World Explorers
Within a relaxed, safe, accepting environment, children aged 3 to 9 learn about two major world cultures during two four-week sessions. Campers explore each region through encounters with its music, art, dance, food, geography, history, ecosystems and languages. In 2010, campers will explore Latin America and Asia.
Artists-in-residence visit to share talents and work on special projects with campers. Onsite programs are complimented by field trips to museums, nature centers, zoos, theater performances and other local events. Our partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology gives us unique access to visiting experts in anthropology and archaeology as well as real artifacts that give campers a hands-on experience. Each four-week session is capped by an art and performance fair in which campers share what they have learned with the community. These exhibitions include original artwork, as well as singing, dancing and drama.
In addition, instructional and recreational swimming are provided twice weekly at Knowlton Swim Club by certified water safety instructors.
Summer Synergy
Featuring the fun of hands-on learning (without homework!), Summer Synergy provides rising 5th-8th graders a mid-summer "boredom break", immersing them in weekly "experiential intensives". Aiming to enlighten and engage, each course concludes with a showcase of campers' creations:
July 12-16: Stop Motion Animation
Fans of Wallace & Grommit, Brickfilms and The Fantastic Mr. Fox will survey the stop motion genre and then use artistry, digital photography and software to make their own 2-D and/or 3-D digital shorts.
July 19-23: Digital Storytelling in Scratch
Behind every great cartoon and video game, there's a great story. Using MIT's Scratch software, campers will storyboard and then animate their own narratives, all the while learning computer programming basics.
July 26-30: Screenwriting & Filmmaking
Future Oscar contenders will delve into the process of writing for the "silver screen" and then collaborate to take their screenplays from page to DVD using video equipment and editing software.
August 2-6: Rock Studio
Campers will learn to play as a band using traditional as well as invented instruments, and then employ microphones, soundboards and mixers to record their "sessions" onto a CD just like professional sound engineers. No prior musical experience required.
Experienced, professional educators staff all of these enlightening and entertaining courses. Enrollment is limited to ensure that campers have ample opportunity to explore their interests in a creative atmosphere.