Makerspace Summer Camps
Nature Makers: Heroes, Villains, and Habitats
Overview
Every week, campers will use hands-on professional maker equipment and tools, including laser engravers, woodworking tools, custom apparel printers, button makers, and more.
This summer, we’re exploring makerspace creativity through the lens of nature. Who are nature’s heroes? Who are its villains? You might be surprised
We believe nature is the original makerspace. From web-weaving spiders to honey-making bees, nature is full of engineers, architects, and problem-solvers.
Nature Makers campers will dive into local ecosystems and wildlife, using our state-of-the-art makerspace equipment to create unique, tangible projects inspired by nature’s fascinating stories,
Pricing and Details
Pricing:
- Half-Day Camp: $360/week
- Full-Day Camp: $560/week
- 20% sibling discount available
- Multi-Session packages available. 10% off second week and 15% off third week and beyond.
Weekly Camp Schedule:
- Monday - Friday
- Full Day: 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM
- Half Day AM: 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM
- Half Day PM: 11:45 AM to 4:00 PM
- Extended Camp: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM available ($10/hour)
- Friday “Kid’s Night Out”: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM ($60, includes pizza)
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What Makes Our Camps Special?
Our camps are uniquely makerspace-focused. Each week, campers actively engage with professional maker equipment—laser engravers, custom apparel printers, woodworking tools, button makers, and more—to explore, create, and build projects inspired by nature.
Hands-On Making
Campers use real maker tools to design and build unique creations inspired by their discoveries.
STEAM Learning in Action
Every project blends science, art, and technology, transforming ideas into take-home creations.
Outdoor Exploration
Guided nature walks, wildlife journaling, and ecosystem investigations in our own backyard.
Each Week, Your Camper Will Take Home:
Half-day campers may participate in only some activities.
2D Art Creation
Canvas Painting, Block Printing, Water color, acrylic
Textiles
T-shirts, hats, totes, aprons, tie-dye, hand prints
3D Art Creation
Clay sculpting, rock painting, molds, bees wax
Maker Tech
Laser engraving, buttons, vinyl stickers, wood plaques
Plant to Nurture
Bring home a living piece of nature
Nature Journal
Document your nature discoveries, sketches, and creative writing in your very own personalized journal
Does your child love art and technology? Each week, through our custom apparel activities, campers dive into the world of wearable art!
They'll design nature-themed graphics and then learn how to professionally print them onto items like shirts, bags, and more using innovative Direct-to-Film (DTF) and Sublimation printing methods.
Under instructor guidance, they'll safely perform all kid-friendly steps in the printing process, learning basic digital design and getting hands-on experience with professional textile printing methods.
Campers explore a new apparel item every week – from t-shirts to hats and bags – each presenting a fun printing puzzle to solve! How do you print on a curved hat? They'll discover the techniques and create unique designs on a variety of items. And then they'll proudly wear and take home a personalized item they designed and printed themselves, along with new skills and lasting camp memories!
Does your child love art and technology? Each week, through our custom apparel activities, campers dive into the world of wearable art!
They'll design nature-themed graphics and then learn how to professionally print them onto items like shirts, bags, and more using innovative Direct-to-Film (DTF) and Sublimation printing methods.
Under instructor guidance, they'll safely perform all kid-friendly steps in the printing process, learning basic digital design and getting hands-on experience with professional textile printing methods.
Campers explore a new apparel item every week – from t-shirts to hats and bags – each presenting a fun printing puzzle to solve! How do you print on a curved hat? They'll discover the techniques and create unique designs on a variety of items. And then they'll proudly wear and take home a personalized item they designed and printed themselves, along with new skills and lasting camp memories!
Is your child a budding builder or inventor? In our Maker Tech activities, each week campers explore hands-on technology and learn to create amazing personalized keepsakes!
They'll design nature-themed projects and then use exciting tools like 3D printers, laser engravers, button makers, and sticker printers to bring their ideas to life on wood, plastic, buttons, and vinyl.
With our instructors' guidance, campers will safely learn kid-friendly techniques and develop basic maker skills, gaining hands-on experience with real maker technologies.
Every week brings a new maker challenge and project – from designing 3D-printed creations and laser-engraved wooden signs to creating custom buttons and stickers. They'll discover how these tools work and take home unique, professionally-crafted keepsakes, along with valuable maker skills and awesome camp memories!
In our 2D Art Creations activities, each week campers explore vibrant artistic techniques and learn to create stunning nature-inspired artwork!
They'll dive into canvas painting, block printing, and more, while also using exciting makerspace tools like vinyl cutters to add precise details and professional touches to their art.
With our instructors' guidance, campers will safely learn kid-friendly art methods and develop basic 2D art skills, gaining hands-on experience blending traditional art with modern makerspace technology.
Every week brings a new artistic project – from creating canvas paintings with vinyl stencils to designing unique block prints inspired by nature. They'll discover how technology can enhance their artistic vision and take home original, professionally-enhanced artworks, along with valuable art skills and awesome camp memories!
Is your child fascinated by sculpting and building in three dimensions? In our 3D Art Creations activity each week, campers unleash their tactile creativity and learn to craft incredible nature-inspired 3D art using clay, rocks, beeswax, and innovative technology!
They'll sculpt clay, paint rocks, and create beeswax art, and then explore how 3D printing can add exciting new possibilities. They might use 3D-printed molds to create intricate shapes, 3D-printed tools to enhance their sculpting, or 3D-printed elements to incorporate into their mixed-media 3D artworks.
With expert guidance, campers will safely experiment with various 3D art techniques and develop their sculptural skills, gaining hands-on experience combining traditional 3D art with the innovative world of 3D printing.
Each week is a new 3D art adventure – from sculpting detailed clay creations with 3D-printed molds to designing rock art that incorporates unique 3D-printed features. They'll proudly take home original, tech-integrated 3D artworks, along with valuable art skills and lasting camp memories!
Summer Schedule
Weekly STEAM Schedule
Each day of camp is dedicated to a different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) topic.
Science/Social Studies Mondays
Get prepared for the week. Explore local ecosystems and history, conduct experiments, and observe nature up close.
Technology Tuesdays
Create two custom take-home makerspace projects using Canva, laser engravers, apparel printers, and more!
Engineering Wednesdays
Design and model fauna and natural world-inspired structures and habitats.
Art Thursdays
Express creativity with painting, clay, drawing, and nature-based crafts.
Math Fridays
Discover and chart patterns in nature, track wildlife data, and solve real-world challenges.
Daily Schedule
Morning Session
8:15am - 9:00am: Morning Dropoff/PE
Energize with movement ("PE")
before the heat! Morning snack time (bring your own snack/breakfast). Sprouting and plant activities. Blender blizzards - fruit and veggie blends.
9:00am - 9:30am: Observation Walk
Guided walk to explore nature, use field journals
& magnifying glasses. Uncover the week's theme outdoors!
9:30am - 11:30am: STEAM Activity Time
In-depth explorations related to the daily STEAM
topic: Mondays - Science, Tuesdays - Technology, Wednesdays - Engineering,
Thursdays - Art, Fridays - Math.
11:30am - 12:00pm: Lunch
Bring your own lunch!
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Music Appreciation and Movement
Get active indoors and escape the midday heat through
music appreciation and movement.
12:30pm: Morning Pickup
Kid's Night Out
Every Friday: 4pm - 9pm. Sign up online!
Afternoon Session
11:45 AM - 12:15pm: Afternoon Dropoff and Lunch
Bring your own lunch!
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM Music Appreciation and Movement
Get active indoors and escape the midday heat through
music appreciation.
12:30pm - 2:30pm: STEAM Activity Time
In-depth explorations related to the daily STEAM
topic: Mondays - Science, Tuesdays - Technology, Wednesdays - Engineering,
Thursdays - Art, Fridays - Math.
2:30pm - 2:45pm: Snack Break
Quick snack break to refuel for afternoon activities.
2:45pm - 3:50pm: Writer's Workshop/Improv
Creative writing prompts, nature journaling,
themed stories, drawing/illustration. Improvisation: fauna drama.
3:50pm - 4:00pm - Afternoon Pickup
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4:00pm - 5:50pm: Extended Camp Time
Fun extended camp! Free play time with chess, games, robotics, art, clay, blocks, karaoke, dance, puzzles, and more fun activities.
5:50pm - 6:00pm: Extended Camp Pickup
4:00pm to 9:00pm: Kid's Night Out (Sign Up Online For Friday Nights!)
Meet Our Lead Teacher
Ms. Susan brings over 30 years of teaching experience to our makerspace, working with kids of all ages. She holds a K-8 multiple subject teaching credential, a degree in liberal arts and linguistics with an emphasis on writing and biology, and has a background running classrooms, summer camps, enrichment programs, and tutoring. Ms. Susan fosters a fun, supportive, and creative environment where students can explore and grow.
In the makerspace, she loves helping kids bring their ideas to life through hands-on projects using clay, painting, and fabric design. She's excited to see what amazing creations the students make this summer!
Outside the classroom, she enjoys gardening and baking. She is also a volunteer for a local dog rescue, where she fosters dogs until they find their forever homes.
