Have you reached THAT point in the summer yet? You know the one I’m talking about- the one where you look longingly at the calendar wondering how many more weeks until school starts? If you’re clamoring for fun and engaging things for your kids to do to mix up the ho-hum summer routine without breaking the bank, online camps such as Camp Google and Maker Camp could be just what you need to infuse your summer with productive screen time that provides something just different enough to get you through the rest of July and August!
Both are great options for hands-on learning for ages 7-17 to keep kids engaged in meaningful activities but flexible enough for families to jump in (or out!) at any time to fit your summer schedule.
Google Camp
Designed for ages 7-10, Camp Google is all about hands-on learning through fun science projects and exploration using supplies readily available in your home to answer questions such as: What’s at the bottom of the ocean? What will you find in the wild? How do you live in space? Why does music make us move?
This four week camp kicks off today with Ocean Week where kids will explore the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. In the following weeks, Google campers will enjoy Space Week, Music Week, and Nature Week where activities include hiking an active volcano with a park ranger and rocking out with a music star. Khan Academy, National Geographic, National Parks, and NASA serve as Google’s camp partners and are providing experts to lead kids in hands-on science projects through this virtual camp experience.
Here’s a closer look at the Google Camp themes over the next four weeks:
- July 13— Ocean Week: Dive to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and explore its wonders with National Geographic, make something float that would normally sink in water, and discover how dolphins use sounds to see underwater.
- July 20— Space Week: Blast off to NASA’s Food Lab and help create space food for astronauts, create a zero-gravity zone out of magnets, and light up your room with your very own constellation
- July 27— Nature Week: Explore a volcano with a National Park Ranger and discover how it was formed, grow your own crystals with crazy shapes and colors, and create a magnifying glass to see whole new worlds.
- August 3— Music Week: Rock out with Zendaya and learn why music makes us want to bust a move, turn your smartphone into a booming stereo, and see what your voice looks like when you sing.
Maker Camp
Last year I featured Maker Camp but this year it’s back providing a bright spot in tech and education for kids and teens 8-17 years old who are interested in hands-on learning through hacking, tech, DIY, making, creating, crafting, and tinkering.
Maker Camp is a free virtual summer camp that demonstrates how technology is shaping the way this generation of children learn through hands-on experiences outside of the traditional classroom. It’s different than a traditional summer camp because the program takes place online and allows young Makers to join from anywhere including home, mobile device or local community spaces so you can do it from the pool, while traveling, or even at a friends’ house. Last year over a million attendees participated in Maker Camp from across the United States!
The format mimics a traditional summer camp with different themes each week where attendees explore stuff and ways of making, make step-by-step projects (Advanced Makers can take on Camp Challenges), and share what they’ve done online.
Here’s a rundown of what you can expect from Maker Camp each week:
- July 13-17 (Week 2)— Funkytown: Make some instruments, then make some noise in the Maker Camp Battle of the Bands
- July 20-24 (Week 3)— Farmstead: Hack the Hoedown with sustainable energy, food, architecture, and crafts that bridge across centuries
- July 27-31 (Week 4)— Fun & Games: Roll out the fun with games you make yourself, then challenge your friends with a Maker Camp Carnival
- August 3-7 (Week 5)— Flight: Take off in this make-off of all things that zip and zoom above our heads, culminating in the Maker Camp Air Show
- August 10-14 (Week 6)— Far-Out Future: Step into the future with personal fab projects using new materials, and strut your shiny stuff in a Far-Out Fashion Show
There are also activities and memories including projects, counselor-led experiences, and field trips. Past field trips have included behind-the-scenes access for kids at major companies including LEGO, NASA and Disney!
While many participate virtually, the affiliate program also gives campers the ability to meet in-person and work on projects together. In 2014 there were some 500 venues hosting Maker Camp. To-date, there are nearly 700 affiliate locations this summer, with the goal of 1,000.
No compensation was received for this post. Maker Camp did send me a box of supplies to get my kids started with camp but all opinions are my own.
