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 2026 Summer Youth Programs will Open on march 9, 2026
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Literary STEAM
Literary STEAM will take students on a STEAM voyage through children's literature. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Art activities will come alive through the pages of titles such as Henry's Scissors, Bridge to Terabithia, Sandy's Circus, and more! Join us as we explore the STEAM possibilities found throughout the pages of beloved literature.
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 8 - June 11 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes June 3)
Lunch: All students must bring a 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): Literacy STEAM
Literary STEAM will take students on a STEAM voyage through children's literature. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Art activities will come alive through the pages of favorite nursery rhymes, folktales, and storybooks.
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students. Only 1 session time per week permitted
Dates: June 8 - June 11 (Monday-Thursday)
Time (Select ONLY ONE session): Session A- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM; Session B- 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes June 3)
20 Years of STEAM
Help us celebrate our 20th anniversary with STEAM education at Gulf Coast State College as we bring back favorite activities from over the years. We'll explore activities in environmental science, game design, robotics, Rube Goldberg machines, mood painting and so much more. Come celebrate the last 20 years with us!
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 15 - June 18 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes June 10)
Lunch: All students must bring a 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): 20 Years of STEAM
Help us celebrate our 20th anniversary with STEAM education at Gulf Coast State College as we bring back favorite activities from over the years. We'll explore activities in environmental science, mood painting, building and so much more. Come celebrate the last 20 years with us!
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students.
Dates: June 15 - June 18 (Monday-Thursday)
Time (Select ONLY ONE session): Session A- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM; Session B- 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes June 10)
STEAM Circus
STEAM Circus is sure to Wow! with science activities in physics and motion, anatomy and more; technology light shows and robotic circus performers; engineering practices for tightropes, tent building, and more; art explodes with color and texture. Come join the circus and see why everyone is smiling for STEAM!
IMPORTANT: This camp will have a 7-9 year old class and a 10-12 year old class.
Dates: June 22 - June 25 (Monday-Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Tuition: $149 (registration closes June 17)
Lunch: All students must bring a 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 Circus
STEAM Circus is sure to Wow with STEAM activities in motion, light, sound, color, and more! Come join the circus and see what STEAM is all about!
Students must be potty trained and able to follow directions.
IMPORTANT: This camp is designed for 4 to 6 year old students.
Dates: June 22 - June 25 (Monday-Thursday)
Time (Select ONLY ONE session): Session A- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM; Session B- 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Camp Tuition: $75 (registration closes June 17)
CULINARY CAMP (9-11 year olds)
This four-day summer camp experience will be a hands-on exploration and practice of basic kitchen safety, product identification, and the science of baking and cooking including techniques and a variety of applications. Instructors provide coaching through hands-on exercises in a manner gauged for the curious young cook.
Students must wear closed-toed shoes and t-shirts with sleeves (no tank tops, etc.)
Students must have reached age 9 by May 31, 2026.
Camp Tuition: $200
| 6/8 - 6/11/2026 l 8:30AM - 12:00PM l Charles Hilton Center | Camp Session 1 |
| 6/15 - 6/18/2026 l 8:30AM - 12:00PM l Charles Hilton Center | Camp Session 2 |
STEM CAMP (Incoming 4th-6th graders)
4 STEM stations within a session:
Station 1: Calling all safari guides! Come join our exciting expedition! While on safari, we will learn about animal behavior, keystone species, identifying animal tracks and more! As a safari guide, you will have an opportunity to teach the class about your favorite animals and bring home some amazing models. With all your knowledge of the ecosystem you’ll create food webs and design ecosystems. You and your group will create conservation plans to make sure everyone can enjoy adventures for years to come!
Station 2: Unleash Your Inner Hero through Science and Innovation! Collaborate with fellow campers to complete missions that teach teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. This station will inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence while immersing campers in the wonders of STEM. Kids will leave empowered, equipped with new skills, and ready to face any challenge—just like their favorite superheroes!
Station 3: Ambitious aerospace engineers wanted! Join us as we explore the forces of flight from Earth's own atmosphere all the way to our first Martian colony. We'll explore the forces that keep planes aloft, learn what makes jets go, and design our own Mars lander and mission patches. Get ready to earn your wings!
Station 4: Get ready for a splash-tastic adventure at our marine science STEM station! Dive into the wonders of the ocean as we explore cool creatures, investigate ocean life, and discover how to protect our seawaters. From hands-on experiments to creative ocean crafts, every day is packed with fun, learning, and a love for marine life. Grab your goggles and join us for a fin-tastic journey under the sea!
Date to Close Online Registration: 5 days prior to start date
Eligibility:
Students must be entering grades 4th-6th in the 2026-27 school year to attend. All students must bring a lunch. Transportation is not provided. All of the sessions are the same. Students may only attend 1 Camp Session.
Camp Dates and Times:
| 7/6/2026 - 7/9/2026 (Monday - Thursday) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Camp Session 1 |
| 7/13/2026 - 7/16/2026 (Monday - Thursday) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Camp Session 2 |
Camp Tuition: $100
Location: Panama City Campus | GCSC Language & Literature building, room 38 (Sarzin Lecture Hall)
Lunch: 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. No lunch is provided during camp.
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 an underwater 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 underwater 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 2026-27 school year to attend. All students must bring a lunch. Transportation is not provided. Both sessions are the same. Students may only attend 1 session.
| 7/6/2026 - 7/9/2026 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (Monday - Thursday) | Camp Session 1 |
| 7/13/2026 - 7/16/2026 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (Monday - Thursday) | Camp Session 2 |
Camp Tuition: $100
Location: Panama City Campus | GCSC Charles Hilton Center
Lunch: 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. No lunch is provided during camp.
GCSC Athletic Summer Programs
Point of Contact: Jackson Richert, jrichert@gulfcoast.edu ; 850-872-3831
Girls Volleyball Camp: (ELEMENTARY- Grades 3-5) June 2-3; (MIDDLE SCHOOL- Grades 6-8) June 9-11(9AM-12PM-FULL), June 9-11 (1PM-4PM); (HIGH SCHOOL- Grades 9-10) June 5-6; ALL sessions will be from 9am-12pm; Wellness Building/Gym
Baseball Camp: June 8-10, 2026; 9am-12pm; Baseball Field (7-12 years old)
Softball Camp: June 23-25, 2025; 5pm-8pm; Softball Field (7-12 years old)
Boys Basketball Camp: June 16-18, 2025 OR July 21-23, 2025; 9am-12pm; Wellness Building/Gym (7-14 years old)
Girls Basketball Camp: June 16-18, 2025; 1pm-4pm; Wellness Building/Gym (7th-12th grade)
Camp Tuition: $75 (3-day camps); $50 (2-day camps)
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 by the College. 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.