Design & Build (Grades 1-4)

Imagine building a castle or designing the perfect racetrack where the thrills have no limits—that’s what you can do with our Design & Build Studio. With the creativity of an artist and the mindset of an engineer and architect, campers will not only learn the physics behind how things work and the foundation to building; they’ll also bring their imaginations to life. Under the direction of experienced designers and crafters, campers will turn their ideas into high-quality projects using award-winning cardboard kits, hand tools, and imagination. 

General Daily Schedule:

• Morning introduction

• Activity period—approximately 1 hour

• Snack and stretch break—approximately 15 minutes, outside weather permitting

• Activity period—approximately 1 hour

• Lunch and Recess break—approximately 1 hour, outside weather permitting

• Activity period—approximately 2 hours (included in this time can be a stretch break as needed)

• Clean up, pack up, dismissal 

Dates, Hours, and Fees

Themes + Weekly Overview

Design Your Own Amusement Park!

Don't just go to an amusement park this summer; build your own! In this dynamic program, participants craft dazzling theme parks using 3D-construction and circuitry skills and tools to build giant Ferris wheels and more!

Campers won't just design; they'll engineer. From gravity-defying roller coasters to magical-themed zones, they'll harness the potential of the design process to bring their ideas to life.

By the program's close, each participant will proudly showcase their miniature amusement park, embodying creativity, engineering, and teamwork.

Ready to construct the unthinkable? Let the theme park building begin!

Skills Learned in Design Your Own Amusement Park!

Design processes such as conceptualizing, rendering in 2D and 3D, experimenting, constructing, and evaluating. Fine motor skills such as proper scissor usage, bending and folding paper, and sketching. Techniques such as 3D paper and cardboard construction, building in scale, drafting, model building and sculpting, circuitry concepts and other embellishing techniques.

Marvel Mania

Let your superpowers take flight in this dynamic program, with an exciting mission: If you could design a new Marvel superhero, an epic hideout, or a new evil villain, what would it be?

Campers flex their creative powers and develop their own superhero characters to add to the Marvel Universe by developing their superhero backstory, powers, weaknesses, and the moral dilemmas they face.

But we are not done yet; the Marvel Universe is not complete without campers building their own area of the Marvel Universe. Using 3D cardboard construction techniques to build superhero hideouts, cityscapes, and backdrops where superheroes prevail over the evil villains, or do they? That's up to you!

Join us in the Marvel Mania program, where every child gets to add their own unique chapter to the legendary Marvel saga!

Skills Learned in Marvel Mania

Design processes such as conceptualizing, rendering in 2D and 3D, experimenting, constructing, and evaluating. Fine motor skills such as proper scissor usage, bending and folding paper, and sketching. Techniques such as 3D paper and cardboard construction, building in scale, drafting, model building and sculpting, circuitry concepts and other embellishing techniques.

Super Mario Kingdoms

Jump down a warp pipe to the vibrant world of the Mushroom Kingdom this summer! In this immersive program, budding game designers face a delightful challenge: "How would you craft YOUR Super Mario Kingdom?" Drawing inspiration from Mario, Peach, and their colorful adventures, participants embark on a journey to conceptualize their dream video game worlds. Campers will visualize platforms, otherworldly obstacles, and thrilling landscapes for our valiant Nintendo heroes using 3D construction techniques and circuitry concepts. Beyond just imagining layouts, they'll dive deep into the essence of gameplay, ensuring their Kingdom captures the fun, challenge, and charm of the iconic franchise. So let's embark on this Super Mario Maker journey, nurturing our next generation's love for gaming while celebrating the legacy of the legendary plumber and his pals!

 Skills learned in Super Mario Kingdoms

Design processes such as conceptualizing, rendering in 2D and 3D, experimenting, constructing, and evaluating. Fine motor skills such as proper scissor usage, bending and folding paper, and sketching. Techniques such as 3D paper and cardboard construction, building in scale, drafting, model building and sculpting, circuitry concepts and other embellishing techniques.