At a glance
- CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) hosts the Data Detectives Camp.
- Our free, week-long camp is open to students entering 6th and 7th grades who want to gain skills in statistics and data science.
- The 2025 application period has ended. Students will be notified in early May if they were selected for Data Detectives Camp.
Overview
At CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Detectives CampA, students entering 6th and 7th grades explore statistics and other data science-related topics.
Campers participate in fun, hands-on group activities that build on what they've learned about statistics in school. Our week-long sessions build science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) awareness, skills, and confidence.
Our campers learn to think critically, solve problems, work with others, and approach challenges like data detectives by—
- Asking the right questions
- Collecting information
- Analyzing data
- Displaying results
NCHS offers this free day camp. Campers learn from scientists and staff from NCHS, other federal agencies, science organizations, and universities.
Each year about 30–36 children—chosen from hundreds who apply—attend the camp. Since our first camp in 2016, Data Detectives has taught statistics and data science to more than 300 middle school aged children from across the United States.
2025 camp details
Dates, times, and locations
NCHS will host two sessions of Data Detectives Camp in 2025—one in Georgia and one in Maryland.
CDC Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
Monday, July 7th–Friday, July 11th
9:00 am–4:00 pm (ET)
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
Monday, August 4th–Friday, August 8th
9:00 am–4:00 pm (ET)
Data Detectives is an in-person day camp. Campers do not stay overnight at the camp. There is no before- or after-care for campers.
Cost
Data Detectives Camp is free. There is no fee to apply to or attend the camp. Campers must bring their own lunches and water every day. Parents or guardians must provide transportation to and from the camp location.
Who can apply
Students entering 6th or 7th grades at the beginning of the 2025 school year may apply for Data Detectives Camp. The camp is designed for students wishing to build STEM skills and confidence.
A child may attend camp only one time. Many potential detectives apply each year, and space is limited. The camp also covers the same concepts each year.
How to apply
Applications for the 2025 camp are no longer being accepted. The submission deadline was Friday, April 11th.
A committee will review all completed applications and select about 36 children to participate in each camp session.
Decisions will be emailed to the parent/guardian the week of May 5th.
Camp partners
Established in 2016, Data Detectives Camp is conducted by NCHS in collaboration with—
Federal agencies
- Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- National Center for Education Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau
Science organizations
- American Statistical Association
- CDC Museum
Universities
- University of Maryland Joint Program in Survey Methodology
- University of Maryland School of Public Health
- University of Maryland Social Data Science Center
Notice
The NCHS Data Detectives Camp wordmark and the NCHS Data Detectives Camp design mark are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unauthorized use of the marks is strictly prohibited.
- The NCHS Data Detectives Camp wordmark and the NCHS Data Detectives Camp design mark are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unauthorized use of the marks is strictly prohibited.