Winter Break STEM Camps in Portland and Southwest Washington
Two weeks off school. One very happy kid. Journey to STEAM winter camps fill the break with LEGO engineering, robotics and coding, led by instructors we hire with the same standard we use all year: fewer than 10% of applicants make it.
Winter camp dates and locations post here first. Families on the list hear before anyone else.
When is winter break in 2026?
Every Portland-area district we checked is off from Monday, December 21, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027. That includes Portland Public Schools, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, North Clackamas, Tigard-Tualatin, West Linn-Wilsonville, Gresham-Barlow and Evergreen. Beaverton and West Linn-Wilsonville add a staff day on Monday, January 4.
Dates as published by each district, checked September 18, 2026. See every 2026-27 no-school day by district.
What happens at a Journey to STEAM camp?
Kids spend the week building one big idea from the ground up. They design, test, fail forward and try again, in small groups sorted by age. On the last day, families come in and the kids present what they built. Every camp is written by educators in-house and field tested before it ever reaches your child.
Build it
LEGO engineering challenges that start simple and end with a build your kid will want to show everyone.
Code it
Robots that move, race and react, programmed by kids who could not do that on Monday.
Show it
A family showcase on the final day. Proud kid, full camera roll.
Why parents trust us with their kids
- Instructors we would hire for our own kids. Licensed teachers, retired educators and educators in training. Every one is background checked, trained in child protection and emergency response, and observed.
- Small groups by age. Kids are grouped so a 5-year-old and an 11-year-old each get a camp built for them.
- Headcounts at every transition. Authorized adults only at pickup.
- Built by a principal. Dr. Arielle Hammond spent a decade in school leadership, eight years leading schools, before she founded Journey to STEAM in 2023.
Be first when winter camp registration opens
Tell us your city and your child's age. We email you the moment dates and locations are live, before we share them anywhere else. No newsletter. Only the dates.
The sign-up form is right below.
Winter camp questions
What ages are winter camps for?
Ages 4 to 12, grouped by age so every child gets a challenge that fits. Our youngest campers work in smaller groups with more hands-on help.
Where are winter break camps held?
At community partner sites across the Portland metro and Southwest Washington. Locations post here with the dates. Sign up above and you will know first.
How much do winter camps cost?
Prices post with the dates, and the price you see here is exactly the price you see at checkout. Sibling pricing applies at checkout.
Do you have camps on other days school is out?
Yes. See no-school-day camps for teacher in-service days and holidays across the metro.
Can my child do after-school programs too?
Yes. Journey to STEAM runs after-school programs right at schools across the metro, preschool through grade 6. Find your school.