Design a city you’d actually want to live in. In this 5-day maker camp, campers become architects, engineers, and community planners as they build a collaborative mini neighborhood—complete with buildings, parks, transportation, and clean-energy features.
Using cardboard, craft materials, and simple mechanisms, students will create structures with moving parts (doors, bridges, elevators, signs), then add “smart city” details like streetlights, wind/solar demos, and community services. Along the way, campers learn the basics of sustainability (energy, waste, water, green space) and practice real-world skills: planning, prototyping, testing, and working as a team.
The week ends with an Eco-City Pop-Up Showcase, where families and visitors tour the neighborhood, push the buttons, spin the turbines, and see how each student’s build contributes to a city that works for everyone. as kinetic art, circuitry, game design, movement, architecture, engineering and more!
Notes:
We teach proper tool usage and expect that all campers use the tools we provide. We use real hammers, nails, screws, and screwdrivers, etc. We use real HOT glue guns. We do not use cool touch or low heat guns. We do not use "protective" hand-wear with our tools. Sometimes we get small burns or little bruises. It is part of the learning and making process.
Class Requirements
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REGISTERING
- We are a small, process art and STEM studio. We don't have an outdoor space, though we do some stretching, dance, and movement during the camp day. Our physical space impacts our scheduling, which is why our camp is not the length of a full school day, and why we only offer a small window of extended day care. When you walk into our studio, what you see is what you get! Because we don't have separate rooms or other spaces for campers to work in, we have the expectation that kids of all ages work together on projects.
- As veteran classroom teachers, with 30+ years of experience between us, we see the indelible value of kids in this age range working and learning together. If this does not sound appealing to you or your child, or you are looking for something catered to a very specific age range or tech skill, please consider this before registering as we do not issue any refunds for camps.
What you'll learn
- This camp offers a combination of project work and exploratory activities to engage kids in art, craft, engineering, and tech activities.
Sample Class Format
- Sample Schedule: Times and Activities subject to change
- 10:00 -10:30 STEAM Project Workshop
- 10:30 -10:45 Snack/break
- 10:45 -11:30 Process Art Activity
- 11:30 -12:30 Outdoor Lunch Break and Movement
- 12:30 -1:00 STEAM Workshop (con't from morning Worskhop)
- 1:00 -2:00 Engineering & Exploration
- 2:00-2:30 Pick Up
What to Bring:
- Water bottle
- Lunch and snacks (please do not send anything that needs to be heated or refrigerated
- Dress in layers
- Wear close-toed shoes- tennis shoes preferred
