# Nordic Science / Maker / Robotics Camps 2026-2027

Research compiled 2026-05-26 for an 11-year-old (turns 12 in October 2026), fluent Norwegian + English, into science, invention, robotics, programming, games. Bias: **physical / hands-on** over screen-only coding.

- **Primary target window:** Summer 2027 (June-August)
- **Secondary target window:** Høstferie week 40 2026 (Sep 28 - Oct 4, 2026)

Verdicts use: **Strong fit** / **Worth applying** / **Weak fit** / **Too young / wait** / **Year-round (not a camp)**.

---

## NORWAY

### 1. Forskerfabrikken Sommerskole
- **URL:** https://www.forskerfabrikken.no/kurs/for-barn/sommerskole/
- **Org:** Forskerfabrikken (national private nonprofit, "Norway's best summer school" branding)
- **Ages:** Course "Vår magiske planet" for 4.-6. trinn (≈ ages 9-12). He fits in 2026 (still 6th grade); in summer 2027 he will likely have aged out of the 4-6 track. They may have a 7th-grade-plus track by 2027 — check.
- **Format:** Day camp, 5 days Mon-Fri, 09:00-15:00, no overnight, bring own food.
- **Topic:** Hands-on, screen-free — solar cookers, solar cars, electric machines, code-breaking, math through play. Strong physical/hands-on profile.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** Not listed publicly; historically ~3,500-4,500 NOK/week (subsidized in some municipalities — Bergen runs it free as "Forskerfabrikkens sommerskole 2026" through Bergen kommune).
- **Weeks 2026:** 26, 27, 31, 32, 33 (Jun 22 - Aug 14, 2026). Likely similar pattern in 2027.
- **Signup:** Opens early March (was March 5, 2026, 09:00). Many courses fill that day — set a calendar reminder for **early March 2027**.
- **Locations:** Nationwide — all Norwegian counties; check Hamar / Innlandet listings specifically.
- **Verdict for 2026:** **Strong fit** if a Hamar-area course exists this summer; he's at the top of the age range.
- **Verdict for 2027:** **Weak fit / probably aged out** unless they add a 7th-grade track.

### 2. SommerViten (VilVite Bergen)
- **URL:** https://www.vilvite.no/kurs-for-barn-og-unge/sommerviten
- **Org:** VilVite Bergen Science Centre, run on behalf of Bergen kommune.
- **Ages:** 6.-7. trinn version exists; separate 7.-10. trinn version. He fits both depending on year.
- **Format:** Day camp, 2 days, 09:30-14:00.
- **Topic:** Chemistry, physics, biology, technology experiments — hands-on.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** Free (Bergen-funded)
- **Dates:** Late June / early July (weeks 26-27).
- **Signup deadline:** Around June 1.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit** for content, but only if you're in Bergen — requires travel/lodging from Hamar. Worth combining with a Bergen family trip.

### 3. INSPIRIA Sommerlab (Sarpsborg)
- **URL:** https://www.inspiria.no/besok/hva-skjer-pa-inspiria/sommerskole/
- **Org:** INSPIRIA science center, partly Bufdir-funded
- **Ages:** 5.-7. trinn ("starting 5th-7th grade in autumn") — perfect fit.
- **Format:** Day camp, 5 days. Runs week 25 and week 32.
- **Topic:** Forskerkurs — hands-on experiments.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** Free (Bufdir-funded for residents aged 9-16; check whether non-residents pay).
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit** but Sarpsborg requires travel from Hamar (~2h drive). Good if combined with Oslo-area trip.

### 4. Eksperimentklubben — Nordnorsk Vitensenter (Tromsø / Alta)
- **URL:** https://nordnorsk.vitensenter.no/eksperimentklubb
- **Org:** Nordnorsk vitensenter
- **Ages:** 4.-7. trinn (starting in autumn). He fits.
- **Format:** Day camp, 5 days Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00. Tromsø students may stay 14:00-16:00 to explore the centre on their own.
- **Weeks 2026:** Week 26 and week 33.
- **Topic:** Researcher-style hands-on experiments; theme rotates yearly.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** 1,950 NOK paid on arrival day 1.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit** but logistics — only sensible if you combine with a North-Norway trip / family visit.

### 5. Science Camp Trondheim
- **URL:** https://sites.google.com/skole.trondheim.kommune.no/sciencecamp/hjem
- **Org:** Trondheim kommune + NTNU + Vitensenteret i Trondheim + Rockheim + more.
- **Ages:** Students born 2010-2015. He's 2014 → fits **perfectly**.
- **Format:** 4 days, June 24-27, 2026 (similar pattern expected 2027). Day camp, multi-venue.
- **Topic:** Vinyl cutting, 3D drawing, programming, AI, **robotics**, freediving, art, **mathematics**, taste workshops, model building, laser cutting. Genuinely diverse hands-on.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** **Free**
- **Signup:** Opens May 10, 2026 at 18:00. Likely early-May 2027 for next year.
- **Caveat:** Primarily aimed at **Trondheim kommune** students — confirm whether out-of-kommune kids can register. Worth a phone call to confirm.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit on content** (closest match to "physical + hands-on + math + robotics"). **Worth applying** if eligibility allows; combine with a Trondheim trip.

### 6. Sommerskolen Oslo
- **URL:** https://sommerskolenoslo.no/ — https://kurs.sommerskolenoslo.no/kurstilbud/
- **Org:** Oslo kommune
- **Ages:** Grades 1-10 — fits.
- **Format:** Day camp, 5 days, weeks 26-27 (first two weeks of summer break).
- **Topic:** 78 different courses including STEM, technology, game development (Scratch / Roblox / Fortnite Unreal Editor). Lots of options, but heavily code/laptop-leaning rather than physical making.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** Free
- **Caveat:** **Only for students registered in Oslo schools** — Hamar residents are not eligible. Skip.
- **Verdict:** **Weak fit / not eligible**.

### 7. Talentsenter i realfag (Oslo / Trondheim / Bergen / Tromsø / Ås / Nærbø)
- **URL:** https://www.tekniskmuseum.no/en/oslo-science-centre/the-talent-center | https://sites.google.com/talentsenter.no/talentsenter
- **Org:** National program at 6 vitensentre, partly state-funded; for students with high learning potential in math/science.
- **Ages:** Grades 5-10 (Oslo) / from 7th grade (Trondheim). Vitenparken Ås: 8.-10. trinn + VG1.
- **Format:** **Year-round, not a camp.** 4 two-day meetings per school year, during school hours, day program (no residential).
- **Topic:** Design thinking, prototyping, math, chemistry, physics, biology, technology projects, 3D modeling, programming. Strong hands-on. Vitenparken adds bioteknologi.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** **Free** — travel reimbursed.
- **Signup:** Portal opens March 9, 2026; deadline April 17, 2026 for school year 2026/27. Apply now if he qualifies — selection based on motivation + teacher recommendation, not grades. Nearest centre to Hamar = Oslo (Norsk Teknisk Museum).
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit / Worth applying right now** — this is the single best Norwegian opportunity for his profile. Not a summer camp but the substrate for finding kindred peers and rolling into camp opportunities later.

### 8. FIRST LEGO League Challenge (Hjernekraft)
- **URL:** https://hjernekraft.org/no/om-fll-challenge | https://hjernekraft.org/no/paamelding
- **Org:** Hjernekraft (formerly FIRST Scandinavia)
- **Ages:** 10-16 (FLL Challenge). He fits.
- **Format:** **Team-based, school year long.** Mission released Sept 11; regional tournaments late autumn / winter. Teams of 4-10 kids + adult mentor. Build + program LEGO Spike / EV3 robots.
- **Topic:** Robotics + research project on annual theme. Heavy hands-on.
- **Language:** Norwegian (most teams)
- **Cost:** Team kit ~5,000-15,000 NOK depending on what's needed; per-kid cost depends on the host club.
- **Signup:** Opens April 1, closes October 1. Mission released Sept 11.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit / Worth applying** — check whether Hamar has an existing FLL team (Hamar Bibliotek, schools, kodeklubben) or whether you can join one in Lillehammer / Oslo. Not a summer camp but the foundational robotics experience for this age.

### 9. Super:bit-kampen
- **URL:** https://superbit.no/ | https://www.tekniskmuseum.no/en/oslovitenter/super-bit-fight
- **Org:** Vitensentrene + Microsoft + Hjernekraft
- **Ages:** Grades 5-7 (10-13). Perfect fit for him in school year 2026/27.
- **Format:** School/club team competition with micro:bit. Regional semifinals at vitensentre in April; national final.
- **Topic:** Physical computing — micro:bit hardware programming. Hands-on coding + tinkering.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** **Free** to schools / coding clubs.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit** if his school participates — push his school / Hamar Kodeklubb to enter. Sign him up via school.

### 10. Kongsberg Agenda Ung
- **URL:** https://www.kongsberg.com/kda/campaigns/kongsberg-agenda/kongsberg-agenda/
- **Org:** Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace + Kongsberg kommune
- **Ages:** Different days for different ages. Thursday = middle school + grades 5-7 = his target day.
- **Format:** Multi-day **festival** (week 24, Jun 10-13, 2026), not a residential camp.
- **Topic:** NITO lab exercises, Legohub, escape rooms, K-Tech with apprentices, Lær Kidsa Koding, Techno-trailers, science shows. Free with some required registration.
- **Language:** Norwegian
- **Cost:** Free
- **Verdict:** **Worth a day trip** (~3h from Hamar). Excellent immersion / motivation experience, but it's a festival, not a camp — pair with something else.

---

## SWEDEN

### 11. Vetenskapens Hus — Sommarkurser (Stockholm / KTH)
- **URL:** https://www.vetenskapenshus.se/sommarkurser/
- **Org:** Vetenskapens Hus, run jointly by KTH and Stockholm University.
- **Ages:** Children born 2012-2015 (= 11-13 in 2026; 12-14 in 2027). He fits both years.
- **Format:** Multi-day **day camps**, led by KTH / SU university students. Two tracks: girls-only summer course and one open to all genders.
- **Topic:** **Chemistry experiments, crystals/minerals, microscopy, robot programming, rocket building, coding** — exactly the right physical + IT mix.
- **Language:** Swedish (he's fluent enough in Norwegian to follow Swedish; very close languages).
- **Cost:** Not listed on the public page; previously ~2,000-4,000 SEK/week. Contact barnkurs@vetenskapenshus.se with "sommarkurs 2026" in subject.
- **Signup:** Sign up for email list — registration "has not yet opened" as of search. Likely opens April/May.
- **Verdict:** **Strong fit** — closest content match to what he likes. Stockholm requires travel from Hamar (5-6h drive or train). Consider combining with a Stockholm family trip.

### 12. Heureka — Science Camps 2026 (Vantaa, Finland) — note: filed under Sweden by adjacency
*(See Finland section below — Heureka is the standout in the region.)*

### 13. Forskarfabriken Sommarläger (Stockholm)
- **URL:** https://forskarfabriken.se/forskarfabrikens-sommarlager/
- **Org:** Forskarfabriken (Swedish counterpart to Norwegian Forskerfabrikken — note spelling).
- **Ages:** Children (specific range not posted online; previous editions ~8-12).
- **Format:** Day camp, weeks 26-27 (mid-June), Stockholm (KFUM Bromma partnership). Only 2025 details public; 2026 not yet posted.
- **Topic:** Explosions, electrical circuits, bacteria research, build-your-own solar car, code-breaking. Hands-on.
- **Language:** Swedish
- **Cost:** Not listed.
- **Verdict:** **Worth investigating** when 2026/2027 page is updated. Strong topical fit; logistics same as Vetenskapens Hus.

### 14. Tom Tits Experiment (Södertälje)
- **URL:** https://www.tomtit.se/
- **Org:** Sweden's largest science centre.
- **Ages:** All ages welcome at the centre; specific summer camps for kids are not prominently listed.
- **Format:** Day visits + occasional school-break workshops; not a true multi-day camp program in the search results.
- **Verdict:** **Weak fit as a camp**, but **great day-trip add-on** if visiting Stockholm.

### 15. Universeum (Göteborg)
- **URL:** https://www.universeum.se/
- **Org:** Sweden's national science centre.
- **Ages:** All ages.
- **Format:** Summer activities include "program a robot, go fossil hunting" but no clearly documented multi-day kids' camp for the search window. Mostly drop-in.
- **Language:** Swedish / English
- **Verdict:** **Weak fit as a camp** but Sweden's strongest day-trip science venue. Pair with a Gothenburg trip; not a substitute for a camp.

### 16. AstraZenecas Sommarforskarskola (KTH Stockholm / Chalmers Göteborg)
- **URL:** https://ungaforskare.se/sommarforskarskolor/
- **Org:** Förbundet Unga Forskare + AstraZeneca
- **Ages:** 13-16 (typically completing grade 8-9). **He is too young by ~2 years.**
- **Verdict:** **Too young / wait.** Bookmark for summer 2029 onward — this is one of the strongest Swedish residential science programs for the upper-secondary age group.

### 17. Sommarforskarskola — Forskarmöten (Sveriges unga akademi)
- **URL:** https://sverigesungaakademi.se/sommarforskarskola-forskarmoten/
- **Ages:** Gymnasium 2 or 3 — way too old.
- **Verdict:** **Too young / wait.** Bookmark for ~2032+.

---

## DENMARK

### 18. ScienceTalenter — Sorø (Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Videncenter)
- **URL:** https://sciencetalenter.dk/ | https://sciencetalenter.dk/grundskole/
- **Org:** Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Videncenter, national talent development in natural sciences.
- **Ages:** Most camps target 7.-9. klassetrin (Danish 7th-9th grade ≈ ages 13-15). Some programs for 6.-7. klasse.
- **Format:** **Residential** at "Talenthotellet Frederik VI" — 3 days, 6 meals/day. This is the Nordic gold-standard residential science camp.
- **Topic:** Physics, chemistry, math, technology, biology, robotics, biotech — explicitly hands-on.
- **Language:** Danish (very close to Norwegian — he'd follow it).
- **Cost:** ~2,500 DKK per student for members.
- **Catch:** **Only open to schools that are members** of Science Talenters' Primary School Network and Municipal Talent Package — **not open enrollment.** Norwegian schools are not eligible. He could only attend if Hamar joined the network (highly unlikely).
- **2026/27 dates posted:** Camp 3 — Hold A March 2-4, Hold B March 11-13, Hold C April 22-24 (for 7th-grade Talent Junior).
- **Verdict:** **Worth applying IF eligible**, but most likely **not accessible to him as a Norwegian resident.** Bookmark in case Hamar / Innlandet joins a Nordic talent network, or look into private/international parallel programs.

### 19. Sciencedøgn 2026 (Sorø)
- **URL:** https://sciencetalenter.dk/aktivitet/sciencedogn2026/
- **Ages:** 6th and/or 7th grade. **Perfect age fit.**
- **Format:** 24-hour residential. June 11-12 (A) and June 15-16 (B), 2026.
- **Catch:** Same as #18 — only for Danish municipality members.
- **Verdict:** **Strong content fit, not realistically accessible** for a Hamar kid.

### 20. DTU SommerScience (Lyngby)
- **URL:** https://sommerscience.dtu.dk/
- **Org:** Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
- **Ages:** 6-18 (broad). Specifics for 11-12 yo not fully documented; some programs gymnasium-only.
- **Format:** Activities in weeks 27, 31, 32. Day program; some camps residential.
- **Topic:** Science / engineering. The Engineering Camp at DTU is gymnasium girls (too old).
- **Language:** Danish
- **Cost:** Often free.
- **Verdict:** **Worth investigating** when 2027 page is published. Check whether any week 27/31/32 program targets ≤7. klasse.

### 21. Experimentarium (Hellerup, København)
- **URL:** https://www.experimentarium.dk/
- **Ages:** All ages.
- **Format:** Drop-in science centre. No prominent multi-day summer kids' camp surfaced in the search results.
- **Verdict:** **Weak fit as a camp**, **strong as a day-trip** add-on to a Copenhagen visit.

### 22. Astra (Det nationale naturfagscenter)
- **URL:** https://astra.dk/
- **Org:** National science education centre
- **Ages:** Roughly grades 7+ — most camps for udskoling/gymnasium.
- **Verdict:** **Too young / wait** plus largely teacher-facing, not direct-to-student.

---

## FINLAND

### 23. Heureka — Summer Science Camps 2026 (Vantaa)
- **URL:** https://www.heureka.fi/en/pages/science-camps | https://www.heureka.fi/en/blogs/news/summer-science-camps
- **Org:** Finnish national science centre (the Nordic analogue of Tekniska/Vitensenteret).
- **Ages:** Born 2013-2018 for science camps (= 8-13 in 2026; he is 2014 = perfect fit). Space camps born 2013-2015. Secondary-school camps too.
- **Format:** **5-day day camps**, Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00. Midsummer week is 4 days.
- **Weeks 2026:** Science camps weeks 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32. Space camps weeks 25, 26, 27, 31. **English-speaking weeks: 27 and 28.**
- **Topic:** Multidisciplinary hands-on science; dedicated space camps; robotics offered. The centre has Tech Puppy robot, planetarium, rocket-building workshops, 360°/3D space VR.
- **Language:** Finnish (most weeks); **English weeks 27 and 28** — that's the killer feature for him.
- **Cost:** **210 € for 5-day**; 168 € for 4-day midsummer.
- **Signup:** Tickets on sale **from March 23, 2026, 10:00**; up to 14:00 the Wed before each camp or until sold out.
- **Verdict:** **STRONG FIT — highest-ranked option in the Nordics for him.** English-language weeks remove any language barrier, age range is bullseye, content matches his interests, science centre has international reputation. Pair with Helsinki / Tallinn family trip. Likely repeats in 2027 same structure.

### 24. LUMA Centre Finland (University of Helsinki + 10 other universities)
- **URL:** https://www.luma.fi/en/ | https://www.helsinki.fi/en/science-education-and-academic-outreach/children-and-youth
- **Org:** Network of 11 Finnish university science-education centres.
- **Ages:** Wide; many camps target 7-12.
- **Format:** Summer camps mostly in June; some discipline-specific (chemistry, physics, math, biology), some multidisciplinary themes. Camps since 2004.
- **Topic:** Hands-on at university labs.
- **Language:** **Mostly Finnish or Swedish**, with **some English** camps; English ones limited and listed on the site.
- **Cost:** Varies.
- **Verdict:** **Worth investigating** the few English-medium offerings; Swedish-language ones are a stretch but feasible (closer to Norwegian than Finnish is).

---

## ICELAND

### 25. Háskóli Íslands — University of Iceland summer programs
- **URL:** https://hi.is/
- **Format:** University offers summer courses, mainly for university-age students. The Home Economics School (Hússtjórnarskólinn) offers week-long courses for kids 5-16 in cooking/crafts/nature — not science-focused.
- **Verdict:** **Weak fit.** No science kids' camps surfaced. Iceland's smaller scale means most kids' summer offerings go through individual museums (Perlan, Háskólabíó kids' science events) rather than residential camps. Worth a direct query to Vísindavefurinn or Perlan if planning an Iceland trip.

---

## TOP 5 SHORTLIST FOR HIM SPECIFICALLY

Ranked by content fit × accessibility × age fit.

### #1. Heureka Summer Science Camp (English week 27 or 28) — Vantaa, Finland
**Why:** English-language, age bullseye (he's 2014, range is 2013-2018), proven national science centre, 210 €, real hands-on content including dedicated space camps. Combine with Helsinki/Tallinn family trip. **Action: set alarm for March 23, 2027 at 10:00 EET to grab a spot** (March 23, 2026 was opening day for the 2026 edition; same pattern likely).

### #2. Talentsenter i realfag — Oslo (Norsk Teknisk Museum)
**Why:** Free, year-round, peer group of kindred high-potential kids, hands-on design-thinking + prototyping + math/chem/physics/bio, travel reimbursed, perfect age. Not a summer camp but the highest-leverage Norwegian opportunity for his profile — it opens doors to other things. **Action: apply March 9 - April 17, 2026 for school year 2026/27.**

### #3. Vetenskapens Hus Sommarkurs — Stockholm (KTH)
**Why:** Robot programming, rocket building, microscopy, chemistry — exact match. Born-2012-2015 cohort = perfect age now and next year. Swedish is no barrier for a Norwegian kid. **Action: sign up for the email list now; expect registration opens April/May. Combine with Stockholm trip.**

### #4. Science Camp Trondheim (June 24-27, 2026)
**Why:** Free, includes robotics + AI + math + 3D + laser cutting + model building — broadest hands-on menu of any Norwegian program. **Caveat: confirm out-of-kommune eligibility by phone before counting on it.** **Action: registration opens May 10, 2026 at 18:00 — check whether he's eligible; if yes, sign up immediately.**

### #5. FIRST LEGO League Challenge — local Innlandet team
**Why:** Long-arc, deep, social, real robotics with real hardware, perfect age. Builds a team of friends through the autumn 2026 / winter 2026-27 season, peaks at regional tournament. **Action: find or start a team via Hamar Kodeklubb / school / library before October 1, 2026 (registration deadline). Could double as a friend-group anchor.**

---

## BACKUP / WORTH-A-LOOK

- **Forskerfabrikken sommerskole** (NO) — if Hamar/Innlandet has a course, sign up early March 2027. He's at the top of the age band.
- **INSPIRIA Sommerlab** (Sarpsborg) — free, good age fit, requires Hamar→Sarpsborg trip.
- **Eksperimentklubben** Tromsø/Alta — only if combined with a North-Norway trip.
- **Super:bit-kampen** — push school/coding club to enter in school year 2026/27.
- **Kongsberg Agenda Ung** — day-trip festival on Thursday June 11, 2026 (his age day).

## BOOKMARKED FOR LATER (TOO YOUNG NOW)

- **ScienceTalenter Sorø** — Denmark's residential gold standard; access barrier is school-network membership.
- **AstraZenecas Sommarforskarskola** (SE) — age 13-16; revisit summer 2028.
- **ATU Junior / Akademiet for Talentfulde Unge** — Danish talent academy, primarily gymnasium.
- **Forskarmöten / Sveriges unga akademi** — gymnasium age.
- **Berzelius-dagar** (KTH/SU) — gymnasium age.

## KEY DATES TO PUT IN CALENDAR NOW

- **March 9, 2026:** Talentsenter realfag application opens (deadline April 17)
- **March 23, 2026 (10:00 EET):** Heureka 2026 ticket sales open
- **April 1, 2026:** FIRST LEGO League team registration opens (deadline Oct 1)
- **May 10, 2026 (18:00):** Science Camp Trondheim 2026 registration opens
- **Early March 2027:** Forskerfabrikken sommerskole 2027 registration opens
- **March 23, 2027 (approx.):** Heureka 2027 ticket sales open

## NOTES ON GAPS

- Newton Camp (the famous Tekna/DNT/FIRST Scandinavia program) **shut down in 2019** — the website is a historical archive. Modules are reusable by anyone but no central camp runs anymore.
- Most Danish residential talent programs are gated behind Danish school-network membership and not open to Norwegian residents.
- Nordic residential science camps for under-13s are surprisingly rare — most quality programs assume 13+. The right strategy for ages 11-12 is **day camps + year-round talent programs + FLL team + one international anchor trip (Heureka in Helsinki)**.