpowered glider so that it can be taken home.  The Warped Wings Fly Field is actually a manicured hay field out in Allendale.  We encourage families to bring folding chairs, sun block, sun glasses, hats, and bug spray.  We also tell the campers to pack an extra layer in case it gets chilly.  

Our schedule is very busy.  A major component of STEPS Camp is each camper building their own radio-controlled airplane.  We dedicate two half days to airplane construction.  The campers also have enrichment classes in aerodynamics, renewable energy, biomedical engineering, impromptu design, computer-aided drafting & 3D printing, Arduino, flight simulator, and leadership training.  The camp also goes on field trips to a corporate hangar, a STEM charter high school, an executive airstrip, and aerospace company featuring some GVSU engineering grads!  Bussing is provided for all field trips.  

Camp will be organized into smaller teams so that the kids have more access to volunteers, equipment, tools, and toys!  The teams are created so that campers have an opportunity to meet some new people and stretch their engineering-legs.  We encourage active listening and open communication with all our new team friends.  

A morning snack and afternoon snack will be provided each day for the campers.  Snacks are purchased to accommodate any/all dietary restrictions that our campers have.  We are usually 100% peanut and tree-nut free.  A buffet lunch is also provided each day for the campers and staff.  In the past lunches have been taco bar, pasta bar, breakfast bar, and a sandwich boxed lunch.  There are meat-free and gluten-free options available.  There are salads and fruit available at every lunch.  

Our drop-off and pick-up procedures for 2026 STEPS Camp are as follows:

Monday Parking and Check-In
On the first day of camp (Monday, June 15 or Monday, June 22), all parents/guardians should park in the Seward Parking Ramp, located at 520 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. After parking, please walk your camper to the Shape Corp. Innovation Design Center, where our camp staff will be available at a check-in table located outside of the Starbucks area at 227 Winter Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. We will provide a QR code that you can scan to validate your parking.

Daily Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Unless otherwise noted, all daily drop-offs and pick-ups will take place at the Innovation Design Center near Starbucks.

To help traffic flow smoothly and ensure campers arrive on time, we ask that families arrive 10–15 minutes before the scheduled start and end times. Camp staff will be available to assist campers during these transition periods.

Camp Schedule
Monday
Drop-Off: 7:30–8:00 a.m. Park in the Seward Parking Ramp and walk your camper to the IDC check-in location.
Pick-Up: 3:15–3:30 p.m. Pick up at the IDC near Starbucks.

Tuesday and Wednesday
Drop-Off: 7:45–8:00 a.m. Drop-off at the IDC near Starbucks.
Pick-Up: 3:15–3:30 p.m. Pick up at the IDC near Starbucks.

Thursday
Drop-Off: 9:45–10:00 a.m. Please note the later drop-off time. Drop-off at the IDC near Starbucks.
Evening Pick-Up: 7:45–8:00 p.m. Campers must be picked up at the Warped Wings Fly Field. Address: 5717 Alger St., Allendale Charter Township, MI 49401.

Important: Campers will be transported to the evening activity at Warped Wings Fly Field by bus; however, transportation will not be provided back to GVSU Grand Rapids campus after the event. Parents/guardians are responsible for picking up their camper directly from Warped Wings Fly Field between 7:45 and 8:00 p.m. 

Some of the STEPS activities do happen outside, so our staff watches the radar and weather reporting closely.  We have back-up activities planned if the weather does not allow us to follow our normal schedule.  In the past, back-up activities have included bowling, movies, and roller skating.  In the event that we have to go to a back-up plan, someone from the staff will e-mail the parents to let them know of the changes.  

STEPS contracts Allendale Public Schools for all field trip transportation.  The entire group rides together in a big yellow school bus to all our activities.  

STEPS Camp activities are led by the Director, Assistant Director, Lead Technician, Student Technician, and counselors.  The camp counselors are all GVSU students pursuing a degree in a STEM, Education, or Social Work field.  The camp also uses about 100 volunteers. Volunteers are GVSU faculty and staff, corporate volunteers, engineering students, and members from our partner organization, Warped Wings R/C Club.  GVSU enforces strict protocols for all volunteers working with the University.  

Yes! A new Camper Handbook is published each year with updated information and is emailed to parents prior to the start of camp.