The School of Professional & Continuing Education Youth Programs and the John C. Wells Planetarium will host three, week-long science based summer camps open to elementary, middle, and high school students!

Using JMU’s unique facilities, camp-goers will get to explore different areas of science, including biology, earth science, chemistry, forensic science, physics and astronomy, and more!

Our Science Explorers Camps provide hands-on learning opportunities to 1st through 12th grade students. We seek to grow leaders and problem solvers of tomorrow by building knowledge and curiosity today! 

All teachers and students working with the campers will go through a teacher training program so that they are ready to help your children actively engage in learning! We will post more information about the schedule as it is available. 

Jeff Storey currently serves as the Planetarium Manager at the John C. Wells Planetarium.  A lover of all facets of science from a young age, Jeff graduated from JMU with an Independent Scholars Bachelors of Science. He was a member of the original Space Explorers Camp counselor staff in 2013, and worked as a counseor for 4 more years after that (before it became Science Explorers Camp). Having served as a Virginia State Parks ranger and presented over 800 planetarium shows to groups of all ages, Jeff has a passion for informal science education that fosters success in the classroom and sparks lifelong curiosity. He is excited to make the 2026 Science Explorers Camp one to remember!

Gretchen is currently a Mathematics educator in Rockingham County. She graduated from JMU in 2019 with a Master’s in Teaching with a specific concentration in Middle School Mathematics and Science. She worked at the JMU Planetarium in her Undergraduate years, as well as served as the GA for the planetarium for her year of Graduate School. During that time, she was a camp counselor for Space Explorers Camp (now Science Explorers Camp). She couldn’t stay away and is back at the planetarium on weekends giving public shows. As a lover of hands-on learning, she’s really looking forward to being a part of the JMU Science Explorers Camp again in 2026!