STEM Initative FAQ
• What is the STEM Initiative Summer Camp?
The STEM Initiative is a free STEM enrichment program for incoming middle school students (grades 6–8). Students explore science, engineering, and technology through hands-on experiments, collaborative projects, and real-world problem solving.
The program is organized and sponsored by Olive Children Foundation as part of our commitment to expanding access to high-quality STEM education for middle school students.
• Is the STEM Initiative camp really free?
Yes — the STEM Initiative Camp is a free program. To support essential program costs, we do request $50 registration fee and $20 camp T-shirt. These fees are not tuition, the instruction, curriculum, and daily program are fully free for all accepted students. We absolutely don’t want cost to be a barrier for families who truly need support. If there are families from the community who may need assistance, we are happy to work with them directly and confidentially on a case-by-case basis.
• Who can apply for the STEM Initiative?
The program is open to students entering grades 6–8 in the upcoming school year.
Students from public, charter, private, and homeschool programs are welcome to apply.
• Where is the STEM Initiative camp located?
The program is offered at two East Bay locations:
Fremont Campus (43475 Ellsworth St, Fremont, CA 94539 (Berkeley Academy))
June 8 – June 18; Jul 20 - 31, 2026
Hayward Campus (157 Smalley Ave.,Hayward, CA 94541 (Chinese Church for Christ)
June 22 – July 17, 2026
• What cities does the program serve?
The STEM Initiative serves students from the East Bay, including:
• Fremont
• Newark
• Union City
• Hayward
• San Leandro
• Castro Valley
• San Lorenzo
• What are the camp hours?
Typical camp hours are:
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Students participate in team activities, STEM labs, and design challenges throughout the day.
• What will students learn during the camp?
Students explore topics such as:
• Chemistry experiments
• Engineering design challenges
• Clean energy and sustainability
• Materials science
• Innovation and problem solving
All activities focus on hands-on learning and critical thinking.
• What does a typical camp day look like?
Morning (9:00 – 11:30)
Team building and core STEM projects
Lunch (11:30 – 12:30)
Afternoon (12:30 – 3:00)
Design challenges, experiments, and collaborative projects.
• Do students work on projects?
Yes. Students participate in hands-on projects and design challenges, often working in small teams to build, test, and improve their ideas.
• Are there field trips?
Each session may include STEM-related field visits, such as university labs, research centers, or science museums. These experiences help students see how STEM is used in the real world.
• Who teaches the program?
The program may include:
• Experienced educators
• STEM instructors
• University students
• Researchers and guest speakers
Our goal is to provide students with inspiring mentors and role models in STEM fields.
• How many students are accepted?
Enrollment is limited to maintain:
• Small group learning
• Hands-on lab activities
• Individual support from instructors
Applications are reviewed until spaces are filled.
• How do students apply?
Families can apply through the online registration form.
Selected students will receive confirmation and additional program details.
• Is transportation provided?
Families are typically responsible for daily drop-off and pick-up.
Transportation may be arranged for some field trips depending on the activity.
• How can families or organizations support the STEM Initiative?
Community members can support the program through:
• Sponsorship
• Volunteer mentoring
• Guest speaking
• STEM equipment donations
Support helps expand access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities for local students.