SCIENCE
SMART Chemistry | Grades K – 5
Chemistry is a fun, messy and interactive science! Here the campers will learn all about chemical reactions, and why things go boom! We will learn about chromatography by making T-Shirts, endothermic and exothermic reactions, phase changes and even make our own creations of wacky fun projects like non-Newtonian fluids, ice cream, and toothpaste for elephants!
SMART Circuits | Grades 1 - 4
A great introduction to electricity and circuits for our younger students. We will build our own circuits and explore the world of electronics and circuits through a progression of projects and activities that will keep your kids excited and asking for more! These take-home projects will teach not only what electricity is, but how it works.
Electronic Fundamentals | Grades 5+
What better way to learn about electricity than by building circuits yourself! This program will walk the youngest students through a series of projects involving playdough, lights, and even building their own robots. We will explore all sorts of areas of electronics from motors, solar cells, radios and a variety of other electronic components.
MACHINES
3D Printing | Grades 3 – 5
Have you heard of the newest craze in the technology industry? This isn’t science fiction, companies are taking this technology to print bridges, houses and more. Now you can learn the basics of 3D printing for the home and hobby use through a series of projects to teach the critical skills of engineering and CAD design. Students will learn to design physical objects in the digital world and how to print them in the real world.
Rockets | Grades 5+
Houston is famous for space science and all things rocketry. Now a course in hands-on building, design, and experimentation for building rockets. As we explore the history of rocketry, we will build rocket engines, build rockets, and even launch rockets hundreds of feet into the air! This is a blast of a class.
Raspberry Pi | Grades 6+
Everyone has used a computer, but has your student built one from scratch? Well with this Raspberry Pi course students will learn to assemble a collection of scrap parts into a fully working computer! While exploring RAM, I/0 busses, CPU and other terminology students will learn and expand python programming needed to develop their raspberry pi into an incredible machine.
Arduino | Grades 6+
Computers have become so cheap that with an Arduino almost any gadget is possible. From a smart door openers, home security cameras, and almost anything else with the Internet of Things (IOT). This class will take advanced students through a series of projects and programming steps as students create some amazing gadgets while learning all the skills they need to continue their learning at home.
Quadcopters | Grades 6+
This Exciting class teaches the fundamentals of aerodynamics and forces involved in flying quadcopters. Not only will students learn to fly and control drones, but they will learn how they work by MAKING THEIR OWN DRONE! What could be cooler than building a drone that flies!
RC Planes | Grades 6+
Come and learn how things fly by creating a multitude of flying machines. Kites, gliders, hovercraft and even radio-controlled machines that take to the air. Not only will we build these flying machines but learn how and why they work. Through experimentation, guided builds and a lot of hands-on activities this fun-filled class will have young campers flying high long past the course.
ART & ANIMATION
Acrylic Painting | All Grades
Painting is a wonderful medium to explore and experiment with. This painting course will explore various uses of painting techniques, on a variety of mediums, and projects that can be taken home and put on display. Not only will this expand art appreciation of students it is a wonderful way to increase confidence that will port over to other areas of student interest.
Digital Art | Grades 3 – 5
As most everything today becomes digital so has art. We will explore digital art programs that will have students creating amazing works of art that investigate the potential and opportunities the digital medium has to offer. From digital animation, to still images, and photograph manipulation.
Stop Motion | Grades 5+
Blender | Grades 6+
An incredibly lightweight, but useful 3D Modeling program that doubles as a game engine as well. Using blender you can create fantastic 3D Models, Animations, Artwork, Games and more. Used by many in various industries from Game Development to Animated Movies, Blender is a great tool to have in your arsenal!
Virtual Reality with Unity and C# | Grades 9 – 12
Develop VR applications using Unity and C# software.
ROBOTICS
Dot and Dash | Grades K – 1
Think coding is a skill learned lazily behind a computer screen? Think again! This program will prove otherwise with a pair of robots that are as mobile and excited as the kids who learn to program them. An ideal platform for young learners to get a fundamental understanding of coding, critical thinking, problem solving and a having a wild time while doing it! Students will drive their robots, play games with them, program the robots to dance and tell jokes!
WeDo | Grades 1 – 3
A foundational course in computer science is all about creating the fundamental building blocks students need to have a successful journey of digital fluency. WeDo is a great first step for the youngest of programmers, using the most famous blocks of all, LEGO®, students will get introduced to the essential skills needed for future programing. Students will build birds, boats, planes and even alligators while discovering how gears work, the function of pulleys and an introduction to programing. That’s right, even non-readers will learn to program their robots to use a variety of sensors and utilize motors, conditionals and loops.
Creating a Flyweight Combat Robot | Grades 3 – 5
Learn the requirements for a flyweight combat robot for weight and construction, then look at some existing designs. Students can use these or create something original of their own.
EV3 | Grades 4 – 7
What do you get when you cross LEGO®, robots and a series of challenges and puzzles designed to challenge and motivate any middle schoolers? Lego Mindstormers® that’s what! This program is well suited for the experienced and inexperienced programmer. We have gone all out to prepare a program that will incrementally teach programing and critical thinking skills while participants play, build, design and program their way through games, puzzles, and challenges.
Vex | Grades 8 – 12
This is the epitome of robotic platforms. Famous for its yearly regional and international competitions, VEX® Robotics systems allow for intermediate and advanced students to push the boundaries of what you think you can do with a collection of metal trusses, sensors and motors. All done in C, this advanced course is perfect for experienced students looking to pursue a career in computer science or robotics.
TECHNOLOGY
Scratch Jr | Grades 1 – 3
Junior Scratch is a drag and drop program designed for the youngest of kids. If they can use a tablet, we can teach them how to start programming using pictures.
Scratch | Grades 4 – 6
Video games are often the first and most memorable experience children have with computers. This class is about taking the fun of video games and using it to teach programming! Every lesson participants will learn and expand coding skills while using their critical and analytical skills to make video games, all of which can be taken home!
Junior Python | Grades 3 – 5
Python is a powerful, expressive programming language that`s easy to learn and fun to use. Python for kids easily brings kids into the world of programming. Turtle graphics and tKinter allow students to enjoy making fun graphics, create music and game and animation projects while learning Python language basics. A fun way for a young child to get introduced to coding!
Python | Grades 6+
One of the most powerful programing languages, python is an excellent first scripting language for intermediate or older students looking to program. Used in web and internet development, the scientific community for modelling and analysis, used by big companies like Google, Facebook, NASA, and Dropbox! With python students will learn to program computers, create games in a fun and highly interactive series of projects.
Java Minecraft | Grades 5 – 7
Minecraft isn’t just a great video game, but a great tool to learn to code! If your child likes Minecraft then they will LOVE this course where they will learn to modify and customize the game! What could be better than playing Minecraft than having the ability to add a level of customization to the most popular sandbox game out there! This course will teach all the important things a programmer needs to learn and know about programming such as objects, classes, loops, and graphic design.
Java | Grades 6+
An incredibly versatile programming language that everyone has used and now you can learn to program it! Campers will learn to work in this powerful work environment from the basics of objects, classes data types and more! Campers will dive into the eclipse IDE platform and from day one start producing programs, games and applets.