EARTH EXPLORATIONS (Ages 4—6)

This is a great opportunity for inquisitive young minds to uncover the hidden stories in rocks, sand and fossils.  Discover the world around us, from oceans to mountains and volcanoes to earthquakes.  Have fun sifting for “gemstones” and uncovering dinosaur bones.  Learn about the awesome forces of nature that shape our world and learn what fossils and shells tell us about the creatures of the earth.  Take-home projects are created each day as we let imaginations soar.

 

BLAST OFF TO SPACE!  (Ages 6—11)
Budding rocket scientists will explore the fundamentals of rocketry and space travel. Learn about outer space as we look at the stars and solar system. Work on projects to take home including a simple telescope, a propeller-powered space orbiter and a fully functional rocket.  Build and launch different types of rockets during the week and on the last day of camp, launch the solid fuel rocket you built into space and watch it return to earth by parachute before taking it home to show your friends.

 

SIZZLING SUMMER SCIENCE (Ages 6—11)
Children will discover that science is all around us…from nature and chemicals to buildings and sports!  A different theme will be explored each day as we discover in fun ways how science applies to each topic.  Decipher secret codes and build ultraviolet light detectors to detect the “hidden” light from the sun.  Explore the animal kingdom and have fun experimenting with light and colors. The world will never look quite the same after attending this camp.

 

SECRET AGENT LAB (Ages 6—11)
"It’s elementary Watson” for children to become super sleuths to solve a “crime”!   Use techniques from forensic science to fill the shoes of a detective in this fun-filled “who dunnit” program.  Build a detective tool kit and use it to collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes.  The “un”usual suspects will be narrowed down as the week progresses until we solve the crime and bring the camp to a sweet conclusion!

 

FLIGHT ACADEMY!  (Ages 6—11)
Children will have a hands-on experience exploring how different types of aircraft and other objects that fly.  Basic principals of flight and aerodynamics will be investigated by building airplanes, testing them in wind tunnels, building a hovercraft and balloon copter.  Investigate how early “pilots” navigated while building a sextant and sundial.  Campers will take home a rubber band-powered airplane, various paper airplane designs, balloon copters, boomerangs and mini Frisbee™.  End the week by putting together everything we have learned by building an intermediate level Estes™ rocket.

 

RED HOT ROBOTS!  (Ages 8—12)
Join us for a week of thrills with amazing robots where we will explore how robots are used in our world and have fun experimenting with super cool sound sensing robots, line-tracking robots and amphibious robots.  Young scientists will discover the science of electronic circuits and how robots use sensors to explore things around them.  Build your very own sound-activated robot and test out your new friend on an obstacle course before taking it home at the end of the week.

Camp Type:  Day Year Established: 1996 Gender: Coed Age of Campers: 4 to 12 years old Cost/Week: $76.00-$200.00/wk Religious Affiliation: None Camp Owner(s): Don Buchhorn Camp Director(s): Stephenie Durell Nearest Large City: Charlotte Off Season Rental: No

Camp Focus: Academic and Pre-College Camps: Robotics Academic and Pre-College Camps: Science Academic and Pre-College Camps: Space After School Programs

Academic Activities:

All camps are 5 days and are available June 9 through August 15 (except the week of July 4).

20 locations in the Greater Charlotte area.

Prices vary by camp and location.

FULL CAMP DESCRIPTIONS:

EARTH EXPLORATIONS (Ages 4—6)

Minerals

Young scientists will explore many different types of rocks and minerals as we learn cool facts about each type.  Learn what fossils and shells tell us about the creatures of the earth.  Campers will sift for stones and design their very own unique bracelet that they will take home. 

 

Dinosaurs

In this introduction to dinosaurs, we will dig for “dinosaur remains”, learn about what dinosaurs eat, and take home our own dinosaur tooth! Compare yourself with the size of a dinosaur!  Just how big were they? 

 

Ocean Animals

Today we will explore the farthest depths of the oceans and lakes that surround us!  Campers will create their own piece of underwater life.  We will see how starfish and sand dollars compare as blooming biologists get their own to decorate and take home. 

 

Volcanoes

Today campers will discover some of the forces of nature that shape our earth.  They will encounter some of the wonders of pressure as they make a canister act as a “mini volcano”.  Campers will be thrilled to learn about our gigantic Mad Science volcano as it erupts before their eyes!  All will build a reusable volcano kit to take home.

 

Earthquakes

Campers will dig into the world of earthquakes, build an earthquake proof house, and do some shaking and quaking ourselves on this fun day! Find out about tectonic plates as you play a fun, interactive game.  Discover how the land was formed and shaped millions of years ago.  Take an “earthly” project home with you.

 

BLAST OFF TO SPACE  (Ages 6—11)

 

Rocket Scientists

Children will step into the shoes of a rocket scientist and learn the fundamentals of propulsion and rocket design. Today they will begin examining altitude and create their own tool to measure how high their rockets can go!

 

Mission Control

Children will discover the fundamentals involved in launching rockets during this program.

They will further explore the concepts of altitude and altitude tracking and begin to build their own Estes®  Skyblazer rockets.

 

Astronaut Training

Children will get the chance to finish constructing their own Estes® Alpha rockets during this hands-on look at rocketry and space travel. Campers will learn about Newton’s laws of motion, about the history of space travel and how some space vehicles work. They will also design their own indoor launching craft!

 

Mission Recovery

Campers will focus on recovery systems for rockets along with a continuing exploration of

Newton’s laws of motion and how they apply to rockets in flight. They will build a model of Saturn and witness a wet and wild water bottle rocket launch!

 

Go for Launch!

Campers will continue their exploration of rocketry in this hands-on program by focusing on rocket transportation systems and rocket staging. After building a Blast Off Racer challenge fellow campers with they will get to launch their own Estes® Skyblazer rocket.

 

SIZZLING SUMMER SCIENCE (Ages 6—11)

 

Patterns and Codes

Campers will go on a scavenger hunt for hidden patterns in nature and make cool sunprint images using the items they collected. Campers will then learn to decipher secret codes and solve a slime mystery! They will begin work on a week-long geodesic dome project and take home an awesome bead keychain that changes color in the sun.

 

All About Animals

Birds and Beasts and Fish, Oh My! Camper will make their own animal tracks, eat like a bird AND like a whale, and build their own glider. From their habits to their habitats, campers will explore the science of the Animal Kingdom and even learn to make it a little cleaner!

 

Chemicals, Lights, and Colors

Today campers will explore the science of color in both pigment and light. They will witness a cool indoor firework chemical energy color display and create their own Tie-dye Mad Science T-shirts! Campers will decorate the animal prints with different paints create an eye catching sun catcher!

 

Bigger, Better Builders

Campers become junior engineers on this day when they take a look at the structures that are all around them, everywhere you look and everywhere you go!  Campers will join a team of scientists to inspect the elements of structures as you build, test; and yes, even eat some structures you create. In addition to stable structures, campers will explore flying structures and even build their own stunt plane!

 

Science of Sport

Today campers will explore the scientific side of sports! They will experiment with games and see how physics, biology and chemistry can affect athletes and there equipment. Campers will work to protect an egg and then put their protection to the test in an egg toss! They will turn polymer powder into a bouncing ball and will get a cool Hydration Station to keep them well hydrated!

 

SECRET AGENT LAB (Ages 6—11)

 

Gizmos and Gadgets

Campers will begin camp by harnessing their observation skills and discussing what it takes to become a detective. They will build a super sleuth kit to get them prepared for their week of hunting down clues and examining evidence. Once they have undergone this basic training they will build periscopes to begin their undercover spy work with.

 

Mad Messages

On this day campers will experiment with secret messages. They will build code wheels, discover hidden messages in many different places and even create a puzzle using only themselves! They will learn the basics of Morse code and build colorful decoder for future confidential messages.

 

Plenty of Prints

Time to examine the evidence! From fingerprints to shoe prints to lip prints, campers will be able to identify the uniqueness of all the prints we leave behind. They will work on their glowing Mad Science T-shirts and record their own prints in an ID kit.

 

Detective Training

Today campers will delve deep into the DNA trail, learning about cells and the tiniest pieces of the puzzle scientists and detectives work to unravel. They will see how different the cells can make us all despite their size. They will build a cell model and also participate in a spy operation where the must use walkie talkies to complete their mission.

 

At the Scene of the Crime

In this fun-filled finale campers will become detectives in an actual mystery scene! They will examine the evidence left behind from a messy night and try and uncover the whereabouts of a missing person! A sweet surprise awaits the sleuths when they solve the mystery. Campers will take home the toolboxes they have worked on during the week.

 

FLIGHT ACADEMY (Ages 6—11)

 

The Wright Stuff

Children will explore the fundamentals of aerodynamics in this hands-on program about how things fly. From the basic principles of flight to building airplanes and testing them in wind tunnels, children will understand what makes things fly and how different types of aircraft fly. Campers will take home a rubber band-powered airplane, various paper airplane designs, boomerangs and mini Frisbees™.

 

Up, Up, and Away

This program will explore the role that wind and the movement of air plays on simple flying devices such as kites, hot air balloons and parachutes. Children will experiment with solar bags and parachutes and build their own kites during this hands-on look at early flight.

 

Milky Way

What is the Milky Way and how do we know what’s up there? Children will explore the celestial sphere, learn about celestial navigation and build their own sextant and sundial while discovering the wonders of the Milky Way.

 

Newton’s Loco-Motion

Sir Isaac Newton was very curious about how things move. Discover Newton’s Laws of Motion and something called inertia in this hands-on program all about motion. Children will experiment to learn how inertia works and how gravity is a physical force that keeps all objects “stuck” to the Earth. They will also decorate their Mad Science T-Shirts this day!

 

Rockin’ Rockets

Campers will learn the fundamentals of rocketry throughout this day including the parts of a rocket, the stages of rocket flight and how Newton’s third law applies to a rocket traveling to space. The children will build their own rockets which they will also get to launch during this fun-filled finale!

 

RED HOT ROBOTS (Ages 8—12)

 

Robots 101

Robot camp will begin with demonstrations of some cool robots that can do amazing things. Campers will get a preview of the Jungle-Bot they will build over the course of the week. They will start discussing how robots work by exploring light and sound waves. Campers will build Image Inverters that illustrate how sensory information gets to our brains.

 

Circuit Science

In addition to working on their robots, campers will spend this day studying electricity and circuits. They will make light bulbs light up and buzzers buzz with batteries and wires. They will also see an electroscope demonstration and build their own Technicolor Blender, a cool motor operated device that challenges our senses.

 

Simple Machines

Campers will look at various simple machine devices including catapults and pulleys. They will also continue building their Jungle Bots. This day will finish with campers putting together their own Mad Science Drag Racer which utilizes many simple machines and will be put to the test in a Camper Drag Race!

 

Complex Machines

Today Campers are well versed in their Robots. They will be putting on the finishing touches while exploring the more logistical side of robotics. Campers will do an experiment where they must follow Boolean logic, ending with the creation of a cool machine called a micro-pincher. They will also build a cube puzzle and end the day monkeying around with their jungle themed door hanger.

 

Rockin’ Robots

During this fun finale campers will finish up their cube puzzle and experiment with all kinds of fun electric toys. They will create obstacle courses for the robots and allow them to swing from ropes and walk on the ground. All campers will leave with a fully functional, Award winning Jungle-Bot.