APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

GSK Science in the Summer™ is a free, informal science summer program for youth entering grades 2-6.

Supported by GSK and offered in collaboration with The Franklin Institute, the goals of Science in the Summer are:

To increase youth interest and confidence in doing science and pursuing STEM careers, especially for youth in under-resourced communities
To build educator confidence and skills to facilitate high-quality informal STEM experiences for youth
To build organization capacity to provide high-quality STEM programming

The Franklin Institute supports organizations to fold the program into their existing structure and increase educators’ confidence and skills to lead high-quality STEM programming.

Check out this year's theme, Be a Chemist! here.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

Accepted organizations commit to a seven-month program cycle (February to September with programming from May-August) and receive the following benefits:

High-quality STEM curriculum and materials for five program activities, including kits of materials, educator guides, lab notebooks, and sticker sheets
Webinars for Program Leads including orientation, program kick-off, and reporting
Facilitation and curriculum content training for STEM Specialists via two in-person trainings at The Franklin Institute
A stipend to support STEM Specialist training time, replenish materials as necessary, support field trip transportation costs (if applicable), and other program-related expenses
A field trip to The Franklin Institute including free general admission for program youth or general admission vouchers for youth participating at libraries
Ongoing technical support from The Franklin Institute program team

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

Identify two staff to act as Program Leads responsible for materials management, ongoing communications with the program team, tracking attendance, reporting on deliverables, and ensuring your organization meets all program expectations
Identify a maximum of two educators per site to act as STEM Specialists, delivering all SIS programming at their site
Deliver 4 out of the 5 activities of free programming to the approved number of youth in grades 2-6, between June and August

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Check back in Fall 2026 to apply for the 2027 Science in the Sumer program.

The Franklin Institute will accept applications from Philadelphia-area organizations that meet the below requirements:

are located in the city of Camden, NJ or the following PA counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia
offer programming for youth entering grades 2-6 between the months of June - August
have educator(s) who are able/willing to be trained as the STEM Specialists who will deliver the five-activity curriculum
are committed to bringing accessible programming to youth, especially for youth in under-resourced communities

Examples of organizations that may apply include community-based organizations (CBOs), out-of-school-time providers (OSTs), after school providers (ASPs) that have summer programming, low-cost or free summer camps, day cares/early childhood service providers, and public-school summer programs.

QUESTIONS?

TESTIMONIALS

The GSK Science in the Summer™ program allowed us to increase our summer engagement, I mean, a million times over. The curriculum that was provided was very accessible both for the students, but also for the educators that were facilitating the activities with the kids. And so, it really helped empower our counselors, our instructors, and our partners who were facilitating the program at their sites.
– 2023 Partner

Once before it was unimaginable that I could lead and conduct something of this nature. Now, it's almost second nature, using what I learned in SIS in things outside of that and using what I learn outside of it and applying it in SIS. – 2024 Participant

I wish all of the organizations that I worked with operate the way that [GSK] Science in the Summer™ does. The amount of communication and the accessibility to support from The Franklin [Institute] was and is just immense and immensely helpful. The outline, the structure of the program, the high level of communication. I never felt alone or abandoned or left to the wind. I never had to figure anything out on my own. There was always a resource or a person that was available when I had questions.
– 2023 Partner

Learner participating in the Be an Orthopedic Doctor activity from the 2025 Be a Health Scientist! curriculum.

Three children with pipettes and liquids

Learners participating in the Be a Dietitian activity from the 2025 Be a Health Scientist! curriculum.