The SUNY Poly Spotlight Series is a robust collection of camps for kids and teens as well as events and workshops for people of all ages. Showcasing the expertise of SUNY Poly faculty and staff and our Mohawk Valley community, the series provides opportunities for fun and learning in the areas of STEM, the arts, athletics, wellness, and more.
Have an idea for an event? Email us at events@sunypoly.edu and let us know!
The gold listings are workshops or camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.
The green listings are athletic camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.
The blue listings are events and workshops for community members of all ages.
| 💃🏻🕺🏻 Salsa Dance Lessons for Beginners: Session Three: 6/11/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, June 11
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, 2nd Floor, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Instructor: Dr. Pallavi Gupta-Bouder, Professor of Biology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: There is nothing more freeing than dancing. This introductory ballroom dancing class offers a fun and welcoming environment where beginners can learn the basic steps and techniques. Join us and immerse yourself in Latin rhythms and beats of Salsa. This lesson, offered by our experienced instructor, Pallavi Gupta-Bouder, Ph.D., focuses on rhythm, footwork, and partner connection. No age limit and no prior dance experience or partner is required, making it the perfect opportunity to gain confidence on the dance floor while enjoying social interactions. Please bring a pair of shoes with smooth bottom. Let the Latin party get started!
Fee: $10 per person
Deadline: Register by Thursday, June 11 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| 💃🏻🕺🏻 Salsa Dance Lessons for Beginners: Session #4: 6/18/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, 2nd Floor, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Instructor: Dr. Pallavi Gupta-Bouder, Professor of Biology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: There is nothing more freeing than dancing. This introductory ballroom dancing class offers a fun and welcoming environment where beginners can learn the basic steps and techniques. Join us and immerse yourself in Latin rhythms and beats of Salsa. This lesson, offered by our experienced instructor, Pallavi Gupta-Bouder, Ph.D., focuses on rhythm, footwork, and partner connection. No age limit and no prior dance experience or partner is required, making it the perfect opportunity to gain confidence on the dance floor while enjoying social interactions. Please bring a pair of shoes with smooth bottom. Let the Latin party get started!
Fee: $10 per person
Deadline: Register by Thursday, June 18 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| 🏀 Boys and Girls Basketball Camp: 6/29/26 - 7/2/26 (Pre-Collegiate Athletic Camp, Ages 7-14) |
Date: Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 2
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Rob Schoener and Jessica Skelton, Head Basketball Coaches for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Come join the SUNY Poly Men's & Women's Basketball Coaches for four days of basketball fun! Days will consist of small group instruction in areas such as shooting, passing, defense & other skills. Team games will take place culminating in camp championships and there will be various contests & competitions throughout the week. Lunch in the Student Center is included in the cost of registration.
Fee: $200.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Friday, June 27 at Noon
Participants: 120 (Max)
Age Range: 7 years old - 14 years old
Register Now!
| 💪🏻 Strength and Conditioning Summer Camp: 7/20/26 - 7/23/26 (Pre-Collegiate Athletic Camp, Ages 14-18) |
Date: Monday, July 20 – Thursday, July 23
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, 2nd Floor, Fitness Center, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Patrick Hanlon, CSCS, M.S., SCCC, Athletic Performance Coach and Fitness Center Coordinator at SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Get a look into how a college strength and conditioning program is run. With supervised work on speed and agility sessions, weight training with focuses on form and technique, and a look into how college athletes condition for their sport. This camp gives you a unique opportunity to work with Coach Patrick and see how SUNY Poly's athletes train both in season and out of season to be the best athletes they can be.
Fee: $150.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Sunday, July 19 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max)
Age Range: 14 years old - 18 years old
Register Now!
| ⚾ SUNY Poly Baseball Prospect Clinic: 8/5/26 (Camp, Ages 15-18) |
Date: Wednesday, August 5
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Peter A. Spina Baseball Field, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: During the SUNY Poly Baseball Prospect Clinic, you will have a chance to showcase your skills to members of the current SUNY Poly Baseball coaching staff. The beginning of the clinic will include an instructional portion broken down by position, followed by a showcase portion of the clinic which will include running, fielding, and throwing. The last portion of the clinic will include gameplay with live pitching wrapped up by a recruiting talk, and a chance for questions.
Fee: $75.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Monday, August 3 at Noon
Participants: 50 (Max), 10 (Min)
Age Range: 15 years old – 18 years old
Register Now!
| 🛸 Drone Soccer Bootcamp (Free 4-Day Camp for Ages 12-18) |
Date: Monday, August 10 – Thursday, August 13
Time: 12:30 PM-4:30 PM (Lunch is provided)
Location: Electronics Lab G219, Ground Floor, Donovan Hall, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Description: Take flight in one of the most exciting and educational team-based STEM experiences available! The Drone Soccer Bootcamp introduces students to the cutting-edge world of drone technology through the fast-paced, full-contact sport of Drone Soccer. This program challenges students to build, program, and fly professional-grade drone enclosed in protective exoskeletons designed specifically for collisions and competitive play.
Working in teams, participants fly their drones within a netted arena where they must protect their goal and strategically support their “striker,” the only drone eligible to score by flying through a suspended hoop. Students gain hands-on experience with aerodynamics, electronics, programming, and engineering, while also strengthening vital soft skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
No prior drone flying experience is required, just a willingness to learn.
Fee: Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Assured Information Security (AIS) this camp is free for all participants.
Deadline: Register by Monday, July 27 a Noon
Participants: 20 (Max)
Age Range: 12 – 18 years old
Presenter: CNY Drones
Register Now!
| 🛰️ Signals in the Sky: A High-Tech Communication Adventure! (6-8th Grade) |
Date: Monday, August 10 – Thursday, August 13
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Lunch is provided)
Location: Electronics Lab G219, Ground Floor, Donovan Hall, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Description: Have you ever wondered how your favorite YouTube video travels through the air to reach your phone, or how astronauts talk to Earth from the Moon? Welcome to Signals in the Sky, a four-day journey into the invisible world of waves and wireless wonders!
From the tiny signals in our pockets to the massive satellites orbiting our planet, students will become "Communication Engineers" as they unlock the secrets of the electromagnetic spectrum. It’s not just about tech—it’s about how we connect the world!
What We’ll Explore:
● Day 1: The Magic of Invisible Waves 🌈 We kick things off by making the invisible, visible! Students will build their own spectroscopes, hunt for hidden signals, and use flashlights to send secret "coded" messages to their teammates. Big Thought: Signals are just patterns of energy that we can control!
● Day 2: The Great Signal Obstacle Course 🏃♂️ Why do some radio signals travel around the world while others stop at a wall? We’ll use lasers, mirrors, and walkie-talkies to see how signals bounce, bend, and travel across campus.
● Day 3: Building the Network 📱 Ever wonder how millions of people use cell phones at the same time without crossing wires? Kids will "become" a human cellular network and build their very own radios and antennas to hear the world in a whole new way.
● Day 4: To Infinity and Beyond! 🚀 On our final day, we look up! We’ll explore how GPS and satellites work, track objects in orbit, and tackle our Capstone Challenge: designing a communication system for a base on Mars or a remote tropical island.
Features:
● Hands-On Learning: We trade textbooks for thermal cameras, lasers, and satellite trackers.
● Teamwork & Strategy: Students work together to create their own "secret codes" and solve real-world problems.
● Future-Ready Skills: We break down complex concepts like Frequency and Satellites into fun, easy-to-grab ideas that spark a lifelong interest in STEM.
Ready to join the broadcast? Let’s get connected!
Fee: $100 per student. Includes lunch in SUNY Poly's Student Center. This camp is being supported by a local chapter of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Deadline: Register by Monday, August 3 at Noon
Participants: 20 (Max)
Age Range: 6th to 8th grade students
Girl Scout Badges: Eligible to be part of the Journey: Think Like an Engineer Badge for Cadette (Grades 6-8)
Register Now!
| 🏐 Women’s Volleyball Camp: 8/17/26 – 8/20/26 (Athletic Camp, Ages 14-18) |
Date: Monday, August 17 – Thursday, August 20
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dan Short, Head Men's & Women's Volleyball Coach for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Come join the SUNY Poly Men's and Women's Volleyball Coaches for four days of volleyball learning and fun! Days will consist of small group instruction in areas serving, passing, hitting & other skills. Plenty competitive games will take place throughout the four days ending in a large amount of six-on-six play. If you have more than one child that you’d like to register, please contact Dan Short at shortdk1@sunypoly.edufor a discount.
Fee: $200.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Monday, August 10 at Noon
Age Range: 14 years old - 18 years old
Participants: 60 (Max) & 20 (Min)
Register Now!
| 🏐 Men’s Volleyball Camp: 8/17/26 – 8/20/26 (Athletic Camp, Ages 14-18) |
Date: Monday, August 17 – Thursday, August 20
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dan Short, Head Men's & Women's Volleyball Coach for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Come join the SUNY Poly Men's and Women's Volleyball Coaches for four days of volleyball learning and fun! Days will consist of small group instruction in areas serving, passing, hitting & other skills. Plenty competitive games will take place throughout the four days ending in a large amount of six-on-six play. If you have more than one child that you’d like to register, please contact Dan Short at shortdk1@sunypoly.edufor a discount.
Fee: $200.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Monday, August 10 at Noon
Participants: 120 (Max)
Age Range: 14 years old - 18 years old
Participants: 60 (Max) & 20 (Min)
Register Now!
| 🎤 From Utica to the Nation: A Conversation with Ryan Nobles, NBC News’ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent: 10/3/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors Open at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Instructor: Ryan Nobles, NBC News’ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent
Description: SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), sponsored by the SUNY Poly Center for Business and Applied Ethics and in partnership with WKTV NewsChannel 2, will welcome award-winning journalist Ryan Nobles to the Wildcat Field House on Saturday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. for an event called, “From Utica to the Nation: A Conversation with Ryan Nobles, NBC News’ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent.”
Ryan Nobles is NBC News’ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent based in Washington, D.C. He regularly appears across NBC News platforms, including TODAY, NBC Nightly News, NBC News NOW and NBCNews.com. Nobles also serves as a fill-in anchor on NBC News NOW, most often on Meet the Press NOW.
Nobles joined NBC News in 2022, covering Capitol Hill and reporting on major national and international news stories. His work has included coverage of congressional negotiations, federal policy debates, government funding discussions, and breaking political developments, with his reporting and interviews regularly drawing national attention.
In addition to his Capitol Hill reporting, Nobles has traveled internationally with congressional delegations, covering meetings between U.S. lawmakers and foreign leaders, as well as broader geopolitical and diplomatic issues. He has also led coverage of several major national investigations and legal proceedings involving prominent public figures.
Prior to joining NBC News, Nobles spent eight years at CNN as a Congressional Correspondent, where he covered some of the nation’s most consequential political stories, investigations, and election cycles. He reported extensively on Capitol Hill, presidential campaigns, and major national events, while also contributing breaking news and in-depth political coverage from across the country. Nobles began his tenure at CNN Newsource, where he covered the 2016 presidential campaign for local stations nationwide.
Ryan started his career in local news at Utica’s own WKTV NewsChannel 2, before heading to WTEN in Albany and then ultimately WWBT in Richmond, VA. In Richmond, Nobles had a front row seat to the presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012, and has conducted three sit-down interviews with former President Barack Obama.
Nobles has been nominated for a national Emmy award and has won two local Emmy awards and an Edward R. Murrow award for breaking news coverage. Ryan was named to the inaugural class of the WBSU Hall of Fame which honors alumni of his award-winning college radio station.
He is a native of Western New York and a graduate of the State University College at Brockport, where he served as the student body president. He also earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. Nobles and his wife Karey live in Northern Virginia with their four children.
The conversation will be moderated by WKTV, creating a unique full-circle moment connecting his local roots with his national role. The special moderated conversation will provide students, faculty, staff, and community members with an opportunity to hear directly from one of the nation’s leading political journalists about Congress, media, public service, and ethical leadership. Organizers are also exploring opportunities for others to submit questions in advance for consideration during the program.
Tickets will be available to the public on Wednesday, September 2 at noon. Community members are encouraged to reserve seats early once registration opens as all tickets are first-come, first-served.
