Destinnation Science
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersOrange, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Destinnation Science does
Destination Science is a private, founder-led operator of hands-on STEM and STEAM summer day camps for children ages 5–11 (kindergarten through 6th grade), headquartered in Orange, California. The company runs more than 130 camp locations across six states — concentrated in California (Northern and Southern), New York (Long Island and Westchester), Texas (Greater Dallas), and Washington (Greater Seattle) — hosted at venues including university campuses, private schools, municipal recreation centers, churches, synagogues, and community centers. Its core products are themed, multi-week science camps (e.g., Robot Olympic Challenge, Movie Maker STEM Lab, Jedi Engineering, Coaster & Carnival Mystery, Galactic Space Academy, Wild Robot Science Quest) built around hands-on experiments in robotics, space, engineering, and chemistry, with curriculum aligned to National Science Education Standards and group sizes capped at 14 campers per cohort. In 2020, the company launched DS Live Online, a Zoom-based virtual camp with science supply kits shipped to families, extending the brand beyond its in-person footprint into online summer camps, after-school clubs, and holiday camps.
The business model is direct-to-consumer: parents pay per week of camp at $319–$529 for in-person programs and $220–$350 for virtual programs, with early-registration, multi-week, and sibling discounts layered on top. A subset of registrations is routed through channel partners — city recreation departments (Beverly Hills, Irvine, Tustin) and private schools (Stratford, BASIS Independent) — that handle enrollment via their own platforms (e.g., rec1.com). Marketing relies on the company website, a science-experiment blog, an active social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google+, a Constant Contact newsletter, a Refer-a-Friend program, and earned media including a 2015 Associated Press/ABC News feature. The company is led by three co-CEOs — Kathy Heraghty, Sharon Fogg, and Heena Desai — with a combined 50+ years of science education experience, and operates a Camper-to-Leader-in-Training talent pipeline. There is no disclosed outside institutional ownership, funding, or material M&A activity; financial assistance and scholarships are available, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Destinnation Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Destinnation Science
- Legal name
- Destination Science
- Website
- https://destinationscience.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Destinnation Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's STEAM Education Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)
Keywords
Where Destinnation Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Orange
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Destinnation Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- In-Person Summer Camp Tuition: Weekly summer day camp programs for kids ages 5-11. Parents pay per week of camp at their chosen location. Prices range from approximately $319 to $529 per week depending on location and timing. Early registration, multi-week, and sibling discounts are available.
- Virtual/Online Camp Programs: Live online STEM camps delivered via Zoom. Half Day (one 2-hour session/week): $220; Full Day (both sessions/week): $350. Includes shipped science supply kits with materials labeled by session number.
- After-School Clubs: Virtual after-school clubs meeting once weekly for 5 consecutive weeks, 65 minutes per session. Science supply kits shipped to participants.
- Holiday Camps: Virtual holiday camps during spring and winter breaks. Multi-session programs with science kits shipped to families.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | In-Person Summer Camp - Standard Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Half Day Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Full Day Camp |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cancellation Policy |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Destinnation Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Destination Science designs and delivers hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) science camps and after-school enrichment programs for children ages 5-11, offered both in-person at 130+ partner locations across six states and as live interactive online camps. Each session includes age-appropriate experiments led by trained instructors, with families and schools paying per-camp tuition for participation.
Product overview
Destination Science is a hands-on science day camp for kids ages 5-11, offering both in-person and online programs across multiple states. The core product portfolio includes themed STEM camps: Robot Olympic Challenge, Movie Maker STEM Lab, Jedi Engineering, and specialty programs like Coaster & Carnival Mystery, Galactic Space Academy, and Wild Robot Science Quest. The company also offers an online virtual program (DS Live Online Science Programs) for remote participation, a Leaders in Training teen program, and seasonal holiday camps. Camps feature hands-on experiments, robotics, engineering projects, and space science, with new themes introduced annually for Summer 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Person STEAM Science Camps Hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) day camps for children ages 5-11, delivered at over 130 partner school and community locations across California, New York, Texas, Washington, Florida, and additional states; children register per-camp and participate in instructor-led experiments with materials provided.
- Live Online STEAM Science Camps Live, interactive virtual STEAM science camps launched in 2020 that mirror the in-person hands-on experience for children ages 5-11, with experiment kits shipped and instructor-led sessions delivered online to families nationwide.
- School Partnership & After-School STEAM Programs STEAM enrichment and after-school science programming licensed to and delivered at partner K-12 elementary schools, providing on-site instructor-led sessions aligned with the company's hands-on STEAM curriculum.
Quantifiable outcome
- Camps operate Monday through Friday, one to four weeks per session
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Destinnation Science
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Destinnation Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
Destinnation Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Iona College (Bronxville)minorCamp location venue partner hosting Destination Science in-person summer camps at their campus in Bronxville, NY.
- Adelphi University (Garden City)minorUniversity campus venue partner for Destination Science summer camp programs in Garden City, NY.
- Sacramento State UniversityminorUniversity campus venue partner for Destination Science summer camps in Sacramento, CA area.
- City of Beverly Hills Recreation DivisionminorMunicipal recreation partner operating Destination Science camps under their city recreation program with separate registration via rec1.com.
- City of Irvine RecreationminorCity recreation department that handles registration independently for Destination Science camps at community parks (Cypress Community Park, Las Lomas, Los Olivos).
- Stratford School (Multiple Locations)minorPrivate school partner hosting Destination Science camps at multiple locations including Fremont, Los Gatos, Milpitas, San Bruno, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale campuses.
- City of Tustin RecreationminorMunicipal recreation partner handling separate registration for camps at The Annex at Tustin Legacy location.
- BASIS Independent School (Bellevue)minorPrivate school venue partner for Destination Science camps in Bellevue, WA.
- South Coast Botanic Garden (Palos Verdes)minorBotanical garden venue partner for Destination Science camps in Palos Verdes, CA.
- Various Churches, Synagogues, and Community CentersminorFaith-based and community organizations hosting camps at locations including St. Luke's Lutheran Church (Bellevue), First Lutheran Church (Bothell), Eastside Christian School (Bellevue), and others across operating regions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Destinnation Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- iD Tech: iD Tech is a large, established operator of STEM and tech-focused summer camps (coding, robotics, game design) for K-12 students, including online options. Overlaps with Destination Science in robotics and engineering themes, but skews older and more tech-focused.
- Steve & Kate's Camp: Steve & Kate's Camp operates multi-week, multi-activity day camps for ages 4-15 across multiple U.S. states. Overlaps with Destination Science on flexible in-person day camp format, week-by-week enrollment, and target family demographic, but offers a broader (non-STEM-only) activity mix.
Direct peers
- Galileo Learning: Galileo operates week-long themed day camps (including a strong STEM/Innovation strand) for elementary-age children across multiple states. Comparable on in-person week-long format, age band, themed curriculum, and parent-direct registration.
- Mad Science Group: Mad Science is one of the largest franchised providers of hands-on science camps, after-school programs, and birthday parties for elementary-aged children. Highly comparable business model: themed in-person camps, STEM curriculum, franchise/reseller network, and direct-to-consumer parent registration.
- Club SciKidz: Club SciKidz operates themed science and technology summer day camps for elementary and middle schoolers across multiple U.S. states. Directly comparable on target age (5-11+), weekly tuition model, and multi-state franchise footprint.
- Engineering For Kids: Engineering For Kids offers STEM camps, after-school programs, and birthday parties focused on engineering for ages 4-14 via a franchise network. Direct overlap on engineering-themed in-person camps and elementary age band.
Emerging players
- Snapology: Snapology provides STEM enrichment programs (camps, classes, birthday parties) using LEGO and similar building tools for ages 3-14, with a franchise model. Comparable in age band, camp format, and STEM enrichment focus.
- Empow Studios: Empow Studios provides STEM-focused summer camps, after-school programs, and classes for elementary and middle schoolers, with a mix of in-person and online offerings. Comparable on age band, STEM themes, and hybrid delivery model.
- Bricks 4 Kidz: Bricks 4 Kidz delivers STEM-focused camps, after-school classes, and parties using LEGO-based engineering projects for elementary-age children via a franchise model. Comparable on hands-on engineering/STEM delivery and age band.
Regional players
- Science Explorers: Science Explorers runs hands-on science summer camps, after-school clubs, and birthday parties primarily in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. for elementary-aged kids. Strong direct product overlap, with different geographic footprint than Destination Science.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Destinnation Science social profiles
Digital presenceDestinnation Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Destinnation Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Destinnation Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Destinnation Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Destinnation Science
What does Destinnation Science do?
Destination Science designs and delivers hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) science camps and after-school enrichment programs for children ages 5-11, offered both in-person at 130+ partner locations across six states and as live interactive online camps. Each session includes age-appropriate experiments led by trained instructors, with families and schools paying per-camp tuition for participation.
Is Destinnation Science a public or private company?
Destinnation Science is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Destinnation Science founded?
Destinnation Science was founded in 2013. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Destinnation Science based?
Destinnation Science is headquartered in Orange, United States, in the North America region.
How does Destinnation Science make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. In-Person Summer Camp Tuition is the primary driver. The others are virtual/Online Camp Programs, after-School Clubs and holiday Camps.
Who are Destinnation Science's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are iD Tech and Steve & Kate's Camp. Direct peers are Galileo Learning, Mad Science Group, Club SciKidz and Engineering For Kids. Emerging players are Snapology, Empow Studios and Bricks 4 Kidz. Science Explorers is listed as a regional player.
Does Destinnation Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Destinnation Science.
What industry is Destinnation Science in?
Destinnation Science's product category is Children's STEAM Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAC, STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science), with a secondary code of EDAMALAE, Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps. Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7900.