West Philly Middle Schoolers! Join Drexel’s ExCITe Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities this summer! The Young Dragons 2023 Summer STEAM Camps feature programs on Hip Hop Making, building your own PC, introductory coding, and more!

Young Dragons is a series of one-week in-person summer camps at no cost for middle school students, particularly those from the West Philadelphia Promise Zone. Each one-week camp is distinct (activities do not overlap), and students should register for the camp(s) that best fit their interests. A separate registration is required for each camp. Registered students are expected to attend all days of a camp, weekdays (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM) at Drexel's ExCITe Center. Snacks and lunch will be provided daily. The program will be following all Drexel public health policies as it relates to COVID-19.

Participants should be rising 6th-8th graders. Preferential admission is granted to students living or attending school in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone, an area served by the following middle schools: Alain Locke Elementary, Morton McMichael School, Martha Washington Elementary, Science Leadership Academy Middle School, and Belmont Charter School. The West Philadelphia Promise Zone is part of the 19104 zip code. For reference, the West Philadelphia Promise Zone is indicated on this map.

Space is limited and you must register for individual weeks! Applications close on Friday, June 2nd.

Questions: Email YoungDragons@drexel.edu

About the Program

The Young Dragons program is a summer camp offered by the ExCITe Center at Drexel University. Since launching the Young Dragons partnership in 2016, we have been providing innovative science, technology, engineering, arts/athletics, and mathematics (STEAM) activities to middle school students living in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone. Throughout the program, we incorporate the scientific method, the engineering process, and arts & design to facilitate the development of agency and strengthening of creativity and self-expression. 

Past Activities

Young Dragons ran virtually during the summers of 2020 and 2021. Check out the sidebar for virtual activities from these years. The virtual activities from 2020 are not structured and can be done on your own time!

Program Partners