(914) 462-0360; www.discovercamp.com
If your camper entertains dreams of becoming the next Nikola Tesla, Discover Camp’s 3D Inventors program might just be his or her dream come true. In 3D Inventors, campers are given weekly projects in which they design and test their own 3D-printed creations. While 3D Inventors is being offered for the first time this summer, inspiring kids to explore and create in the fields of science and technology is definitely not new for Discover Camp, which is chock-full of techy amenities.
Other interesting offerings for budding technology thinkers include Intro to Java Coding Using Minecraft and Laser-Etched Skateboard Building, in which campers will learn the art of how a skateboard is made and then take lessons to learn to skate.
Husband-and-wife duo Anthony and Sabrina Rich (he is an elementary school technology teacher in Eastchester; she is the director of technology for the Ardsley public schools) founded Discover Camp in 2008, with the intent of creating a camp that would focus on “hands-on” hobbies. But the Riches quickly realized their true calling was a technology-focused camp. “STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] is the buzzword these days, but we are actually so much more than STEM,” they say.Eastchester; she is the director of technology for the Ardsley public schools) founded Discover Camp in 2008, with the intent of creating a camp that would focus on “hands-on” hobbies. But the Riches quickly realized their true calling was a technology-focused camp. “STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] is the buzzword these days, but we are actually so much more than STEM,” they say.
Over the past eight years, Discover Camp has grown from 30 to about 800 campers (with about 400 per session), but the adult-to-child ratio has remained low, at approximately 1:5. Every class is led by a professional educator or industry expert, and with 117 courses available, Discover Camp offers plenty of variety (way beyond just technology)—everything from rock climbing and sculpting to rocket building.
High-tech pedigree
Discover Camp is the only camp in the US with two 3D printer labs and 30 3D printers. It also has the largest radio-controlled camp program in the country in which campers across all age groups can learn to engineer radio-controlled cars, and then race them on the largest electric Mini-Z radio-controlled track in the world.
Ages: 5 to 13 Dates: First session, June 27 to July 22; second session, July 25 to August 12 Fees: Start at $1,050 Transportation: Available for an additional fee ranging from $626 to $991