For Current 7th-12th Graders

Tapia STEM Camps

The Tapia Camps are award-winning residential STEM camps for current 7th-12th graders at Rice University that emphasize communication and equity. Campers complete STEM projects and presentations as they experience life as a Rice student for a week. Rice University is one of the nation's foremost research institutions consistently ranked in the top 20 universities in the United States.

2025 Summer Sessions

Over 100 Tapia campers pose in front of Lovett Hall on the Rice University campus.

Tapia Camps are a 6-day/5-night program at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Food and lodging is provided, and campers live in the dormitories and spend their instruction time in the buildings on campus. A field trip will take place within Houston (e.g., at Space Center Houston/NASA Johnson Space Center).

Camp Pricing for Individual Campers*:

  • Early Bird (before Feb. 1, 2025): $2,200 per student
  • Regular (before May 1, 2025): $2,500 per student

*Discounted pricing for school officials and large groups is available. Please reach out to us by email at tapiacenter@rice.edu.

Camper walking with duffle bag walking towards the dorms.

Camp Dates

STEM Projects:

College Admissions: Program an algorithm for college admissions, balancing various factors
Carbon Storage: Build a model reservoir to explore carbon capture and storage as a method to combat climate change.
PreCalculus in Real Life: Use math to visualize data on societal issues and inspire positive change. Only available weeks 2 and 4.

Campers outside of Duncan College completing STEM activity in groups.

More information

What Makes Tapia Camps Special?

Two campers with Rice professor doing math on a chalkboard.

Challenging STEM Curriculum

At Tapia Camps, campers will have the opportunity to choose between a variety of STEM projects to focus on throughout the week, including projects involving college admission algorithms and carbon storage. Campers learn directly from Rice University students, with course material designed by researchers led by the camp director, Professor Paul Hand. Students enjoy the college experience while interacting with professors, STEM professionals, and Professor Richard Tapia, recipient of the National Medal of Science.

4 students preparing for presentation while standing in a group.

Communication

To have a successful career in STEM, and in other fields, individuals must be able to communicate their ideas effectively and be able to work in teams. Campers learn and practice public speaking skills and collaborate with fellow students to complete STEM projects. At the end of the camp, campers present their final projects in front of professors, students, and Dr. Richard Tapia.

Dr. Tapia giving speech to auditorium with Tapia Center logo on projection screen.

Equity

The Tapia Camps curriculum is a unique blend of STEM concepts in the context of societal equity. Campers explore equity concerns in their projects and hear firsthand from a diverse range of academics and professionals about their work and experiences in STEM.

Read about our awards >

Read about our impact >

Who is Dr. Richard Tapia?

Professor Richard Tapia and President Barack Obama during the National Medal of Science bestowment.

The Tapia Camps are named after Professor Richard Tapia. Dr. Tapia is a mathematician and professor in the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is internationally known for his research in the computational and mathematical sciences and is a national leader in education and outreach. Professor Tapia holds prestigious positions as University Professor and Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering. Dr. Tapia is the director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education and recipient of the National Medal of Science.

Dr. Tapia lecturing to students.

Dr. Tapia created the Tapia Camps to promote excellence and equity in STEM through subject exploration for middle and high school students. Campers hear firsthand from Dr. Tapia and are inspired to pursue their passions in STEM.

Learn more about Dr. Tapia >

Tapia Camps Leadership

Dr. Paul Hand

Tapia Camps Director

Dr. Paul Hand

Dr. Hand is an associate professor of mathematics and computer science at Northeastern University, and was formerly an assistant professor at Rice University. His research interests include machine learning and artificial intelligence. Dr. Hand leads the development of the Tapia Camps curriculum.

Dr. Leticia Velazquez

Director of Operations

Dr. Leticia Velazquez

Dr. Velazquez serves as the Director of Operations, Sales, and Marketing for the Tapia Center and Camps. In addition to overseeing all key areas to ensure a safe, engaging, and successful camp experience, she also acts as the primary point of contact for camp sales, partnerships, and donations.

Programs in Spanish and English

Tapia STEM Camps FAQ

What information can you provide about the dorm rooms?

Campers will stay in a dorm room. They may or may not have a roommate. Roommates will be assigned randomly. All campers will be assigned a camp counselor. Camp counselors are available at any time the campers are in the dorms in order to provide support and in case of emergency. Campers may have a bathroom in their dorm room or may share a bathroom with approximately 3 other campers. Dorm rooms do not include linens or toiletries. Each room has its own thermostat and air conditioning.

What information can you provide about the food?

Campers will eat three meals a day at a university servery. The meals are all-you-can-eat. During each meal, there are plentiful options from which each camper can select. Examples of food include: entrees, pizza, grill station, salad bar, cereals, dessert, and a variety of beverages. Campers with dietary restrictions should refer to signage of each item and talk to the chef as needed. Rice University is accustomed to addressing a wide variety of dietary restrictions, including gluten free, nut allergies, vegetarian, and vegan options. More information can be provided at dining.rice.edu.

Will campers be supervised throughout the day and night?

Yes. During class time, instructors are responsible for supervising campers. During evening programming and overnight, counselors are responsible for supervising campers. All staff are available to address camper needs, and we encourage campers to speak to a staff member if there is anything we can do to enhance their experience.

What more can you tell me more about the staff?

Junior camp staff are typically undergraduate or graduate students. Many attend Rice University, and they come from a variety of fields of study. All staff are trained in CPR/first aid and have completed background checks. In Summer 2024 and in 2023, our staff have collectively spoken over 10 languages each year. Senior camp staff are professional educators from both K-12 and university settings, with over 60 years of collective professional experience.

What is a typical day like at Tapia Camps?

Campers will wake up and eat breakfast with their counselor group. They will then have instruction on a topic in STEM of their choice and communication throughout the morning and after lunch. They will complete hands-on activities related to their STEM projects, prepare a presentation for the Friday of camp week, and interact with guest speakers. After their STEM project sessions, campers will participate in fun nightly activities. In the past, students have enjoyed scavenger hunts, STEM Olympics, soccer, basketball and volleyball matches, talent shows, and much more. Please check back here closer to camp for a more detailed schedule.

Do campers need to bring their own computers?

No, bringing a computer is not necessary. If required for the project, we will provide campers access to computers.

Do the camps provide school credit?

No, Tapia Camps does not award any credit school credit.

Do you offer any scholarships or discounts?

We offer discounts to families of Rice alumni and staff. If you have any questions, email us at tapiacenter@rice.edu. The Tapia Center is able to provide a limited number of scholarships to campers. The application process for scholarships begins in Spring 2025, and selected recipients will be notified during May 2025. Specific deadlines will be provided in Spring 2025.

We also offer a 10% discount for Rice alumni or staff, and a 5% discount for siblings. We do not offer the two options combined (for example a 15% discount).

Can family members visit during camp?

Families are welcome to see camper presentations on Friday mornings. Outside of this time, we do not allow family visits in order to enable campers to fully engage in camp the instructional and social aspects of camp life.

Who do we contact in case of emergency?

The names and phone numbers of senior camp staff will be printed on the back of every nametag. These numbers will be shared via email with families a week prior to camp.

Is it ok if my camper can not attend the entire week?

We strongly encourage campers to attend the full program. Camp is packed with group work and curricular activities that culminate toward the Friday presentation competition. Any time away from camp puts a camper and their group at a disadvantage in the competition.

I am a representative of a school district. Who can I contact for more information and special rate?

We have special pricing available for school districts sending multiple campers. Please email tapiacenter@rice.edu to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss your needs.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • Cancellations before May 1, 2025 will receive a full tuition refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations between May 1 – 15, 2025 will receive a refund of 50% of the tuition minus a $100 cancellation fee.
  • There will be no refunds after May 15, 2025.

Have more questions about the camps? Please email us at tapiacenter@rice.edu or call (713)-348-5182.