​Hamden STEAM Camp

In collaboration with the CT STEM Academy, Hamden Public Schools would like to make this summer extra fun for our students! During two, one-week sessions, students will participate in fun and engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities. Students might enjoy themselves so much, they won’t know they are also learning! 

Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily. Camp runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. “Extended day” options are available in the morning beginning at 8:15 and in the afternoon until 5:00 pm,  but must be requested at the time of registration.  Each session is available to up to 50 registered students.  Families may register their child(ren) for one or both sessions. Please note, there is no bus transportation this summer.

In both sessions, students will explore the concepts of STEM by building, creating, and solving real world-problems while building interpersonal skills with their peers. In addition to the hands-on STEM activities, all students will participate in enjoyable interactive games that promote communication, listening, creativity, and teamwork. Both sessions will feature different topics.

Open to all Hamden Public Schools students who are going into 5th or 6th grade. This camp has no cost and is FREE.

The below themes are examples.  Additional themes/descriptions will be developed in collaboration with Hamden Public Schools staff for the 2021-2022 camp season.  Additionally, we will include Art, Drama (SEL Focus) and Mindfulness Sessions.  

Week 1 - NASA Astro Camp 
Developed with NASA-based activities, this camp explores what it really means to be an astronaut and an aerospace engineer combining science, engineering, and math all in one. Students will be building, launching, and exploring the various structures launched into space while thinking about the scientific factors that go into real NASA space explorations. This camp introduces children to the principles of engineering through hands-on NASA themed activities in which they will apply the engineering design process to solve problems and generate solutions.  Within our daily investigations, students will be participating in daily space read alouds, informational research, applied mathematics, art connections, and daily journal entries.  Our emphasis will be on exploring the wonders of space science through hands-on collaborative investigations.  Come join us for a great time!  

Week 2 - Engineering Challenges
Our STEAM learning experiences will integrate not only science, technology, engineering, and math, but language arts, history, and the arts.  With this inclusive curriculum, students' mindset will be expanded into interdisciplinary thinking when it comes to real world problems and challenges.  Engineering is Elementary curriculum focuses on critical thinking skills to solve problems faced by engineers.  It is a chance for students to address a variety of problems from different points of view, and create solutions. Using scientific inquiry, students will learn about building bridges, researching artifacts, knee braces, water filters, and many more real world problems. Our curriculum delivery choices are researched based, created by scientists/engineers and tested by teachers, including our qualified team. Within the context of these engineering topics, students will be exposed to interdisciplinary concepts which include CCSS aligned mathematics and literacy.  Programming will have students using hands-on, kinesthetic, differentiated and scaffolded learning where students will solve complex problems. Instructors will adjust program instruction to meet the needs of all participants with registered participants.  

Week 3 - Coding Adventures
This program is designed for participants who would like a rich introduction to plugged and unplugged coding. This program encourages cooperative teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication and a variety of additional “soft skills” needed to be successful in a 21st Century learning environment.  Participants will engage in the hands-on Great Cardboard Challenge. Participants will collaboratively design a course, a story scene, a park, or other imaginative designs.  Once participants have planned and built their 3D cardboard design, participants will be challenged to code a robot to travel through their design.  Participants will use ozoblockly and/or unplugged color coding to learn the basics of coding and related STEAM applications that include math, engineering, art and coding.  Instructors will adjust program instruction to meet the needs of all participants with registered participants.  

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