Aurora STEAM Lab wins 2026 Best Summer Camp in Columbia

Aurora STEAM Lab in Columbia, Maryland, was named 2026 Best Summer Camp in the STEAM Education & Enrichment Centers category by the Consumer Ratings Institute. The honor follows a perfect 5.0-star Google rating and highlights the lab’s themed, hands-on camps for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Why it matters: - The recognition puts a local, women-owned STEAM center in Columbia on a national consumer-ratings list. - Families are signaling demand for summer programs that mix academics, creativity and hands-on learning. - The award may help Aurora STEAM Lab stand out in a crowded enrichment market.

What happened: - Aurora STEAM Lab was named 2026 Best Summer Camp in the STEAM Education & Enrichment Centers category by the Consumer Ratings Institute. - The recognition is based on overall public consumer reviews and a 5.0-star Google rating. - The award reflects the lab’s Summer STEAM Camps in Columbia, Maryland. - The lab is women-owned and independently operated.

The details: - Each camp week features a new theme. - Campers design, build, experiment, code and create through art and technology. - Every camp day starts with a skill and interest check. - Instructors place campers into the right STEAMATIC pathway level before guided activities begin. - Weekly themes have included Dungeons and Data, RetroTech Mix and K-Pop Demon Hunters. - Families describe camp days filled with coding, LEGO building, science experiments and art. - Take-home projects have included homemade soap, slime and tie-dye. - Aurora STEAM Lab also offers School-Out Day Camps, Spring Camps and Winter Camps. - The lab serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. - Academic support is available through 12th grade. - Year-round offerings include 90-minute Foundational STEAM sessions, daytime Homeschool STEAM programs, a Monday-through-Friday After-School STEAM Program with transportation from designated local schools, and STEAM Birthday Parties. - No prior experience in coding or robotics is required. - Tuition includes materials and access to the lab’s equipment. - The lab says its five pillars are strong STEAM foundations, hands-on learning, effective teamwork, confident and independent learners, and forward-thinking leadership. - Aurora STEAM Lab is not a franchise. - The company says children are known by name and supported with intention. - The lab launched in 2026 and was founded by educator Sabrina Tacey. - More information is available at Aurora STEAM Lab.

Between the lines: - The award suggests parents value programs that combine enrichment with structure, personalization and visible take-home results. - The 5.0-star rating gives the recognition extra weight because it is tied to public review data. - The emphasis on themed camps and individualized pathways points to a market where customization is becoming a selling point.

What's next: - Aurora STEAM Lab is likely to continue using themed camps and year-round programs to build on its current reputation. - Sabrina Tacey said the lab will keep meeting each child where they are and helping them discover what they are capable of. - The lab’s broader schedule gives families options when school is not in session and during the school year.

The bottom line: - Aurora STEAM Lab is turning a local enrichment model into a consumer-backed brand built on personalization, hands-on learning and repeat family demand.