Join us for summer at CSU Spur!
CSU Spur programs are designed to meet the interests of young learners, ages 5-18. Whether your student is interested in science, animals, or the arts, CSU Spur offers rotating program opportunities that combine grade-level learning with hands-on fun!
Scholarships are available for all programs. Priority will be given to students from the 80216 zip code.
Learn more about K-12 summer program offerings at CSU Fort Collins.
2024 summer programs at CSU Spur
CSU YOUTH SPORT CAMPS
Ages 5-12 | Weekly (No camp the week of July 1)
Originally based out of Fort Collins, the CSU Youth Sport Camps is now offered at CSU Spur in Denver! YSC aims to promote health in children while encouraging them to have fun. Programs run Monday-Friday, and kids ages 5-12 can participate in a range of activities including various sports, learning about animals, where our food comes from, and water in our environment. Campers will also have the opportunity to take a field trip up to Fort Collins for a day! This summer program is offered weekly June 10-August 16 at the Johnson Recreation Center and CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is FREE; priority is given to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code.
Center Stage Youth Art Camp
Ages 8-13 | June 24-28
CSU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance offers a one-week summer day camp (Monday-Friday) for elementary school students ages 8-13. Over the course of the week, students will be introduced to the foundations of theatre by CSU faculty members, CSU Theatre and Dance students, and invited guest artists. Students will act, sing, and dance all week, and at the end of the week parents, friends, and the community will be invited to watch them showcase their talents and celebrate their achievements. The cost is $375 per student. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available; priority is given to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code.
Pollinator to Plate
Ages 10-12 | July 29-August 2
Butterfly Pavilion is coming to CSU Spur! In this week-long program, join the education team from Butterfly Pavilion and embark on a flavorful journey to discover the vital role of pollinators in our food system. From beekeeping to gardening, this immersive experience will transform the way you see and savor your meals. This summer program is for ages 10-12 and is offered July 29-August 2 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $305 per participant; scholarships are available, and priority is given to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code.
River Quest
Ages 10-12 | August 5-9
Butterfly Pavilion is coming to CSU Spur! In this week-long program, join the education team from Butterfly Pavilion and become a junior scientist! Participants will unravel the mysteries of freshwater ecosystems while fostering a deep appreciation for all the life in the water around us. This summer program is for ages 10-12 and is offered August 5-9 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $305 per participant; scholarships are available, and priority is given to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code.
Engineering Your World (middle school)
Ages 12-14 | July 15-19
CSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering will host a week-long (Monday-Friday) STEM summer program offering fun and engaging activities designed to simulate a collaborative laboratory environment. This program is for ages 12-14, or rising 7th-9th graders. Students will engage in hands-on projects exploring the fields of mechanical, civil, electrical, chemical, and biological engineering. In past programs, students have designed, constructed, and tested spaghetti bridges, prosthetic legs, and a Mars lander egg drop. This summer program is offered July 15-19 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $500 per participant, and scholarships are available. Download the flyer.
El Sistema Colorado’s Summer String Festival
Ages 12-18 | July 22-31
In this FREE 10-day symphonic extravaganza, string musicians ages 12-18 will explore topics like leadership, equity, social awareness, identity, and more – all through the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. Students will explore their music passion through orchestra rehearsals, instrument-based yoga and wellness sessions, electives like music history and improvisation, and conducting masterclasses. The festival will feature daily performances from El Sistema Colorado‘s faculty and BIPOC guest artists. This is an intermediate/advanced week-long day camp experience – musicians must be capable of performing Grade 2 orchestra music and above. No audition is necessary, but a reference from a music teacher/mentor is required on the application. Cost is FREE; priority is given to applicants from “low” and “very low” socioeconomic backgrounds as defined by the state and federal income guidelines and to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code.
Venture Validator Summer Program
Ages 12-18 | June 10-14
The Venture Validator Summer Camp is a week-long program hosted by the CSU College of Business Institute for Entrepreneurship and is designed for ages 12-18, or rising 7th-12th grade students, to explore what it takes to become an entrepreneur. Throughout the program, students will delve into real-world challenges they’ve personally identified. They will learn entrepreneurship and design thinking tools to develop a business idea to tackle these challenges head-on. The program culminates with students presenting their ideas to a panel, honing their pitching abilities! This summer program is offered June 10-14 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $75 per participant; scholarships for students who live in or attend school in the 80216 zip code are available. Download the flyer.
Drone Aviation Summer Program
Ages 14-18 | June 24-28, July 8-12, or July 29-August 2
CSU and the CSU Drone Center, in collaboration with CSU Spur and the Colorado Air & Space Port, are hosting a summer program for Denver high school students and instructors! Spend five days at the CSU Spur campus, and attend the immersive CSU Drone Flight School, where you’ll learn to fly many types of uncrewed aircraft and gain the knowledge and experience necessary to pass the FAA Part 107 exam and be certified as a remote pilot! Curriculum includes classroom instruction, actual hands-on flight time, engaging lectures and breakout sessions, and real-world mission-planning scenarios with our UAV aircraft! Cost is FREE; priority is given to students who live or go to school in the 80216 zip code. Download the flyer.
Musical Theatre Summer Workshop
Ages 14-18 | June 24-29
CSU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance offers a six-day workshop (Monday-Saturday) studying musical theatre for ages 14-18. This intensive program is an opportunity to study Musical Theatre with the award-winning faculty of CSU’s Musical Theatre program: Broadway performers Noah Racey (Curtains, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Patty Goble, (Curtains, Ragtime), have performed in 11+ Broadway shows and have 50 years’ professional experience between them. Students will work on college audition material, bring song interpretation skills to a new level, and study movement from one of Broadway’s top song and dance performers. This summer workshop is offered June 24-29 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $540 per participant; scholarships are available.
Designing Your World (high school)
Ages 14-18 | July 22-26
CSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering will host a week-long (Monday-Friday) STEM summer program offering fun and engaging activities designed to simulate a collaborative laboratory environment. This week-long session is for ages 14-18, or rising 10th-12th graders. Students will work on projects chosen to simulate real-world, entrepreneurial, engineering problems. Students will be tasked with identifying a problem and then design, build, test, iterate, and demonstrate a solution. In past programs, students have created autonomous model cars and remote controlled submarines! This summer program is offered July 22-26 at CSU Spur in Denver. Cost is $500 per participant, and scholarships are available. Download the flyer.
IDEA 110: Design Your Life with Social Impact
Open to incoming high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates | June 10-July 3
CSU’s Nancy Richardson Design Center is offering a three-credit college course (AUCC 3C | GT-SS3) for high school students that will encourage students to reflect on their own interests and viewpoints to design a personalized approach toward building fulfilling life experiences. Students will explore best practices for building self-awareness, being open to diverse perspectives, gaining confidence to reframe problems as opportunities, and developing a “whole human” life view. Registration opens March 19 through CSU Online. Scholarship applications are now open; apply today! Students who enroll in the course we will offered free registration to the Venture Validator Camp.
ENcourage Engineering Math Summer Program
Open to incoming CSU engineering students | July 8-12
CSU’s Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering is offering a week-long intensive summer camp for incoming CSU engineering students aimed at improving math skills and positioning students for success. Students will learn and review algebra, trigonometry, and logarithmic and exponential functions to help them prepare for calculus their first year of the program. This program is FREE to incoming CSU Engineering students and will be held at the CSU Spur campus in Denver.
Questions? For more information, please email csuspureducation@colostate.edu.
Hours
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
2nd Saturday of every month: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (closed all other Saturdays)
Closed Sundays
Location
4777 National Western Dr.,
Denver, CO 80216
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All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Equal Opportunity Statement
JOCELYN HITTLE
Associate Vice Chancellor for CSU Spur & Special Projects, CSU System
Jocelyn Hittle is primarily focused on helping to create the CSU System’s new Spur campus at the National Western Center, and on supporting campus sustainability goals across CSU’s campuses. She sits on the Denver Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Council, on the Advisory Committee for the Coors Western Art Show, and is a technical advisor for the AASHE STARS program.
Prior to joining CSU, Jocelyn was the Associate Director of PlaceMatters, a national urban planning think tank, and worked for the Orton Family Foundation. She has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton, and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Jocelyn grew up in Colorado and spends her free time in the mountains or exploring Denver.
TONY FRANK
Chancellor, CSU System
Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.
Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.
Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.
We’ll see you Saturday!
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (April 13)! The theme is the Big Bloom.
Hope to see you there!