Science camps for kids. 19 Best STEM Summer Camps for Kids: Nurturing Young Minds in 2021

Where can you find the top STEM summer camps for children in 2021. How do these programs benefit young learners. Which camps offer the best mix of science, technology, engineering, and math activities.

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Unleashing Potential: The Importance of STEM Summer Camps

STEM summer camps have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering children unique opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in engaging and interactive ways. These camps provide a fertile ground for young minds to develop crucial skills that will serve them well in their future academic and professional endeavors.

Why are STEM camps so beneficial for children? They foster:

Problem-solving abilities
Critical thinking skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Communication proficiency
Decision-making capabilities
Creativity and innovation

With numerous options available across the United States, parents can easily find a suitable STEM camp for their children. Let’s explore some of the top choices for 2021.

iD Tech: Pioneering Tech Education for Young Innovators

iD Tech stands out as a leader in technology-focused summer camps, catering to children and teens aged 7-19. What sets iD Tech apart from other STEM camps?

Wide range of programs covering coding, robotics, game development, and design
Over 150 locations to choose from
Options for co-ed or girls-only camps
International presence in the US, UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore

One of the unique aspects of iD Tech is its partnership with prestigious universities, allowing students to experience campus life while learning valuable computer science skills. Do these camps only run during summer? No, iD Tech offers both online and in-person programs throughout the year, providing flexibility for busy families.

iD Tech’s Comprehensive Approach

iD Tech’s curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire young tech enthusiasts. How do they achieve this? By offering:

Hands-on projects that mirror real-world applications
Instruction from passionate and experienced educators
Small class sizes for personalized attention
Access to cutting-edge technology and software

This comprehensive approach ensures that participants not only learn technical skills but also develop a deep understanding of how these technologies shape our world.

Camp Supernow: Igniting Imagination Through Virtual Adventures

In the era of digital learning, Camp Supernow has emerged as a standout option for younger children aged 4-10. How does Camp Supernow bring STEM education to life in a virtual setting?

Camp Supernow creates an immersive online experience that transports children to a magical campground each week. Through live interactions with expert instructors and fellow campers worldwide, children embark on thrilling adventures that blend STEM concepts with creativity and imagination.

Themed Explorations at Camp Supernow

What kind of themes can children expect at Camp Supernow? Some examples include:

Eco-Exploration in the Piney Forest
Intergalactic Encounters at the Super Observatory
Fables and Fairytales at the Campfire

These engaging themes serve as a backdrop for daily missions, crafts, and activities that keep children excited and motivated throughout their virtual camp experience. How does Camp Supernow ensure continuous engagement? By providing a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities, allowing children to stay connected with their camp community while also pursuing independent projects.

Chess4Life: Cultivating Strategic Thinking Through the Royal Game

Chess4Life offers a unique approach to STEM education by focusing on the timeless game of chess. How does chess contribute to STEM learning? Chess develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills â€“ all essential components of STEM fields.

Chess4Life provides a range of online programs for children aged 5-15, including:

Interactive chess classes
Chess clubs
Seasonal and summer camps
Tournaments

What makes Chess4Life stand out among other chess programs? Their curriculum goes beyond teaching chess moves, emphasizing life skills such as respect, sportsmanship, and patience.

Chess4Life’s Comprehensive Online Offerings

How does Chess4Life structure its online programs to cater to different skill levels and interests?

Premium classes: Small-group learning with individual progress tracking
Online chess clubs: Daily lessons and tournament practice
Virtual chess camps: Engaging chess lessons combined with extracurricular activities like art and drama
Online Quad Tournaments: Exciting, rated tournament play for competitive practice

This multi-faceted approach ensures that children can find the right fit for their chess journey, whether they’re beginners or advanced players.

Code Advantage: Empowering Young Coders for the Digital Age

In today’s technology-driven world, coding has become an essential skill. Code Advantage recognizes this need and offers top-notch online coding classes for children aged 6-13. What sets Code Advantage apart from other coding camps?

Project-based curriculum that deepens understanding and fosters enjoyment of coding
Focus on developing innovation, imagination, and critical thinking skills
Diverse program offerings including game development, robotics, and Minecraft-based learning
Low student-to-teacher ratio (7:1) for personalized attention

How does Code Advantage ensure quality instruction? By employing expert instructors with relevant credentials and experience in teaching coding to children.

Tailored Learning Experiences at Code Advantage

Code Advantage recognizes that every child has unique learning needs and interests. How do they address this? By offering:

Group classes for collaborative learning
Private coding lessons for focused, individualized instruction
A variety of programming languages and platforms to explore

This flexibility allows children to find the learning environment and subject matter that best suits their goals and learning style.

AstroCamp: Blending Adventure with Space Science

For children who dream of exploring the cosmos, AstroCamp offers an unparalleled summer experience. Located in Idyllwild, CA, this 100-acre facility combines traditional summer camp activities with cutting-edge STEM education focused on space science.

What can children expect at AstroCamp?

Hands-on learning in state-of-the-art labs
Studies in outer space, physical science, and earth science
Exploration of the natural world
Traditional camp activities like rock climbing, arts and crafts, and biking

AstroCamp welcomes boys and girls aged 8-17, offering both one-week and two-week sessions. How does AstroCamp balance education and fun? By integrating STEM learning into exciting outdoor adventures, creating a truly immersive experience.

AstroCamp’s Unique Astronomy Focus

What sets AstroCamp apart from other STEM camps? Its specialized focus on astronomy and space science. Campers receive expert training in astronomy, using advanced equipment and techniques to explore the night sky. This hands-on approach not only teaches scientific concepts but also inspires a sense of wonder about the universe.

Camp EDMO: Fostering Holistic Growth Through STEM and SEL

Camp EDMO takes a unique approach to STEM education by incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) into its curriculum. How does this combination benefit children? By nurturing not only their academic skills but also their emotional intelligence and interpersonal abilities.

What does Camp EDMO offer?

In-person programs with smaller, safer group sizes
A mix of science, technology, maker, and art activities
Programs suitable for children entering various grade levels
Integration of SEL principles throughout all activities

Camp EDMO’s approach ensures that children develop a well-rounded skill set that prepares them for future academic and personal challenges.

The EDMO Method: A Holistic Approach to Learning

How does Camp EDMO integrate STEM and SEL in its programs? Through the EDMO Method, which focuses on:

Curiosity: Encouraging children to ask questions and explore
Courage: Building confidence to tackle new challenges
Kindness: Fostering empathy and cooperation
Responsibility: Teaching accountability for actions and decisions

This method creates a supportive environment where children can develop both their intellectual and emotional capabilities.

Choosing the Right STEM Summer Camp for Your Child

With so many excellent STEM summer camps available, how can parents make the best choice for their child? Consider the following factors:

Your child’s age and interests
The camp’s focus areas (e.g., coding, robotics, space science)
Location and format (in-person vs. virtual)
Duration and scheduling options
Cost and financial aid opportunities
Safety measures and protocols, especially for in-person camps

It’s also important to involve your child in the decision-making process. Discuss the options together and consider their preferences and goals for the summer.

Maximizing the STEM Camp Experience

How can parents help their children get the most out of their STEM summer camp experience?

Encourage enthusiasm and curiosity about the subject matter
Help your child set personal goals for what they want to learn or achieve
Discuss their daily experiences and discoveries
Explore ways to continue learning and applying new skills after the camp ends
Consider enrolling in follow-up programs or workshops to build on their progress

By actively supporting your child’s STEM journey, you can help them develop a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Long-Term Impact of STEM Summer Camps

Participating in STEM summer camps can have a lasting impact on a child’s academic and professional trajectory. How do these experiences shape a child’s future?

Early exposure to STEM fields can spark long-term interest and career aspirations
Hands-on projects build confidence in tackling complex problems
Collaborative activities develop teamwork and communication skills essential for future success
Exposure to diverse STEM topics helps children discover their passions and strengths

Many STEM professionals cite early experiences like summer camps as influential in their career choices. By providing these opportunities, parents are investing in their child’s future potential.

Beyond Technical Skills: The Hidden Benefits of STEM Camps

While the focus is often on technical skills, STEM camps offer numerous additional benefits. What are some of these less obvious advantages?

Resilience: Learning to persevere through challenging projects
Creativity: Finding innovative solutions to complex problems
Time management: Balancing multiple tasks and deadlines
Self-advocacy: Learning to ask questions and seek help when needed
Cultural awareness: Interacting with diverse peers and instructors

These soft skills are invaluable in any field and contribute to a child’s overall personal development.

Preparing for a STEM-Driven Future

As technology continues to advance rapidly, STEM skills are becoming increasingly crucial in the job market. How can STEM summer camps help prepare children for this future?

Introducing cutting-edge technologies and concepts
Fostering adaptability and a growth mindset
Encouraging interdisciplinary thinking
Developing digital literacy and computational thinking skills

By participating in STEM camps, children gain a competitive edge and are better equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of education and employment.

The Role of Parents in Supporting STEM Education

How can parents continue to nurture their child’s interest in STEM beyond summer camps?

Encourage home experiments and projects
Visit science museums and attend STEM-related events
Provide access to educational resources and tools
Discuss STEM topics and their real-world applications
Support school initiatives that promote STEM education

By creating a STEM-rich environment at home, parents can reinforce and build upon the experiences gained at summer camps.

Evaluating the Success of STEM Summer Camps

How can parents and educators measure the effectiveness of STEM summer camps? While immediate enjoyment is important, the true value often lies in long-term outcomes. Consider the following indicators:

Increased interest in STEM subjects at school
Improved problem-solving skills and critical thinking
Greater confidence in tackling challenging tasks
Enhanced ability to work collaboratively
Pursuit of additional STEM learning opportunities

Many camps also offer pre- and post-program assessments to measure specific skill improvements. Parents can use these tools to track their child’s progress and identify areas for further development.

The Future of STEM Summer Camps

As technology and educational practices evolve, what trends can we expect in STEM summer camps?

Increased integration of virtual and augmented reality
Greater focus on emerging fields like artificial intelligence and machine learning
More emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, combining STEM with arts and humanities
Expansion of year-round programs and micro-camps
Enhanced personalization through adaptive learning technologies

These advancements will continue to make STEM education more engaging, accessible, and effective for learners of all ages and backgrounds.

19 Best STEM Summer Camps For Your Child 2021

STEM summer camps provide valuable skills for your child which can be used in their future careers. In these camps your children learn things like problem solving, communication, teamwork, and decision making.

Luckily, there are many Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) summer camps in almost every city in the US making it both convenient and easy for parents to enroll their child in one. Here is a list we came up with on some of the top STEM based summer camps in the U.S.

Top 19 STEM Summer Camps 2021

Whether you want them to spend their summer living on campus, or just attending a 9-to-5 camp, you’ll find several options here.

iD Tech

If your child is into coding, robotics, game development or design and wants to choose from over 150 locations, this tech camp is for them. Anyone between the ages of 7 and 19 is welcomed at iD Tech camps.

You can simply choose from camps that are co-ed or girls-only. iD Tech is available in the US, UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore. The iD Tech STEM camps are an amazing opportunity for your child to grow their knowledge and learn computer science skills from incredible teachers while enjoying their summer at prestigious universities.

Whether you’re looking for online programs or in-person camps during the summer or even during the school year, iD Tech offers amazing choices.

Camp Supernow

Supernow offers STEM-based camps for kids ages 4-10. ‍Kids interact with live expert instructors and campers worldwide. They participate in immersive classes with a world-class program designed by experts to draw kids out of the screen and use their imagination based on the world around them.

Each week takes kids to a different corner of the magical Supernow campground. Their virtual summer camps have fun themes like Eco-Exploration in the Piney Forest, Intergalactic Encounters at the Super Observatory, Fables and Fairytales at the Campfire, and much more!

Kids are given daily at-home missions, crafts, and activities to keep them engaged all day long.

Chess4Life

Your child can learn what it takes to overcome any challenge, all while having fun! Chess4Life offers live, interactive online chess classes, clubs, camps, and tournaments for children 5-15 years old.

A small group of experienced coaches welcomes beginners through advanced players. They can take advantage of the cognitive benefits of chess – increased focus, patience, & critical thinking skills. The curriculum encourages students to build life skills like respect, sportsmanship, and patience!

Kids can join their online premium classes for small-group learning with individual progress tracking. The online chess clubs are great for daily lessons and tournament practice. Seasonal and summer virtual chess camps offer engaging daily chess lessons and tournaments plus extracurriculars like art, drama, and more. You can check out the weekly Online Quad Tournaments for exciting, rated tournament play!

Code Advantage

Code Advantage is one of the top choices for online coding classes for kids between 6-13. They’re project based curriculum helps children gain a deep understanding of coding while also growing to like it. They’re aim is to help children become more innovative and improve their imagination and critical thinking skills while having fun.

They have quite a few different programs that include things like game development, robotics, Minecraft and so much more. Campers are taught by expert instructions with credentials and previous experience.

With a 7:1 student to teacher ratio, Code Advantage offers amazing camps for students in a welcome and caring environment. For kids who want more focused learning, they also have private coding lessons for a suitable experience specifically made just for your child.

AstroCamp

AstroCamp is a summer adventure camp with a focus on STEM studies. If your child is looking for the traditional summer camp experience mixed in with educational STEM learning activities, this is the perfect option. Located in Idyllwild, CA, it has a 100-acre facility for kids to explore. Their labs have the latest technology that kids can use for their studies in outer space, physical and earth science, plus the natural world.

They have one and two-week sessions you can enroll them in. Apart from STEM education, kids can participate in fun activities like rock climbing, arts and crafts, biking, and many more! At AstroCamp, boys and girls from ages 8-17 will receive Astronomy training from experts in the field.

Camp Edmo

Camp EDMO® offers in-person programs with the same excitement that kids love but in safer and smaller groups. You can join them for an educational summer season filled with science, technology, maker, and art with a social emotional learning twist. The programs are suitable for kids entering pre-kindergarten all the way to 8th grade.

You also have the option of going with their online option, Camp EDMO Online. It offers 2.5-hour sessions every day, twice a day in the morning and afternoons. You can choose between one or two sessions and make a whole day of it! Kids can spend as much time out of their seats moving their bodies as they do absorbed in hands-on projects.

Create & Learn

Create & Learn offers fantastic online STEM camps designed by Google and Stanford experts. The camps are a great option if your child loves playing Roblox or Minecraft, is curious about how self-driving cars work, and want to learn how to make their own websites, mobile games and even app development.

Create & Learn’s have a maximum of 5 kids per class. They help children from kindergarten to 12th grade build confidence, improve creativity and critical thinking skills while learning next-generation technology that prepares them for future careers. Children with little to no coding skills can make use of their classes with beginner coding languages like Scratch. Those with more experience can practice their skills with Python.

The inquiry-based and project-based method of teaching at their STEM programs ensures kids’ learn computer science and have fun while developing a deep understanding.

Andover Summer at Phillips Academy

Andover Summer at Phillips Academy is a 5-week on-campus academic enrichment program for rising 7th-12th graders. Over 60-course options are available in multiple disciplines with a heavy emphasis on STEM-related content. Students in middle school and high school from across the globe engage with distinguished faculty through small classes and an experiential, hands-on style of learning.

Whether you’re looking to explore life on a premier boarding school campus or preparing for the rigors of the best colleges and universities, Andover Summer at Phillips Academy offers a in person transformative experience to last a lifetime.

Ivy Camps USA STEAM

The STEAM Summer Camp Program offered by Ivy Camps USA focuses on helping students ages 6-14 to discover the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through hands-on experiments, comprehensive instruction, and the pursuit of original projects led by students themselves. All their instructors come from top universities in the United States, such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, and more. They are specifically trained to help students develop skills to become innovators of tomorrow.

Ivy Camps USA offers two options for their online STEAM summer camp programs. The first program focuses on the science of building and transportation. The second program option focuses on educating students on how to think like an engineer using the Stanford design cycle and then has students apply those skills to city planning and design.

PlanetBravo

PlanetBravo offers virtual technology camps and in-person technology camps in California, with 10 locations in the state. Students can choose from over 18 different courses that include things like game development, Minecraft modding, video game design, graphic design, virtual robotics, and much more. There is an 8:1 teacher to student ratio to ensure that each child is getting the necessary attention.

PlanetBravo experienced instructors come from various backgrounds and have expertise in subjects like computer science, graphic design, engineering, robotics, and many others.

PlanetBravo is very careful about who they hire as an instructor and perform a thorough background check to ensure your child is getting the highest level of education from the top teachers. Apart from summer camps, they also have day school programs and after-school programs.

Excellence in STEAM Virtual Summer Camp

The UNC Charlotte Writing Project offers students in rising grades 5 to 8 the opportunity to write, engage in scientific inquiry, and explore the arts. Each session of these 5-day camps will center on a different theme, including anti-racism, urban gardening, and epidemiology. UNC Charlotte Teaching Fellows under faculty direction will facilitate groups of 4-6 students.

Prior to the first day, campers will receive a science kit containing materials for hands-on exploration and a journal. For more summer camp information, visit their website. For 40 years, the UNC Charlotte Writing Project has provided meaningful professional development around writing, discussion, and critical thinking to over 500 teachers through our Invitational Summer Institute and many more through our professional development workshops in area schools.

Since 2005, the UNC Charlotte Writing Project has led summer camps for elementary and middle school students. This year, through virtual offerings, summer enrichment opportunities are not limited to students in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area.

Camp:ASPIRE

Camp:ASPIRE from UBTECH Education offers virtual STEM summer programs focused on robotics, engineering, and AI for kids ages 8+ interested in these subjects or even a future career in it.

Professional instructors assists students and help them with real hands-on work with UKIT robotic kits, which they use to build and code robots. There is a diverse variety of courses for children of any ability, including beginner classes and intermediate classes. Discounts are also available when kids sign up for multiple sessions, and every campers gets to keep their UKITs after camp ends for additional exploration.

Kids receive a summer education in coding and robotics that is hard to find in schools. If you want your child to receive a quality education while having fun and preventing summer learning loss, enrolling them in UBTECH Education’s Camp:ASPIRE is the way to go. Available anywhere in the US.

KidzToPros

Kids between 4 to 14 years old can explore and learn at KidzToPros STEM summer camps. Their camps provide the perfect opportunity for children to develop essential life skills like teamwork and sportsmanship. The camps included focuses on coding, robotics, video game design and more!

The camps are taught by highly knowledgeable instructors who are passionate about all things related to STEM. KidzToPros camps can help your child prevent the dreaded summer learning loss. With so many camp options available, you can find the right one that matches your kid’s specific interests and meets your criteria.

National Computer Camp (NCC)

National Computer Camp (NCC) is America’s original computer camp since 1977. They offer virtual on line camps and in person camps. What sets NCC apart from other STEM camps is that NCC provides campers with life-long computer skills providing a solid foundation in coding, focusing on kids programming languages and applications, game development, and web page design. Scholarship grants are available.

Why NCC? According to one of their alumni, “NCC was a huge influence in my life. Your influence was seminal to my college success at Dartmouth College Engineering. Now at age 53, I use robotics to do surgery as a Colo-rectal Surgeon. I am a huge fan and very fortunate to have been your camper.”

NCC empowers campers to learn and reach their potential. Campers arrive with a dream and leave with a future as they realize the computer world belongs to those who understand its potential.

The Coding School

The Coding School offers an array of personalized programs in grades 4-12. From quantum computing to cyber security and creative tech to artificial intelligence, The Coding School has something for middle schoolers and high schoolers. You can join them in the summer for live, virtual camps, a four-week quantum summer school sponsored by IBM Quantum, or a five-week Data Science Research Program with college faculty.

The Coding School is on a mission to empower students with the skills and confidence necessary to become future leaders, problem solvers and innovators through code. Their incredible instructors study at Harvard, MIT & Yale. They work at top-tech companies, send satellites into space, program high speed boats for extreme athletes, and write code for life-saving health procedures.

Digital Media Academy Tech Camps

Digital Media Academy’s Tech Camps are suitable for children ages 9 to 18. Students with future career interests such as Animation, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Game Design, Virtual Reality, Music Production, 3D Modeling, Filmmaking, Photography, and Entrepreneurship are the perfect group to attend. The courses are tailor-made for those career options. Their graduates work for Amazon, Google, Pixar, SAP, or NASA, etc.

The team at Digital Media Academy has been providing summer learning experiences at Stanford, Harvard, NYU, and other leading universities for kids since 1999. With nearly 500,000+ students enrolled, over 100+ courses to choose from, and a 99.6% student satisfaction rate, kids can build portfolios by learning the latest digital skills in DMA.

NextWave STEM

NextWave STEM offers an abundance of STEM courses for children of all ages. With a strong focus on emerging technologies, they offer courses related to drones, robotics, 3D technologies, and artificial intelligence.

They follow strict standards, so you can be satisfied knowing your child’s educational curriculum is following the best standards. The summer classes are designed to help your child improve their critical thinking, creativity, communications and collaboration skills.

To paraphrase one of their mission statements, the goal is to ignite a passion for learning in children that will lead to improved grades, and open opportunities for them throughout their education and career.

PARI Space Camps

PARI provides a wide variety of space camps which include astronomy, robotics and science. With a focus on teaching leadership skills, how to work as a team and important STEM principles, your child will have an eye opening summer learning experience. They will even be working with technology that was used by NASA.

The camps are coed and they are located in a 200 acre ex NASA site surrounded by beautiful wilderness making it easy for hiking adventures, observing wildlife and unique flora. Campers will have a fun summer of learning, participating in outdoor adventures, exposure to STEM and much more.

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

During this eight-week program, students get to work with Stanford faculty, students, and postdoctoral fellows, while doing basic research. The in person camps help them learn more about medicine and biological sciences. Campers get to see firsthand how scientific research is done and how it applies to medical projects.

In order to attend this highly intense medicine summer program, you have to be 16 years old or older and be a senior or junior as of the spring of the year you’re applying. High school students also have to be graduating the same or following year. Due to current circumstances, they are currently only hosting a virtual internship for the time being.

To Conclude

There are lots of good STEM summer camps out there. Whatever their passion is, you can find a summer camp that will help your child advance their skills and knowledge.

There are several options listed up above whether you’re looking for a kids coding camp, math, science, robotics or even arts — there is summer camps for all interests. Remember, it’s never too early for kids to start learning either with technology or online learning. These are just a few of the many options so don’t be afraid to look for more to find the best fit for your child. Once summer is over, you can continue their education by enrolling them in online coding classes.

Whichever one you choose, don’t forget to tell them to have fun as summer camps should also be places to have rememberable experiences.

Science & STEM Summer Camps for Kids

We offer virtual summer camps, holiday camps and after school clubs as well as in-person science camps in Southern California cities located throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. These include:

Online After School Club Registration is Open Today

2021 Science Summer Camps in Southern California

Destination Science is your place for fun science camps each summer. Our experienced teachers guide kids ages 5 to 11 through hands-on experiments and activities that teach the scientific method and encourage their curiosity. Kids at our camp develop social skills by spending time with new people and asking questions about the new concepts they explore.

Are you looking for a summer camp focused on science for your elementary-aged child in Southern California? With a range of locations near Los Angeles and four programs to choose from, Destination Science will become a treasured part of your child’s summer.

Virtual STEM Summer Camp

At Destination Science, we want you and your child to have access to fun, engaging and stimulating STEM camps year-round. In addition to offering in-person summer camps throughout Southern California, we also offer online programs so your child can join our camps from anywhere.

All of our virtual stem summer camps are live, so kids can still interact with teachers and other campers in real time — bringing the camp experience home.

Holiday Online Kids Camp

Join us online for our virtual holiday science camps! We want to bring the camp experience home by offering stimulating, interactive STEM activities during school breaks for kids ages 5 through 11.

Kids will experience all the wonder of the world of STEM in well-organized groups based on age and concept. Sign up today and facilitate your young learner’s success in the 21st century.

After School Science Camps

We are excited to introduce virtual after school clubs with hands-on STEM activities for children enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade. Our live interactive after school camps and clubs bring it home with fun science activities that spark curiosity while taking the emphasis off of screen time.

At Destination Science, we want your experience with virtual after school science programs to be simple and straightforward. All you will need for sessions is a smartphone, tablet or laptop. We’ll use Zoom meetings that require login credentials to ensure your child stays safe.

Why Enroll in Destination Science STEM Camps?

Destination Science STEM summer camps feature weekly themes that combine engineering and science concepts with outdoor experiments and games, new friends, convenient neighborhood locations and passionate instructors.

Themes for 2021 STEAM and STEM Camps in Southern California

Each year, we select new themes for our camps, and we can’t wait to dive into this year’s offerings!

In-Person

Megabot & Movie Makers Camp

Build-a-motorized Bot & make movie magic!

Millennium Starship Explorers Camp

Make a Millennium Starship and launch sky-high rockets!

Crank Coaster & STEAM Creators Camp

Build your own crank coaster & Oonie themed park!

Live Online Camps

Makerspace Engineering Club

Engineers at Play! Design & build your own eco-friendly playspace and explore centripatal & gravitational forces, solar energy & simple machines.

The Grossology Zone

Enter the grossology zone and explore everything from your human brain, to pus, bacteria, scabs & DNA.

Enroll Today

Register for STEM Summer Camps in Southern California Today

Our camps fill up fast, but if you sign up early, you’ll receive special savings! You’ll also secure your first choice of location and theme. Register your children today to secure their spot at a fun Destination Science camp!

You can also sign up your children for our online kid’s STEM camps or register for our virtual holiday camps today.

Summer Science Camps for Kids Chester County

Science Summer Camps for Kids in Chester County, PA

Do you have a child who enjoys science? Is creating an experiment, exploring the environment, and asking lots of questions a hobby your child enjoys? At Science Explorers, our Chester County, PA science camps are the perfect way to encourage your child’s love for subjects as diverse as biology, astronomy and computers.

We help kids develop a natural curiosity for science in a fun and rewarding atmosphere — an atmosphere that can lead to a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering and math.

Choose From Science Camps in the West Chester, PA Region

Your child will love attending our enriching summer camps that go beyond what’s taught in the classroom. Our hands-on programs allow your child to learn about her favorite subjects with instructors who are passionate about science. When you choose Science Explorers for your child’s summer camp experience, you can choose from:

Far Out Space Academy — If your child thinks space is out of this world, check out the Far Out Space Academy! Open to half- and full-day campers, your child can do everything from build a rocket to make a dry ice comet as part of an engineering team. The Far Out Space Academy is a great way for your child to develop teamwork skills, too.
Potions, Powders & Polymers — Also available in full- and half-day sessions, your camper will love figuring out the science behind the magic. They can capture a rainbow, make summertime snow and build an erupting foam monster with Science Explorers.
Take a Dive — When life under the sea beckons your camper, check out our Take a Dive camp! Your child can make a submarine, dissect a real shark, and discover incredible facts about the strangest sea creatures. Available for half- and full-day schedules.
Fizz, Bang, Boom! — What do you get when you mix physics and chemistry? Fizz, Bang, Boom! This crazy camp lets your child do everything from build an electric game to make a kaleidoscope. They will experiment with giant bubbles and perform exciting experiments, and they can even try to win a tall tower engineering competition!
Young camper options — Have a science buff who is between the ages of 4 and 6? No problem! Check out our Junior Investigative Team and Junior Discoverers options. These half-day summer camps let your child explore a wide range of topics in a fun, safe and age-appropriate way. From space to sea creatures to spiders, our Junior campers love to explore science with our half-day camps.

STEM Matters

Science Explorers offers summer camps for kids that deliver fun and entertaining enrichment. We won’t create a program unless we know your camper will enjoy it, and that’s why our science camps have earned an excellent reputation in the Exton, Downington and Malvern region. Best of all, because our teaching principles align with national standards, your child’s summer science camp experience will enrich him throughout the school year.

Is your child ready to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and math — and have fun at the same time? Register for our summer science camps now!

Summer Camps for Kids in Seattle WA

We are focused on safely delivering summer camp experiences for all campers and staff in compliance with the Department of Health Guidelines for summer camps. We are happy to share that were able to successfully run camp in 2020 with no reported cases of COVID-19. For more information on our safety precautions, download our COVID Health Related Quick Sheet and review our Summer Camp FAQ.

Camp COVID policies and procedures may change based on updated local, state and federal guidance and health recommendations. Any changes will be posted below and registrants will be notified.

All In-Person Summer Camps will follow the practices as well as the detailed policies outlined below:

Compliance with our comprehensive Sick Camper Policy
Maintaining small cohorts of campers with dedicated staff members. Group sizes will be determined by group age, location, and room size but will be no more than 16 campers per group
All groups will remain separated throughout the day with dedicated routes to move throughout the building
Physical distancing will be practiced within each group
Modified drop-off and pick-up procedures
Increased opportunities for hand washing and increased availability of hand sanitizer
Increased cleaning and disinfecting of materials and the facility
Compliance with our facial covering policy requiring all campers and staff to wear masks
Compliance with our health screening policy requiring all campers and staff to verify daily that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms
Keeping Pacific Science Center closed to the general public. Parents and guardians will not be permitted to enter the buildings.
Eliminating the need for camper transportation during the camp day
Closing hands-on exhibits
Eliminating extended care programming

Mask Policy

Masks are required for all PacSci staff and campers from the time they arrive on-site at a camp location through the time they leave the camp facility. Masks are also required for parents and guardians during drop-off and pick-up or any other time they are at a camp location. Masks must be properly fitted and cover the mouth and nose at all times, and if reusable, must be cleaned regularly. Masks with valves or openings, handkerchiefs, gaiters, and face shields in lieu of a mask are not allowed. While campers should bring their own masks, a limited number of disposable masks will be available for camper use if needed. The policy must be reviewed, signed, and submitted electronically in the camper health profile through CampDoc after registration. Download our mask policy.  

Sick Camper Policy

In order to attend an in-person summer camp, all parents or guardians of campers must review and sign our Sick Camper Policy. To help ensure the health and safety of our campers and staff, our policy includes requirements for a daily health check, as well as procedures for any illnesses that occur during the camp day and for returning to camp after illness.

The policy should be reviewed, signed, and submitted electronically in the camper health profile through CampDoc after registration. Download a copy of the Sick Camper Policy

Daily Health Check

PacSci staff and campers will need to perform a daily health check before arriving to camp each day. In addition, PacSci staff may require an on-site temperature check for campers. Parents and guardians will be required to complete the following screening questions daily:

Has your child or anyone in the household had any of the following symptoms within the last 48 hours that are not caused by another condition?
Fever (100.4 Degrees F) or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Unusual fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Within the past 14 days, has your child been in close physical contact (6 feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes) with anyone with either (1) a confirmed case of COVID-19 or (2) symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
Has your child had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days?
Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told your child to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection?
Is your child currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test?

High Risk Groups

Those at high risk for health problems from COVID-19 should consult with their health care provider when considering whether to participate in Camps for Curious Minds.

Attending Camp after Travel

Campers who are not fully vaccinated should be tested and stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven (7) days after travel, even if their test is negative. If the test is positive, the camper should isolate and follow guidance on what to do when you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. If the camper doesn’t get tested, they should stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

Campers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can travel within the United States and do not need COVID-19 testing or post-travel self-quarantine as long as they continue to take precautions while traveling, including: wearing a mask, avoiding crowds and washing hands frequently.

What is the staff to camper ratio? How many campers are in each camp?

Department of Health guidelines limit camp groups to a maximum of 22 campers and staff. All Camps for the Curious Mind camp groups will be limited to no more than 16 campers and will have dedicated educators and an assistant educator. Group sizes will be determined by age, site location, and the room size with most groups below this limit. Staff to camper ratios vary depending on group size, but will not exceed a 1:10 staff to camper ratio. Some camps like preschool and sensory friendly camps will have a lower camper to staff ratio.

What health information do I need to provide in order to attend camp?

All registered camp attendees must register with CampDoc to complete documentation that includes providing basic camper health information, reviewing and agreeing to PacSci’s health and safety policies, and completing the in-person camper liability waiver (Download the waiver for review). After registering for camps, you will receive an email invitation to create a CampDoc account to complete all of the required documentation. All campers must also complete a daily health screening through CampDoc prior to arriving at camp each morning.

STEM Kids Camp | College of Engineering

Morning: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

K-2

Budding Biologist

Let your little scientist explore the exciting world of all things living in an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and inspires curiosity! We will help build critical thinking skills as we explore and observe Plants, Invertebrates, Mammals, Reptiles, Animal Habitats, Lifecycles and so much more!

Gear Heads Jr.

Build and explore engineering through basic machines and mechanisms. Using Lego Education kits, learn about gears, levers, pulleys, and wheels and axles. Work in teams to build simple mechanisms to demonstrate concepts.

Engineering Adventures

This course will allow students to explore the fundamentals of mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. How can we make the strongest structure? How do we turn on a light with a battery and some wire? This class will consist of many hands-on activities to help students learn more about engineering, building, and creating.

3-5

Gear Heads

Build and explore engineering through basic machines and mechanisms. Using Lego Education kits, learn about gears, pulleys, levers, linkages, and pneumatics. Work in teams to build simple and motorized mechanisms to demonstrate concepts.

Crime Scene Science

Help solve a crime by analyzing a crime scene and learning about forensic science techniques. Learn how to do fingerprint analysis, blood spatter analysis, blood typing, bite mark analysis, powder analysis, and more.

6-8

Mission to Mars

Inspired by the recent NASA Perseverance mission, this interdisciplinary STEM camp examines the biology, geology, physics, chemistry, and engineering of exploring Mars. Selected topics include rocketry, soil geology, and searching for biosignatures.

Rockin’ Robots Advanced

All new kits and curriculum for 2020! Design custom creations with the new LEGO Spike Robotics kits. Build and code robots with real-world applications like a motorized prosthetic hand.

Animal Anatomy

Did you know a cow has four stomachs? Learn more about different animals and their anatomy in this fun, hands-on course exploring the science of how animals’ bodies work.

Department of State Lands : Science Camps for Kids : South Slough Reserve : State of Oregon

South Slough Reserve science camps provide kids opportunities for hands-on exploration of the outdoor world through investigation, science, art, and laughter. Activities vary from year to year and camp day and themes are planned to fit the abilities and interests of kids according to their grade in school.

Camps have a minimum enrollment to operate, and a maximum enrollment based on vehicle capacity. Camp fees help with snacks, travel, supplies, tools, t-shirts and education intern stipends.

Join Us in Summer 2021

The Reserve is planning to offer science camps during the summer of 2021. Our goal is to operate as close to normal as possible, but much is unknown at this time. We will structure camps based on informed state and federal guidelines to keep campers, staff, volunteers, and interns safe.*

Registration for summer ’21 camps opens April 7, 2021.

Campers should sign up for the camp that matches the grade they will be entering in the fall of 2021.

Zoea – K & 1st grades

June 29 – July 1, 2021

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Send your young explorers off for adventurous activities that immerse them in the natural world! Camps provide hands-on activities around the South Slough Visitor Center, with a focus on nature observation and exploration. Campers will bring lunch, and snack is provided during the day. Camps are designed to fit the abilities and interests of campers entering Kindergarten and 1st grade.

$64 per camper

https://zoea21.eventbrite.com

Megalops – 2nd & 3rd grades

July 13 – 15, 2021

9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Adventure and learning await in this summer science camp! Campers participate in hands-on activities around the South Slough Reserve, exploring nature through observation, science and art. Campers will bring lunch, and snack is provided during the day. Camps are designed to fit the abilities and interests of campers entering 2nd or 3rd grade.

$68 per camper

https://megalops21.eventbrite.com

Magister – 9th – 12th grades

July 27 – 29, 2021

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

This camp provides students hands-on, real-world experience with coastal research and stewardship. Campers will their days immersed in fieldwork and activities carried out by the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. We use on-going research, monitoring and stewardship projects to introduce campers to the diverse careers available in marine science, natural resources and the environment. Campers will bring lunch, and snack is provided during the day. Camps aim to expand opportunities in science for high school students.

$79 per camper

https://magister21.eventbrite.com

Dungeness – 6th – 8th grades

August 10 – 12, 2021

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Our middle school camp is structured to broaden campers’ interest in science and the environment through hands-on activities and an introduction to how research is applied on the Oregon coast. Campers will spend time in and around the estuary diving deeper into the unique habitats of the Coos watershed. Campers will bring lunch, and snack is provided during the day. Camps target the abilities and interest of children entering 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

$75 per camper

https://dungeness21.eventbrite.com

Instar – 4th & 5th grade

August 24 – 26, 2021

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

During Instar camp, children begin to dig deeper into science happening in the Reserve and explore beyond the Reserve to the other coastal habitats of our region. Campers conduct investigations in and around the estuary, beaches and upland forests. Campers will bring lunch, and snack is provided during the day. The activities and content are designed to match the interests of children entering 4th & 5th grades.

$71 per camper

https://instar21.eventbrite.com

*COVID-19 Safety:
The Reserve is committed to ensuring the healthy and safety of campers, staff and interns. Activities will follow the most up-to-date Oregon State Health Authority Guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including increased cleaning, regular hand-washing, physical distancing and face masks.*

STEM Classes, Camps, & Workshops

There are many classes, camps, and enrichment programs that can help keep kids focused on STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Check out this reader-curated list of parent-loved favorites.

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTY:

• Arlington County
• Fairfax County
• Loudoun County

ARLINGTON COUNTY

• Mad Science | Multiple NOVA Locations
• MathTree | Multiple NOVA Locations

FAIRFAX COUNTY

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Important Disclaimer: This opportunity is curated from a public source and subject to changes and/or cancelations that might not be reflected above. Always call to confirm before participating.

90,000 how to choose a camp for a child?

On Friday, April 24, at 17.20 on the MIR TV channel, watch the Soviet feature film “Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry!” The film is set in a pioneer camp in the early 60s. The protagonist of the sixth grader Kostya Inochkin is expelled from the pioneer camp. The boy imagines how upset his grandmother will be when he finds out about this, and decides not to go home. He secretly returns to the camp and settles in a room under the stage.Now his friends have a secret that unites everyone: they need to hide Kostya from adults and ensure his comfortable voluntary confinement. They take turns carrying their food portions to a friend. In addition, they have to disrupt their parent’s day at all costs so that Kostya’s grandmother does not come to the camp. And they are emitting an epidemic. And to make the rash look more natural, they take turns nibbling in the nettle thickets: what can you do for a friend!

Watch on April 24 at 17:20 on the TV channel “MIR” the feature film “Welcome, or No unauthorized entry is allowed!”

The plot of the film takes us to the pioneering childhood of our grandparents.Now the summer camps are completely different. True, not all and not always. For those who hope that this summer is not yet completely lost and after the abolition of quarantine intends to send their child to the camp, MIR 24 has figured out how to navigate the variety of offers and choose a vacation for the child that will be the most interesting and useful for him. …

Today there are a great many summer camps for children. Those that remained from Soviet times, repaired and renewed, are now called DOL or DOTS – a children’s health camp or center.Plus, Russian and foreign scientific, sports and creative camps, scout and military-patriotic, Orthodox and national camps were added to them. How not to get lost in this abundance and how not to disappoint the child?

Traditional and not very traditional camps

Children’s camps that exist today can be conditionally divided into four main groups: traditional, highly specialized, of a certain creative or scientific orientation, and author’s.

Traditional camps are the same DOL and DOC that have survived from Soviet times.As a rule, it is in them that today you can buy inexpensive vouchers, or even get them for free at the enterprise or in the social security. Just some five years ago, DOL and DOC were places where a child had the opportunity to take care of his leisure time under round-the-clock supervision. At best, the child had several clubs at his disposal – usually some kind of handicraft, music and dance, plus a one-day hiking trip and homemade contests.

Now the situation is gradually changing.So, in Moscow for several years the organizer of the holiday has been the GAUK “Mosgortur”. Now on his website you can see a complete list of camps, sanatoriums and recreation centers offered for this summer. Some of them are located at sea, others are in central Russia.

Reviews about these camps are different, but the parents of the children who rested there last year, amicably note that the children were constantly busy with something. They were rather tired of being active than bored. Indeed, in the programs of these camps, it is almost minute by minute what the child should do at a specific time.Mini-hikes, contests, sports, excursions – now everything is in stock.

Highly specialized camps are usually sports or military sports camps. There certainly won’t be any problems with filling up leisure time – rather, the question of lack of free time will arise. In addition, this type of camp requires a good physical fitness from the child, plus an interest in the particular topic or occupation in which the camp specializes. If you have all this, choose such a camp boldly.

Camps of a certain orientation are linguistic, subject or scientific. If your child is not tired of studying in nine academic months, if a son or daughter is showing an increased interest in some subject and dreams of studying it even in the summer – this is an ideal option! Because the environment in such a camp will match them.

Authors’ camps are, as a rule, very small camps, information about which is spread by word of mouth, from parent to parent.The name itself indicates that they will study with a child in such a camp according to the author’s program. The most interesting recreation programs are developed and implemented today by people who are passionate about something and who know how to get along well with children. That is why they try to fill the children’s time in such camps with a variety of events, without concentrating on one thing.

Photo: Bobylev Sergey / TASS

These can be historical and cultural camps, and then cultural research and creative tasks will be combined with attempts to master folk crafts.And all this with a partial playful immersion in the life of the studied era. Children will be offered to taste appropriate food, and a sports and play space will be created according to the era.

In addition to historical, there are a lot of other copyright programs. Somewhere they “shoot a movie”, and everyone finds something to do as cameramen, actors, stuntmen, dressers and so on, simultaneously changing roles and studying the history of cinema. Somewhere they are engaged in cynology at dog kennels. And somewhere they arrange short-term robinsonades, having previously taught all the skills necessary for this…. The duration of such authoring programs is usually shorter than that of traditional camps: it can be from three days to two weeks. This is partly due to the fact that tickets to such camps are usually expensive.

Which camp will teach a child independence

Many parents, when sending a child to a camp for the first time, would like him to learn independence there. Can this be required from a place intended for children’s rest?

Teachers divide independence into household and social.From the first, everything is obvious: this is the ability to keep things in order and take care of them, the ability to take care of yourself at an everyday level, the habit of maintaining hygiene and self-care. With the second, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Social independence is primarily the ability to make decisions and participate in social activities.

Photo: Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

As a rule, the overwhelming majority of children have basic household independence by the age of eight or nine.And in this sense, the summer camp is unlikely to be able to significantly promote the child in something. Unless it will turn out to teach him to make his bed in the morning.

But the situation with social independence is not so rosy. Social infantilism of the younger generation is not a myth, and modern information technologies only exacerbate the situation. Therefore, when choosing a camp, you should first of all pay attention to whether it can teach a child specifically social independence. In other words, how actively your son or daughter will have to interact with peers and adults.

He is his own master or his own personality

Traditional camps, at first glance, provide a child with quite a lot of opportunities for independence. But in most cases it will be just a matter of choosing what to do with your free time and building relationships with peers.

Highly specialized and targeted camps, as a rule, are distinguished by great attention to the manifestations of everyday independence. This is accomplished by adhering to a rigid daily routine and fulfilling the requirements of discipline.But social independence is not very good here either. Busy with a habitual, and even more so a favorite pastime, a child does not face the need for constant decision-making, and a children’s collective united by a common interest does not require conscious socialization.

But the author’s and program camps have no equal in matters of social independence. Most of the author’s pedagogical methods, as well as programs for organizing children’s recreation, are focused on solving specifically the problems of socialization of children.Constant participation in diverse activities that require a creative approach and active interaction in a random group, three or a couple literally force the child to turn on the inherent mechanism of decision-making and social adaptation. And it is not so important whether it will be participation in staging an amateur performance, organizing a bivouac on a camping trip, mastering the basics of some professions or getting to know the basics of dog riding. Any of these activities will certainly require from the child both independent decisions and active interaction in a team.

Four Steps to a Better Camp

Taking into account all these features of summer camps, how can you choose a vacation that will not only entertain your child, but also make him more independent? First of all, you will have to select a certain number of available (for financial, transport and other requirements) camps. And already from this shortlist, choose the most suitable one using a four-step algorithm.

Camp type. It is unlikely that the camp website or advertising leaflet will say “traditional” or “author”.The only exceptions are narrowly focused or specialized camps: they are immediately designated as sports, military-patriotic, linguistic, scientific or subject-specific. In other cases, you can understand the type by studying the camp change program. If it is full of detailed diverse events, if it is said what skills the child can acquire during the rest in the camp, feel free to write such a camp in the author’s or program ones. If the website says that “Yolochka DOL” offers your child comfortable four-bed wards in an amazing forest corner of the Moscow region and healthy three meals a day “- class the camp as a traditional one.

Living conditions. If a child is accustomed to a warm bed, comfortable sanitary conditions and cannot bear minor everyday inconveniences, the Spartan conditions of “tourist” author’s or program camps are unlikely to suit him. But today, such camps are rather rare: the recent tightening of requirements for organizing children’s recreation has made them too difficult to conduct. Therefore, most of the author’s and program camps lease the territories of the same DOL and DOC, or even merge with them, using the infrastructure and providing their own teaching staff.But the former pioneer camps also differ in the quality of living conditions, and they must be clarified.

Information accessibility. Be sure to find out if there are restrictions on the use of electronic gadgets in the camp. Many author and program camps insist that the child does not have any electronic devices with him, except for a simple mobile phone without Internet access. The requirement may seem strange, if you do not take into account that such camps are focused on involving the child in general activities and outdoor activities, which gadgets will only interfere with.But at the same time, the camp should provide the child with the opportunity at any time (except, perhaps, at night) to contact the parents personally.

By the way, do not forget to find out if there are parenting days in this camp. Many author’s camps offer not too long shifts, but they completely exclude the opportunity to see the child – so that parental care does not interfere with socialization. Are you ready to put up with such a requirement, decide for yourself: no one knows better than you how the child is attached to you and how difficult it will be for him to be separated from his parents.

Degree and type of load. Having selected the camps by type and living conditions, proceed to clarify the shift program. You will have to focus primarily on how long your child can maintain concentration on a particular activity, how much creative work or active rest suits him, and how great his need is to spend some time alone. If there are practically no such concepts as personal or free time in the shift program, if in its description there are words like “we will not let anyone get bored!” – this is a reason to think about whether the child can withstand such an active rhythm of life.Since there are not many camps left in your sample at this stage, do a targeted search for information about the program and loads. You can read reviews about the camp on the Internet, you can ask the parents who sent their children there, you can finally find the camp teachers and ask them all these questions by phone or e-mail.

Remember: you need to choose a camp in such a way that upon returning from it, your child will definitely ask you to send him to the camp again next year.This will mean that he got what he needed from the rest!

90,000 Pioneer camp. What many generations of Soviet people remember – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Almost a hundred years ago, the blue nights in the first pioneer camps erupted in bonfires. Since then, every summer millions of children went to the country “Pioneer” – to live a special camp life, learn independence, reveal talents and, of course, get better and gain strength after a tiring school year.

A unique network of pioneer camps, which covered the whole country from Moscow to the very outskirts, is perhaps the main achievement of Soviet social policy. Nowhere in the world was organized children’s recreation so accessible and so widespread.

“When I eat, I am deaf and dumb!” Lunch at the pioneer camp. 1923 year.

START. Weight taken!

The first camps appeared immediately after the creation of the pioneer organization in May 1922. Urban children went to villages, lived in army tents and “strengthened the link between town and village” – agitated rural children to become pioneers.The pioneers were exhausted “in an adult way,” so much so that in the mid-1920s they started talking about their physical overload at the level of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b).

In 1924, the Deputy People’s Commissar of Health Z.P. Soloviev put forward a fundamentally different concept of summer recreation: “All life in the camp, social work and labor processes should be structured so as to promote the health of children” ¹. He also created a new type of camp-sanatorium, the main task of which was to bring home a healthy and strong child.

The prototype was “Artek”, where at first only children with tuberculosis were recruited.

The outwardly advanced children’s health resort did not stand out in any way – the same canvas tents. But here a completely different life was flowing: medical examinations, exercises, sun and air baths, sports games, swimming, a quiet hour, a strict daily routine. And most importantly – enhanced nutrition! For the half-starved children of the city outskirts – a real luxury. “There is a lot of water in the sea. They lived in Artek for a month. They fed well,” the pioneer of the first shift wrote home ².

So for many years the main criterion for summer holidays was formed – the average per capita weight gain. The children went to the camp to recover. They were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the shift and reported to higher authorities by weight. The head physician of “Artek” reported to Z.P. Solovyov in July 1925: “Today I calculated the average weight gain per person for 2.5 weeks, it is 1 kg, which, in my experience, is a sufficient gain for a hot time. Some guys, poorly selected, gained little, and therefore With regard to selection, it is necessary not to send nervous children to the camp at all… “³.

This indicator became especially relevant after the war. In 1947, the pioneer camp of the KO Kirkizha Kovrov plant reported:” The percentage of children who gained weight – 96%, no change 4%. The average increase per person based on the results of 3 shifts is 1 kg 200 g “⁴. But in the relatively well-fed 1960s, the measurement of the increase in the live weight of children became the subject of jokes. Let’s recall the hero of the comedy” Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry! ” : “The total weight of the detachment is 865 kilograms.That way, by the end of the shift, they will pass a ton! This is food! ” machine-building enterprises, the rest were content with the buildings of rural schools. “On the street, under a canopy, there were three field kitchens, and they ate here. The children brought with them to the camp pillows, mattresses, blankets, bed linen, bowls, spoons, mugs “⁵.

The alarming situation in the world predetermined the agenda: the pioneers were being prepared to defend the Motherland. Children walked in formation, attended shooting circles and participated in massive military-sports games, the most popular of which was “Red and White” – the forerunner of the legendary “Zarnitsa”. Later, the “colors” of the players were replaced with neutral “blue” and “yellow” in order to exclude the victory of the class enemy. The goal of the game was to capture the enemy’s banner. By the start of the war, every pioneer had participated in these impromptu military exercises at least once.

The war caught millions of children in the camps. Thousands of pioneers had to evacuate farther and farther from home, to the east, like the Artekites of the second shift, which opened on June 22, 1941 – and the war was on their heels. But the pioneer camps did not stop working – on the contrary, during the war, when adults stood at the machine for days, their role increased. First of all, vouchers were given to orphans and children of front-line soldiers, defense workers. It is noteworthy that immediately after the blockade was broken, in January 1943, when the enemy was still at the city walls, the Leningrad authorities decided to take 55 thousand children out of the city.The 1,500 most weakened were accommodated in the former lordly dachas of Kamenny Island, the rest in abandoned private houses in the nearest suburbs, many of which were in the front line.

In 1944, the pioneer camps accepted more than 2,370,000 children ⁶. And long after the war, it was not easy to get a preferential ticket to a health camp – times are hard, hungry, and there the child was waiting for enhanced nutrition.

The conflict between Kostya Inochkin and the head of the camp comrade Dynin is in the center of the film “Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry”.

ONLY NUMBERS

In 1973,

40,000 pioneer camps took on vacation 9.3 million children

In 1987, 18.1 million children, or 45.4% of schoolchildren in the USSR!

⁷

COLOR. From “Artek” to “Zvezdochkas”

The real flourishing of the pioneer camps was in the 1960s-1980s. They began to take older preschoolers to the camps, and “labor and rest camps” for high school students appeared – young men and women themselves provided for their stay, working for several hours in receiving collective and state farms.In the same years, student camps opened their doors.

PIONEER’S DICTIONARY

Horror stories

The tradition of scaring each other after lights out with mystical stories about a red spot, a black-black room and a white sheet was probably born in the very first “blue nights”. Already in the 1940s, “after-lights talk about all sorts of horrors” ⁸ was a typical camp entertainment. But the “horror stories” gained particular popularity and variety in the 1960s, when children had nothing to really fear.

In 1990, Eduard Uspensky, based on popular plots of “horror stories”, wrote the story “Red hand, black sheet, green fingers”.

Camp number one remained “Artek”, but new camps of federal and republican significance were opened – Tuapse “Eaglet”, Minsk “Zubrenok”, Far East “Ocean”. And in the outskirts of each city there were “Stars”, “Friendship”, “Sunrise”, “Scarlet Sails”, which belonged to enterprises and departments.Their construction, maintenance, most of the costs fell on the trade unions. They also “recruited” camp staff from among production workers and students. The latter, having become counselors, were often indignant: “All the work is proceeding according to a template, and the main concern of the camp chief, the senior educator and the senior pioneer leader is as if something didn’t work out.” ⁹. But there were only two fundamental prohibitions – to leave the territory and swim unaccompanied by adults. The violator was expected to be sanctioned up to expulsion from the camp, and the violation was considered a special daring.

And in all other respects, the unknown “Stars” were not much different from “Artek”: four meals a day, water procedures on a whistle, a hated quiet hour, circles and sections, dances “at a pioneer distance”, pranks after lights out – pillow fights, smearing sleeping with toothpaste and the indispensable “horror stories”, hikes, sports days, a concert for parent’s day, the release of a wall newspaper, a farewell fire …

Not all round-the-clock cooperation was easy for everyone. There were also those who “could not sleep in a ward with 40 beds and not a single fold on the blanket, did not want to march and sing” ¹⁰.Therefore, it happened, after the parental day, the ranks of vacationers thinned. But there were more of those who today would gladly return to the pioneer summer!

^{1. Bugaysky Y. For the health of the pioneer. M. 1926.S. 3.}

^{2.Kondrashenko L.I. Artek. Simferopol, 1966, p. 30.}

^{3. Shishmarev F.F. Pioneer camp-sanatorium of the Red Cross in Artek // Camp in Artek. M., 1926.S. 81.}

^{4.http: //www.dol-sol.ru/istoriya_i_tradicii.html}

^{5. Astafiev B.Ye. From memoirs.// Metalist N6 of 07/11/2013. P. 3.}

^{6. National care for the children of front-line soldiers // Izvestia. May 18, 1944 S. 3.}

^{7. Documents of the Central Committee of the Komsomol S. 133. Moscow, 1988.}

^{8. Titov L. We grew up near the Sea of Okhotsk. Issue 1. M., 2017. S. 32.}

^{9. Komissarov B. My life in the USSR in the 1960s. Novel diary.}

^{10. Zlobin E. Zlobin E.P., Zlobin A.E. Bread of retention. SPb., 2012.S. 218.}

Children’s camp

The organization and conduct of health-improving recreation for children brought up in families of students, graduate students, faculty and staff is a long tradition of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov. In 2007, the reconstruction of residential buildings was carried out. The territory of the boarding house – 3.2 hectares, landscaping – 50% of the territory. The boarding house is surrounded by 700 hectares of forest, which is also the territory of Moscow State University.The boarding house is located in the Moscow region, in the vicinity of Zvenigorod, in a picturesque resort area, widely known as “Russian Switzerland”.

This cozy corner of the Moscow region is famous for its extraordinary landscapes. The quiet beauty of the coniferous forest, the chirping of birds, the rustle of herbs will help you forget about the bustle of the city and fully relax or work fruitfully in a calm atmosphere.

On the territory of the boarding house “Universitetsky” there are two sleeping four-storey buildings for 200 places.Accommodation provides one- and two-room suites with all amenities: modern furniture, satellite TV, Internet (Wi-Fi), refrigerator, shower, bathroom. The floors have spacious, lighted halls with soft sofas and armchairs. All buildings of the boarding house are connected by covered passages. There is a free guarded parking lot.

The activity of the boarding house for many years has been aimed at holding conferences, thematic seminars, trainings, business meetings, negotiations, presentations, training personnel for the faculties of Moscow State University.

Every year, during the school winter and summer holidays, the boarding house “University” organizes a children’s health camp “Star University” (about 800 children a year for 4 shifts). Scientific and educational programs for schoolchildren are being carried out: “Elevator to the Future”; UMA Foundation for Support of Young Scientists; “NOTE”; “NGO Fund EMSh”.

Annual student sports days, field seminars and conferences for students of the faculties of Moscow State University are also held here: the Russian Academy of Justice; OKB “Gidropress” Rosatom; initiation into students.

We offer corporate clients various sports and entertainment games and programs.

Talented and experienced childcare providers offer programs of different ages that include the creative and wellness development of your child.

If you want to spend your time with pleasure and benefit, then the “Universitetsky” boarding house is for you.

Infrastructure

Assembly hall (up to 200 people))
Conference hall (up to 100 people)
2 auditoriums, capacity up to 40 people (equipped with: TV, internet, tables, chairs, projector, screen)
Dining room (up to 200 people) – preparation and holding of weddings, birthdays, banquets, anniversaries, etc.
Small hall (up to 30 persons)
2 verandas – buffet for up to 100 people, banquet for up to 70 people. (heating, electric fireplace in each)
Sauna
Barbecue gazebos (4 pcs.)
Sports equipment rental

By public transport

From the Belorussky railway station to the Zvenigorod railway station. Then take bus No. 24 to the village. Volkovo.

Access by car

Minsk highway: 62 km in the Kubinka area to the right, then drive through Stary Gorodok, Nikolskoye, Troitskoye and Ryazan to the village. Volkovo.
Novorizhskoe highway: at 48 km, turn right to Zvenigorod.In Zvenigorod, cross the Moskva River on the bridge, at the first crossroads to the right and then drive through Shikhovo, Lutsino and Gigirevo.
Rublevo-Uspenskoe highway: at 20 km, turn right to Nikolina Gora, then follow the signs to Zvenigorod. Further to the village. Volkovo passing through Shikhovo, Lutsino and Gigirevo.
Mozhaisk highway: passing through Odintsovo to the traffic police post in Malye Vyazmy. Then to the right to Zvenigorod. After the railway station Zvenigorod, the first turn to the left, then 19 km straight to the village.Volkovo.

Vouchers to the boarding house are issued upon preliminary application in the department of social programs of the Office of Social and Infrastructure Support of Moscow State University.

Address: st. Khokhlova, 5, 2nd floor.
Phones: + 7-495-939-13-17; + 7-495-939-14-66.

Details on the website http://www.pansionatmsu.ru/

90,000 Who are APs and what do they teach children

The Polytech has an AP-girl, AP-boy and even a whole AP-squad.Fighters of the student squad “Scarlet Sails” attach the prefix AP to literally every word, and they call themselves APs. This is the first pedagogical detachment of our university: for 16 years already, its fighters have been working as counselors in children’s camps.

In the year of the 70th anniversary of the Polytech student detachments, we continue to acquaint you with the detachment commanders. Yana UTIMISHEVA has been heading Scarlet Sails for only the second year, while the girl is studying in a difficult specialty – “Construction of unique buildings and structures”, and is a member of the Polytech team in rhythmic gymnastics.Yana speaks so warmly of her comrades, with such enthusiasm she talks about joint holidays that it seems as if “Scarlet Sails” is not a group of counselors, but a group of children in the camp who have rallied so much over the summer that they have become lifelong friends. Read about why counselors love active games and how to find a common language with a child, about raising their future children and about love for sports, read in our interview.

– Yana, there are already legends about the extraordinary friendly atmosphere in “Scarlet Sails”.How do you manage to maintain it? After all, as in the song, each of you has “institute, exams, session”.

– I think the secret is that we spend a lot of time together. We go to events with the whole crowd. Sometimes the detachments spread apart, but we have a special, family atmosphere – we are APs! For the guys, communication with each other is a priority, so we celebrate ng-AP, dr-AP, picnic-AP after the season, and we also have many AP events.

– How many people are in your detachment family? Where and how often do you travel?

– There are 25 active fighters.But there are also people who sometimes appear, help organize events, participate in them, but all this is not on an ongoing basis. On average, 35-40 people leave for two shifts during the summer. In general, our camp works in three shifts, but we do not have time for the first one, because at this time we pass the session.

The “Mayak” camp of Russian Railways has already become “ours”. We go there for the fourth time, we can say, have already settled in it. In fact, now there are few free camps where you can work, because there are more and more pedagogical detachments, respectively, the competition is increasing.Therefore, to gain a foothold in a certain place is a great success, it means that we will not be left without work. We are already known there, well received, and we know the traditions of the camp.

– 25 people are not enough for the detachment?

– In my opinion, 20-25 people is optimal for an asset. I do not see the point in a large detachment, because many people are difficult to rally. It will be a completely different atmosphere, different goals and objectives.

– It is generally accepted that girls like to tinker with children more.At the same time, on the website of “Scarlet Sails” it is indicated that more than 60% of the leaders in the squad find their soul mate. So you have enough boys too?

– At the time of enrollment, we really have more girls, but last year it turned out to be about 50/50. Despite the fact that girls have more desire to work with children, there are enough guys. They may not always be active during their candidacy, but as soon as they taste what it is like to be a counselor, they light up. Now there are no problems with both guys and couples.(Laughs).

– Who is better at being a counselor – boys or girls?

– I don’t think it somehow depends on gender. The only thing is that, probably, girls do better in junior squads, because their maternal instinct works – they both lisp with babies and take care of them. And the guys are more for entertainment – with older guys. But this is also individual.

– You yourself have already gone on shift three times.Who do you like to work with more – older or younger children?

– I like the older ones. The first year I worked with children 13-14 years old, the second and the third – 15-16 years old. But I also went to off-season shifts with kids 10-11 years old, plus in the summer I worked as a nanny in a restaurant with kids from 3 to 7 years old. I also have a nephew who is now 4 years old and with whom I also spend a lot of time.

– You have a very small age difference with the older guys! Do they obey you?

– It all depends on how you put yourself.The main thing is to maintain authority and not let them feel familiarity. In fact, counselors never say their real age, that is, on the shift, the children do not know how old I am, and if I emotionally put myself one step higher than they, they will look at me as an adult and respect more of their peers …

In general, the first days in the camp are the most important: as you put in discipline, so the change will go. The most important thing is to teach children to behave correctly within the camp, and then they get used to it, they even start to like it, and there are no problems with this.

– Your words prove that children need a special approach. How do you prepare fighters for the shift?

– We run a school of counselor skills. Classes start at the end of February and last for three months, until the end of May. Our methodologist prepares the basic materials that are necessary for working with children – the basics of psychology, methods of communication, ways to resolve conflicts – in general, how to find a common language with children. We also show what games you can play with them – counselors develop their own base, that is, they create game libraries that they use in shifts.In May, we give the opportunity to practice: we have kindergartens and weekend schools where we come and play with the children. Preparation for the shift itself begins in June, when the guys write out a schedule for their shifts. Well, an experienced fighter and a candidate always works in the squadron: each fighter pulls up his candidate, so we can say that training goes on at all stages.

– Is there a game that has helped you out more than once or helped to unite the children?

– I really like active games, because when children run, they are calm.One of them: you fasten children into two “caterpillars”. Each “caterpillar” has a head and tail. The purpose of the head is to stain the tail. And these “caterpillars” are scampering across the field – the children love it.

– And the counselor is watching and resting …

– Yes, these are the most wonderful games when the counselor can just watch. (Laughs).

– What do you think is the most difficult part of being a counselor?

– Probably not to waste your life energy.It happens that you give yourself very much to the children, and then you come to the counselor’s room and realize that there is nothing left of you, you do not want anything – you are emotionally burnt out. In counseling school, we even discuss burnout separately. In this regard, the detachment helps out: you know that there are people who will always support you. In addition to work, in the evening we have our own meetings and events. After communicating with the detachments, it becomes easier and warmer. And it also charges feedback from children.

– What are the nicest moments you can remember?

– When a child from your squadron performs at a concert, and the whole squadron cheers for him, shouts, and you see that all these people are a single organism.Everyone cares about each other, worries, they are all connected by some thread. You understand that this is your job and your merit in part. All these children are already yours, relatives – this is the most pleasant feeling. Such moments warm the soul very much.

– With your experience as a counselor, perhaps a plan for raising your own future children has already been drawn up.

– Of course. Sometimes I even think about what I would say to my child in a certain situation, what I would teach him.In the camp we have 21 days to invest in the children something new that they can develop in the future. But the main upbringing comes from the parents. When you observe the mistakes of parents, and this happens, you understand how to raise your own children.

– What do you think is the most important thing in upbringing?

– It is important to love the child. If you love him, respect him, accordingly, you wish him the best. The main thing is to know the ways how to give him the best.And do not judge the child by his actions. There are no bad children – there are bad deeds. We can be angry at our actions, but not at the child, and this is very important to understand.

– What adult and very deep thoughts! Do you want to get a teacher education?

– I had thoughts about both the teacher and the psychologist, but still it’s more of a hobby. I have a predisposition for technical sciences.

– And also to sports! You are part of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Polytech team.How did you come to this?

– As a child, I was engaged in gymnastics for 6 years, lived to the 1st adult category. Then at the age of 11 I decided that I was an adult and I could choose what to do myself, and left gymnastics. After that, I went to acrobatics at the circus school and hip-hop, I was engaged in cheerleading for a long time. Then the exam, exams – I worked in the gym for myself. When I entered the Polytech and found out that there is rhythmic gymnastics here, I caught fire, because this sport is in my heart.This is something aesthetically beautiful and is a pleasure not only to watch, but also to practice. Therefore, I did not hesitate to go to gymnastics and still go with pleasure.

– Does your sporting past and present help this season?

– Yes, my kids never miss a workout. (Laughs). We have such a tradition: whoever is late for exercises shows exercises. As a rule, children do not like to do this, so everyone comes on time.I try to make exercises interesting – with music, dancing, flash mobs, so that the children have fun. Exercise is very useful, I try to instill in the children this habit, by the end of the shift they stop resisting and get used to it.

– That’s what soft power is in action! And finally, what quality should a person have to become an AP?

– The most important thing is love for children and a desire to work with them. As a rule, this is always visible: a person who can understand a child is in himself sincere, pure and kind.If there is a desire to work with children, all skills are easily acquired.

– Yana, thank you for talking! I wish you patience and, of course, new emotions from every shift and every day spent with the children!

Interviewed by Ilona ZHABENKO

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