Camp · STEM · Ages 14–18 · $1,333/week
Directory · United States · Illinois · Evanston
▌ STEM · Ages 14–18

REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students)

Evanston · $1,333/week · ★ 4.6 (13 reviews)

A free two-week summer program for high school students interested in astronomy research at Northwestern University.

▌ Editor's read The REACH program, hosted by Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), provides high school students with an intensive, free summer research experience. The website, http://ciera.northwestern.edu/Education/reach.php, loads successfully and details the program's structure, including daily activities like lectures, coding tutorials, and research with faculty mentors. The program is described as a day camp, running for six weeks, and is highly competitive, requiring an application process. As a university-run program, it is not accredited by the ACA, and no state licensing information is provided. There is no specific mention of staff-to-camper ratios or background check policies on the program's dedicated page. Google reviews for 'CIERA Northwestern University' show a 4.8-star rating from 10 reviews, though these are for the center generally, not specifically the REACH program. Social media handles for the REACH program itself are not readily available on the program page, though CIERA has a general presence.
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University programRun by an academic institution
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Who thrives here Ages 14–18

REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in stem, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Day camp
ACA accredited
Not verified
Established
Not listed
Operator
University program
Staff-to-camper ratio
Not listed

How we verify these →

Money & Policies

Financial aid
Available · Need-based Apply →

Full or partial tuition assistance is available thanks to The Brinson Foundation and additional supporters of CIERA. Please email for more information.

FSA eligible
Not FSA eligible
Session lengths
14-day · 15-day
What campers take home
Students work on real astronomy research projects and give a presentation on their findings at the end of the core program.

Details

  • Category: STEM
  • Ages: 14–18
  • Address: 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Cost notes: USD

Logistics

  • Lunch provided: No
  • Transportation: No
  • Financial aid: Yes
  • Setting: indoor

Frequently asked about REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students)

What ages does REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) accept?
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) is open to children ages 14–18. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) cost?
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) publishes $1,333/week for the standard session. That sits 40% above the $949 median for stem camps in Evanston — typical for specialty programs with smaller groups or premium facilities. USD Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
Who runs REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students)?
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) provide lunch?
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
Does REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) offer financial aid?
Yes — REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) offers financial aid or scholarships. Most camp aid is need-based, application-based, and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, so apply as soon as the form opens (usually January-February for the upcoming summer).
How does REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) compare to other stem camps in Evanston?
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) is one of 18 stem camps in Evanston that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

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