Description
STEAMwhiz's February & April Break Camps
Dive into 60 hours of thrilling and transformative learning that will elevate your students’ creative problem-solving skills through engaging, project-based Minecraft activities meticulously designed by our expert K-8 education curriculum developers.
This is an unparalleled opportunity for students to enrich their knowledge through dynamic and captivating educational experiences tailored for young thinkers! Click on the weeks below to discover the inspiring learning objectives and innovative projects that await you this summer!
Beginners (Ages 6-8)
Feb 17th - 21st | 3D Printing Explorers
3D Printed Balloon Car Challenge
STEM Fun for Young Engineers
Feb 17th – 21st
Challenge
Welcome to the Balloon Racer STEM Camp! In this camp, young engineers will dive into the fascinating world of physics and engineering by exploring the science behind 3D-printed balloon car racers. Campers will learn how different designs affect the performance of their racers and will have the opportunity to customize their cars to achieve the best results. Get ready for a thrilling race to the finish line!
Project Highlights
Car Racer Design
Aesthetic Customization
Racing Challenge
Learning Objectives
Fundamental Physics
Objective: Gain a fundamental understanding of basic physics concepts such as force, motion, and energy.
Outcome: Campers will identify and explain how these physics concepts apply to balloon car racers.
Engineering Principles
Objective: Understand engineering principles, including aerodynamics, friction, and weight distribution.
Outcome: Campers will apply these principles to optimize the performance of their balloon car racers.
3D Printing Technology Principles
Objective: Develop an understanding of 3D printing technology, including its principles, processes, and applications.
Outcome: Campers will identify and explain the key components of a 3D printer and how they are used to create personalized components for their balloon car racers.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Objective: Engage in hands-on activities that reinforce understanding of physics and engineering concepts.
Outcome: Campers will actively participate in hands-on projects, demonstrating their understanding through practical application.
Hands-On Project Based Learning
Objective: Apply acquired knowledge and skills to design and 3D print a personal project or prototype independently.
Outcome: Students will demonstrate creativity by incorporating unique features or modifications to their projects.
Apr 14th - 18th | Code Creators
MazeCraft
Coding Adventures with Scratch Jr.
April 14-18th
Challenge
Welcome to Maze Masters! In this exciting coding challenge, young learners will embark on a journey to create their very own multi-level maze game using Scratch Jr. Students will design, code, and test their mazes, guiding characters through twists and turns to reach the finish line. Along the way, they’ll develop essential coding skills and unleash their creativity.
Project Highlights
Develop Maze Navigation AI
Interactive Obstacles and Power-Ups
Multi-Level Maze Design
Learning Objectives
Introduction to Coding Concepts
Objective: Understand basic coding concepts such as sequences, loops, and events.
Outcome: Students can create simple sequences of instructions to control characters in Scratch Jr.
Design and Creativity
Objective: Develop design skills by creating visually appealing maze layouts and characters.
Outcome: Students can design and customize their maze levels and characters using Scratch Jr.’s drawing tools.
Problem-Solving and Logical Thinking
Objective: Enhance problem-solving skills by debugging and refining their code.
Outcome: Students will be able to identify and fix errors in their code to ensure their maze game works correctly.
Collaboration and Communication
Objective: Foster teamwork and communication by working on group projects and sharing ideas.
Outcome: Students can collaborate with peers to create and improve their maze games, and present their projects to the class.
Academic Resilience
Objective: Build persistence and academic resilience by overcoming challenges and iterating on their designs.
Outcome: Students will develop a growth mindset, understanding that mistakes are part of the learning process and that perseverance leads to success.
Intermediate to Advanced (Ages 9-13)
Feb 17th - 21st | 3D Printing Masters
Marble Labyrinth Engineers
3D Printing Marble Maze
Feb 17th – 21st
Challenge
Is your student ready to embark on a journey of creativity and innovation, transforming their ideas into tangible creations while developing critical problem-solving skills and gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology? In this project, students will design and 3D print their very own gravity-powered marble labyrinth fidget toy. This hands-on activity will teach them about physics, engineering, and 3D printing technology. By the end of the camp, each student will have a unique fidget toy to take home and enjoy.
Project Highlights
- Design & Prototype Marble Maze
- 3D Printer Workflow Start to Finish
- Physics & Engineering of Gravity Mazes
Learning Objectives
3D Printing Technology Essentials
Objective: Gain a fundamental understanding of 3D printing technology, including its principles, processes, and applications.
Outcome: Students will identify and explain the key components of a 3D printer, such as the extruder, build plate, and filament.
Application of Problem-Solving Skills
Objective: Enhance problem-solving abilities by identifying and addressing challenges in their gravity marble labyrinth designs.
Outcome: Students will demonstrate improved problem-solving skills by effectively addressing design challenges and optimizing their labyrinths.
Use of Physics Principles
Objective: Gain a practical understanding of physics concepts such as gravity, friction, and motion.
Outcome: Students will apply physics principles to create functional and efficient gravity marble labyrinths, demonstrating their understanding of gravity, friction, and motion.
Execute Individual Creativity
Objective: Think creatively and innovate as they design unique and challenging gravity marble labyrinths.
Outcome: Students will produce unique and innovative gravity marble labyrinth designs, showcasing their creativity and ability to iterate on their ideas.
Collaboration and Presentation
Objective: Encourage collaboration and sharing by presenting and playing each other’s projects.
Outcome: Students will present their maze games to peers, providing and receiving constructive feedback, and learning from each other’s experiences.
Apr 14th - 18th | Code Quest
GameCraft
Unleashing Creativity through Programming
Apr 14th – 18th
Challenge
Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of game design and coding? This course is designed for young innovators aged 9-13 eager to explore the world of coding and game design. You’ll embark on a journey to create a thrilling maze game, learning essential coding skills and game design principles along the way!
Project Highlights
Character Movement and Control
Interactive Maze Elements
Scratch Coding Maze Game
Learning Objectives
Coding Fundamentals with Scratch
Objective: Learn the fundamentals of block-based coding using Scratch.
Outcome: Students will create a maze game in Scratch, applying coding concepts such as loops, conditionals, and variables.
Game Design Principles
Objective: Understand the basics of game design, including level design, player mechanics, and user experience.
Outcome: Students will design engaging and challenging maze levels, demonstrating their understanding of game design principles.
Problem-Solving and Logical Thinking
Objective: Develop problem-solving and logical thinking skills by creating a functional maze game.
Outcome: Students will implement game mechanics that require strategic thinking and logical reasoning, enhancing their problem-solving abilities.
Iterative Design and Prototyping
Objective: Foster creativity and innovation through iterative design and prototyping.
Outcome: Students will refine their maze game designs based on feedback and testing, demonstrating the iterative nature of the design process.
Integration of Physical & Digital Worlds
Objective: Understand the connection between physical engineering and digital programming.
Outcome: Participants can draw parallels between building a physical marble roller coaster and coding a digital roller coaster, recognizing the similarities and differences in the processes.
FAQs
This camp is designed for students aged Beginners 6-8 years & Int/Adv 9-13 years, with tailored instruction to suit their developmental levels. Of course, these are just recommended ages, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We are conveniently located at 1 Charles Park, Guilderland, NY 12084
Students will be provided with all materials and equipment each week. A water bottle and snack are recommended for breaks during all sessions.
The camp focuses on integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through engaging Minecraft-based projects. Students will explore 3D printing, coding, gaming, robotics, and more.
Drop off starts at 8:45 am. Pickup is at 12 pm.
February Break
- 2/17/25 – 2/21/25
- Mon – Fri
- Morning Session
- 9 AM – 12 PM
April Break
- 4/1/25 – 4/18/25
- Mon – Fri
- Morning Session
- 9 AM – 12 PM
Camp is split into two halves by a break where students play movement based gaming to get up and move their bodies. They also get to have a snack break during the 3 hours. Its important to give them some time in between all the learning because they are being pushed and growing a lot! We want this experience to be enjoyable mixed with some intense brain workout 🤓
Students will work on a variety of projects, including:
- 3D Printing: Creating and printing 3D models.
- Coding: Developing mini-games and mods within Minecraft.
- Robotics: Building and programming robots to complete challenges.
The camp maintains a low student-to-instructor ratio of 8:1 to ensure personalized attention and support.
The camps are led by experienced educators dedicated to teaching primary and secondary students in the STEM fields. Instructors include professionals with backgrounds in K-12 education, physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
Yes, there is a waitlist available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the camp is full, you will see a button for the waitlist. We do fill up, so don’t delay 😉
Yes, if you sign up for February & April Camps you save $50 per student 🥳 Use the code below
Code: Break$50
