DETROIT—Saturdays in the D returns for another summer of learning and enrichment for residents of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

A partnership between the University of Michigan and the city of Detroit, the 2024 Saturdays in the D program provides free access to high-quality learning experiences for Detroit middle school and high school students, as well as professional development opportunities for adult residents.

“We are thrilled that Detroit youth participating in the program this year will have the opportunity to experience higher learning on the campus of one of the world’s best universities,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Adults in our community will also be introduced to enrichment courses as part of Saturdays in the D’s commitment to provide our residents with the tools and skills they need to succeed.”

The 2024 program, which begins in June, will provide enrichment opportunities focused on STEM/STEAM camps offered by U-M that encourage learning and expose students to new skills, interests and potential career considerations.

“We are excited to build on the success of this outstanding program with expanded offerings as we continue to strive to be the university for Michigan,” said Scott Shireman, director of the U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit. “Our commitment to Detroit is obviously a huge part of that and we look forward to increasing our engagement with the community as we move forward with UMCI.”

UMCI staff coordinate the Saturdays in the D programming. The center, under construction, expects to open in 2027.

Youth camps & opportunities

Saturdays in the D youth programming is focused on science, technology, engineering and arts-based education for Detroit middle and high school students. Despite the name, not every program is offered on Saturdays. The program strives to provide a range of different activities and structures to meet the various interests and needs of Detroit students.

“This year’s set of opportunities are exceptional—from applying physics to learning to become an entrepreneur, exploring careers in the city’s art scene, learning Python and AI, or spending a week learning about the Detroit River,” said Lauren Atkins Budde, director of academic content strategy for the U-M Center for Innovation. “The people behind these programs are incredibly passionate and devoted to helping Detroit students connect to a huge range of interests and future careers. This summer is all about having fun and learning in supportive, innovative environments.”

What to know:

• Programs are offered by different units within the University of Michigan and will have their own unique schedule, set of activities, registration process and location.
• Participants must register for each camp individually but can register for more than one as long as they do not occur at the same time.
• Some may recur on Saturdays, others are one or two weeks long, and still others may be residential where students stay overnight on the U-M Ann Arbor campus.
• Some camps will list application and/or tuition fees. These program costs are free to residents of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park and will be covered by Saturdays in the D.
• Some camps are located within the city of Detroit; others may occur in Ann Arbor. For Detroit students interested in participating in those camps offered on the U-M Ann Arbor campus, free transportation can be provided through Saturdays in the D.

Middle school camps

• Applying Physics in the D
• Thinkabit Lab Tech for Good Camp
• Engineering Academy
• WISE GISE
• Galaxy Girls+

High school camps

• Intro to Entrepreneurship
• Career Connections in the Arts
• Girls Who Code Summer Experience
• Intro to Data Science and AI
• Detroit River Scholars
• WISE Python Bootcamp
• Harper Academy
• NAF Future Ready Scholars
• Joy of Coding

Adult professional development opportunities

The Saturdays in the D adult learning program is focused on job skills around leadership, business, programming and emerging technology. Participants can sign up for one certificate course of their choosing, and also have access to short workshops around ChatGPT and project management. The adult program will begin in late June.

For more information on courses and registration details, visit Saturdays in the D.