Youth Programs
Gulf Coast State College offers a wide array of academic enrichment camps and activities for youth in Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties throughout the year. The majority of these activities are offered during the summer, with other activities being offered on selected days throughout the school year.
Camps and activities are designed for youth who are excited about the opportunity to learn, have fun and participate in challenging hands-on activities using the latest technology.
Registration for the 2025 Summer Youth Programs will Open march 10, 2025
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Weathering STEAM
Discover the world of weather through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and art. Students explore the world of meteorology, utilize technology to predict and observe weather patterns, engineer weather tools, and create mini-masterpieces utilizing their knowledge of weather,
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 3 - June 6 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes May 29)
Lunch: Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
Little Bits (4-6 year olds): Weathering STEAM
Discover the world of weather through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and art. Students explore the world of meteorology, utilize technology to predict and observe weather patterns, engineer weather tools, and create mini-masterpieces utilizing their knowledge of weather,
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions. This class will introduce students to the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & More) with age appropriate activities.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students.
Dates: June 3 - June 6 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes May 29)
STEAM in the Animal World
Explore the fascinating world of animals through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and art. Animal biology, marine science, and environmental science are just a few of the discoveries awaiting you this week. In addition to sciences, you will learn how technology, engineering, and art all come together through the world of animals.
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 10 - June 13 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes June 5)
Lunch: Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
Little Bits (4-6 year olds): STEAM in the Animal World
Explore the fascinating world of animals through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and art. Animal biology, marine science, and environmental science are just a few of the discoveries awaiting you this week. In addition to sciences, you will learn how technology, engineering, and art all come together through the world of animals.
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions. This class will introduce students to the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & More) with age appropriate activities.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students.
Dates: June 10 - June 13 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes June 5)
Bon Voyage STEAM
Adventure awaits as students explore the world! Discover the world of travel, different cultures, landscapes, and more through hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and art.
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 17 - June 20 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes June 12)
Lunch: Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
Little Bits (4-6 year olds): Bon Voyage STEAM
Adventure awaits as students explore the world! Discover the world of travel, different cultures, landscapes, and more through hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and art.
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions. This class will introduce students to the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & More) with age appropriate activities.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students.
Dates: June 17 - June 20 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes June 12)
STEM CAMP (Incoming 4th-6th graders)
4 STEM stations within a session:
Station 1: Have you ever wondered how some plants, animals, or other items glow? Let's explore light and color in the Illumination Lab. In this lab, you will engage in a variety of hands-on experiences exploring bioluminescence, chemical reactions, coding with color, and designing your own light display using the engineering design process by incorporating an array of materials that produce light: solar panels, circuits, and glow sticks.
Station 2: Calling all Junior Veterinarians! At Pre-Vet 101, campers will dive into animal care while exploring anatomy through dissections, practicing vet tech skills on stuffed animals, diagnosing common pet ailments, and more! Get ready for a “paw-some” adventure!
Station 3: Take the leap into the fascinating world of forensic science at Science Sleuths! Channel your inner detective and crime scene investigator to uncover what goes on behind the scenes of investigations! We will engage in hands-on activities including fingerprinting, fiber analysis, toolmarks, and more. Join us for an unforgettable experience exploring the intriguing field of forensic science!
Station 4: What do all those squishy things inside your body actually do? What happened to that Pop Tart you ate for breakfast this morning? This year we are going to learn about the functions that keep your body moving and growing by making a life-size model of your digestive system, building a set of lungs and listening to our hearts!
Date to Close Online Registration: 5 days prior to start date
Eligibility:
Students must be entering grades 4th-6th in the 2024-25 school year to attend. All students must bring a lunch. Transportation is not provided. All of the 3 camp sessions are the same. Students may only attend 1 Camp Session.
Camp Dates and Times:
| 6/24/2024 - 6/27/2024 (Monday - Thursday) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Camp Session 1 |
| 7/8/2024 - 7/11/2024 (Monday - Thursday) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Camp Session 2 |
| 7/15/2024 - 7/18/2024 (Monday - Thursday) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Camp Session 3 |
Camp Tuition: $100
Location: Panama City Campus | GCSC Language & Literature building, room 38 (Sarzin Lecture Hall)
Lunch: Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
UVS STEM CAMP (Incoming 7th-10th graders)
Students need the opportunity to apply their STEM education to real-world problems and explore STEM in ways that relate to their own lives and communities. Students will work in teams to design, build, and program a terrestrial unmanned vehicle system (UVS). This will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills in design, CAD, 3D printing, electronics, mathematics, problem-solving, programming, data collection, and UVS. The students will not only learn about the autonomous system but will be provided the opportunity to practice using it in real-world situations. The teams will compete in a challenge on the final day of camp to transform their theoretical knowledge into practical solutions using the terrestrial UVS they built over the course of the camp. Throughout the course of the camp, students will build self-reliance, intelligent risk-taking, technical communication skills, and jump-start their innovative thinking.
Date to Close Online Registration: 5 days prior to start date
Eligibility:
Students must be entering grades 7th-10th in the 2024-25 school year to attend. All students must bring a lunch. Transportation is not provided. Both sessions are the same (same content but during a different week). Students may only attend 1 session.
| 7/8/2024 - 7/11/2024 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (Monday - Thursday) | Camp Session 1 |
| 7/15/2024 - 7/18/2024 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (Monday - Thursday) | Camp Session 2 |
Camp Tuition: $100
Location: Panama City Campus | GCSC Charles Hilton Center
Lunch: Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
GCSC Athletic Summer Programs
Point of Contact: Jackson Richert, jrichert@gulfcoast.edu ; 850-872-3831
(FULL) Girls Volleyball Camp: (MIDDLE SCHOOL) June 10-12, 2024; 9am-12pm; NEW SESSION Added- June 13-14, 2024; 9am-12pm ($50); (HIGH SCHOOL) June 10-12, 2024; 1pm-4pm; Wellness Building (Gymnasium)
Baseball Camp: June 10-12, 2024; 9am-12pm; Baseball Field (7-12 years old)
Softball Camp: June 17-19, 2024; 5pm-8pm; Softball Field (7-12 years old)
Boys Basketball Camp: June 17-19, 2024; 9am-12pm; Wellness Building/Gym (7-14 years old)
Girls Basketball Camp: June 17-19, 2024; 1pm-4pm; Wellness Building/Gym (7th-12th Grade)
Camp Tuition: $75
REFUND POLICY: A full refund will be granted when requested by 4:00 p.m. five workdays prior to the first day of camp. After this date, refunds will not be granted.
Requests for refunds should be made in writing to jrichert@gulfcoast.edu.
Location
All summer camps/activities will be offered at the Panama City Campus of Gulf Coast State College. Please check the specific camp information for the exact location/room number.
Registration
Registration will be through the GCSC website and payment will be made on line by credit card or electronic check. Payment must be made in full at the time of registration.
Camps often fill up quickly and online registration/payment is the quickest and most efficient method to register for the camp you are interested in attending.
A confirmation email will be sent once registration and payment is completed.
Meals/Lunch
Meals will not be provided directly by the College. We have partnered with Little Lunches, if parents would like to purchase lunches directly through them. They will deliver the lunches to campus at our assigned lunch time. Lunches are $5.50 per day through this partnership. If you would like to reserve a lunch for your students please click here.
If you do not reserve a lunch through Little Lunches, students must bring a packed lunch, with the understanding that the ability to keep the lunch cold is extremely limited and, depending on the location of the camp, may not be available at all.
Refunds
A full refund will be granted when requested by 4:00 p.m. five workdays prior to the first day of camp. After this date, refunds will not be granted.
Requests for refunds should be made in writing to kmccurdy2@gulfcoast.edu.
Disability Assistance
Gulf Coast State College campuses are all accessible to students with disabilities. For assistance with registration, or to make an accommodation for participation, please call (850) 872-3814 or email kmccurdy2@gulfcoast.edu at least 10 days prior to the start of camp.
If you have any general questions regarding GCSC Youth Programs, please contact Katie McCurdy at (850) 872-3814 or kmccurdy2@gulfcoast.edu. Questions regarding specific camps should be directed to the contact listed on the registration form.