For over 20 years, we've run Techno-tainment Camp for Grades 2-9, and a school year program for TK-8th, but until summer 2024, we'd never run a summer camp for our youngest geniuses. Junior STEM Camp is a specialized STEM/STEAM camp for our youngest students (those entering grades K-1 next fall). This is a Monday through Friday (9am-3pm) project-based camp experience running alongside our Tech camp, but with its own dedicated staff and classes. Campers choose a "lab" for their focus of the week, and the fun and learning takes off from there.
It surely is a STEAM Camp. STEM and STEAM are synonymous these days with ART (the added A) being an integral part of all Science, Tech, Engineering, and Mathematics projects.
Jr. STEM Camp is for students entering Kindergarten through 1st grade in the months following summer (typically this means any child who turns 5 by the Sept 2nd following camp). Because this camp is for our youngest students, it is held with its own head counselor on a separate schedule than our traditional Techno-tainment Camp.
As a year-round educational program with over 30 full-time educators, we have been extremely fortunate to staff our summer programs with our experienced veteran teachers. Those who join us only for the summers are often grown-up former campers, CITs, Interns, etc. Once they graduate high-school, they are eligible to apply for the program. Fun fact last summer: out of 80 full-time camp instructors and directors, only 5 individuals were brand-new to us. We are incredibly grateful for the community of friends and family who help shape the camp experience each and every year.
Although the "T" for Tech exists in STEM, the Junior STEM camp only has a few weekly activities involving the use of computers or devices. Whereas our Tech Camp for Grades 2-9 is heavily computer-based while they learn and create digital projects, the Junior STEM camp is the opposite. Students are conducting experiments with various materials, designing their own inventions through art and exploration, and participating in individual and group challenges in the name of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. That said, if there is a TECH Class at Junior STEM Camp, you can expect there to be primarily computer usage during the lab periods (Tech Launch Pad is an example of such a course.)
The LABS in which campers sign up are the core projects of the week. These vary each summer. You may check out this summer's options on any of the STEM camp pages, including the courses page. The topics vary from Ocean Exploration, Minecraft Engineering, Simple Machines, and Robotics.
While some courses enjoy a plethora of creative projects that are different every time, these courses are not meant to be taken more than once in a summer.
Campers bring their own snacks and lunches to camp every day except Fridays. For 18 years, we provided everything from lunch to snacks, but we've learned the hard way that the best practice these days is to have each parent dictate the best food(s) for their children. That said, we do provide pizza lunch on Fridays during our last day festivities.
We provide every supply, material, and technology throughout the camp week. We just ask that campers bring their imaginations and excitement to explore and create!
For over 20 years, our staff motto has been Safety First, Fun Second, and Academics Third. We strongly believe in modeling and shaping behavior across the board; from setting clear guidelines and standards in our morning meetings to structuring the day so the students know what is expectated throughout their camp experience. We purposely choose to run our camps at select local schools as opposed to rented public spaces or college campuses. Every time we move from point a to point b, campers are accounted for and made to feel seen by their counselors. Furthermore, our training includes activities and rapport builders that model respectful and inclusive language, and championing students who may not get to feel exceptional on a regular basis.
In addition to the built-in Labs and Activities of our camp, each week has a theme that contributes to the fun and projects. These themes can be anything from Space Week and Food Week, to Games Week or Music Week! There are so many fun themes, and we let you know them ahead of time before your week begins. The themes allow for special dress-up days for Bravo Points, fun project and Bravo Blog ideas, and more.
Since our beginning, PlanetBravo has been about rewarding the behavior, curiosity, achievements, and all the quirky elements that make up the human condition. We hand out Bravo Points to campers all day, every day. These points get collected and redeemed for fun and silly prizes at the end of the week.
All locations run 9am-3pm. We also offer extended care in the afternoons only. This runs until 5:30pm at an additional charge. You may add this at checkout.
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