Summer Explorations in Robotics, Programming, Science, and Technology

The application period for 2026 is closed. If you will be a middle school (rising 6th to 8th grade) student in the Fall of 2027 and are interested in attending the 2027 program, please check back in late spring 2027 to apply.

Summer Explorations in Robotics, Programming, Science, and Technology

Middle school is a critical time for students to explore and develop potential interest in STEMM. This program at Wright Lab, begun in 2024, engages a cohort of up to 12 middle school students from the New Haven area in exploring science and technology, together across a range of disciplines. Participants engage with programming and robotics through hands-on projects and group-led exploration.

group of students sitting at a table with boxes in front of them listening to instructor who is standing holding a robot.

July 27-31, 2026

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Yale Wright Laboratory, 272 Whitney Ave., New Haven

What to bring and other logistics

  • Participants should bring a packed lunch and a water bottle, both labeled with the participant’s name. We strongly recommend you bring food that does not need to be refrigerated.
  • The program will provide all program materials, as well as snacks for the morning and afternoon.
  • Drop off and pick up:  The drop off window will be from 8:40 a.m.-8:55 a.m.. Please try to get there during this window so we can start on time.  Pick up will be at 5:00 p.m.
    • With construction going on all around the lab, we will have a program representative available to meet participants at our rear entrance at drop off and will also bring them outside the same door for pick up. 
    • You should be able to drop off and pick up your student by the door, but parking is not available at this time.  Please plan accordingly. 
    • Directions have been emailed to program participants.
  • Participants will be given a camp T-shirt on Monday. Please have your students wear the T-shirt at least on Tuesday and Thursday for the tours of the museum and CEID. They are also welcome and encouraged to wear the shirt on the other days if possible.
  • Participants will not be allowed to use their own phones or other electronic devices during program hours. Please consider leaving phones and electronic devices at home. If phones / devices are brought to the program, these devices must be turned off or silenced and stored entirely out of sight during the program hours.
Six students from Eplorations program in front of dinosaur bones at Yale Peabody Museum.

Enrichment activities

Sample Schedule

Yale Wright Laboratory/Victoria Misenti

8:40-8:55 a.m. Drop off students at WL front entrance

9:00 a.m. Program activities

12:00 p.m. Lunch break, outside activity (weather permitting)

1:00 p.m. Program activities

3.45 p.m. Enrichment activity

5:00 p.m. End; pick up students at WL front entrance.

Three students drawing on large pieces of paper laid out on the floor.

People

Instructor

Lynn Connelly

A science teacher from Hopkins School who teaches physics and robotics and advises the Hopkins robotics team.

Headshot of Lynn Connelly

Faculty Advisors

Program Administrative Support

Technical Advisor

Paul Noel

Yale Physics Technology Services Specialist and Instructional Tech

paul.noel@yale.edu

Headshot of Paul Noel.

Student Assistants

Program Sponsors

Sponsored by the Yale Department of Physics, the Michele Dufault Endowment for Yale Women in Science, the Yale Wright Laboratory, and Yale University