Winter Break Camp 2025

Dates: February 17 – February 21
Time: 9am-4pm
Ages: 6+
Can purchase full week (2/17-2/21) or individual days.

monday feb 17

Art Lab: Mixed Media + Alt. Photo Collage (morning)
In this lab, student will explore the dynamic world of mixed media and alternative photography techniques. Using various materials such as paper, fabric, and found objects, students will create unique collages that blend traditional and experimental approaches. Techniques will include layering photographs, manipulating images, and incorporating texture to enhance visual storytelling. Participants will leave with their own original collage and the skills to continue exploring mixed media art independently.

Minecraft Education Lab: AI Concepts: Fantastic Fairgrounds (afternoon)
Introducing the new Fantastic Fairgrounds, a Minecraft Education lesson designed to build AI literacy for students. This dynamic world’s fair introduces students to the wonders of AI through fun hands on activities. They’ll practice using AI responsibly and build skills for our digital future. From the blocky beekeeper sanctuary where students track down bees using Ai to the electrifying light show where they optimize power grids and the art pavilion where AI meets creativity. Students will grasp AI fundamentals, explore real world applications, and confront ethical questions all while developing critical problem-solving skills. This lab promises a mix of educational fun, with free time at the end of each class for further exploration and creativity.

tuesday feb 18

Art Lab: DIY Cardboard Automata Build (morning)
Students will explore the playful world of Cardboard Automata, mechanical sculptures made from cardboard that use simple machines to tell stories through movement. This activity introduces campers to basic mechanical elements like levers, cams, and linkages and other mechanisms, each participant will craft a unique, personalized creation that showcases their artistic vision and mechanical understanding, blending art and science in a fun and engaging way.

Art Lab: Stop Motion Animation (afternoon)
Students will explore the creative world of stop-motion claymation. They will use clay and various materials to design characters and sets while learning essential animation techniques. Through hands-on activities, campers will create their own short films, focusing on storytelling and visual expression. The day will cover planning, building, shooting, and editing, culminating in a completed project to share, highlighting their unique animations and newly developed skills.

wednesday feb 19

Art Lab: Sphero littleBits: Invent an Art Machine (morning)
Students will use the littleBits Invention Cycle, and an understanding of the basics of circuitry and motion, to construct an art machine that draws on its own. Students will manipulate Bits and materials, and use their creativity and collaboration skills, to build unique solutions and replicate patterns that they like best. Conclude the activity by challenging students to match their classmates’ Art Bots to their respective masterpieces.

Game + Animation Coding Lab: Exploring MIT's Octostudio (afternoon)
In this lab, students will dive into game design and animation using MIT's Octostudio, a web-based platform that allows users to create interactive stories and games using Scratch block coding. Participants will learn to design their own projects by combining coding skills with artistic expression, exploring character design, storyboarding, and game mechanics with Octostudio's user-friendly visual programming system. Through hands-on projects, students will develop unique animated games that incorporate narratives and branching storylines, showcasing their creativity and technical abilities in a fun and engaging environment.

thursday feb 20

Art Lab: DIY Constellation Projector (morning)
In this project, students will create their own DIY constellation projectors while learning about stars and constellations through hands-on exploration of light and shadow. They will design and decorate their projectors with personalized star cutouts, selecting specific constellations or creating unique designs. To complement this activity, students will also engage in a "Star Map" project, where they illustrate their favorite constellations and share fun facts about each one. This experience fosters creativity and critical thinking, allowing students to take home a personalized constellation projector and an illustrated star map to share their newfound knowledge of astronomy with family and friends.

Minecraft Education Lab: Explore the Wonders of Space with the NASA Challenge (afternoon)
Join us while we explore the incredible NASA James Web Space Telescope, a new lens for learning space science. In this interstellar quest, students will gain access to the most complex observatory ever created which surveys the deepest corners of our cosmos seeking answers to the wonders of our solar system and beyond. Learners will journey through interactive modules about star formation, planet characteristics, the fascinating world of exoplanets and the mysteries of galaxies. They’ll then demonstrate that learning and their creativity with the opportunity to design their very own planetary system. This lab promises a mix of educational fun, with free time at the end of each class for further exploration and creativity.

friday feb 21

Art Lab: DIY Pinball Machine (morning)
In this lab, participants will design and build their own vintage-style pinball machines using a box. We will cover the basics of mechanics and physics to create the frame, ramps, flippers, and bumpers. Participants will also customize their machines with unique artwork and decorations. Working in teams, they will brainstorm, build, troubleshoot, and playtest their creations, enhancing their problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Game Design Lab: Building Platformers with Super Mario Maker 2 (afternoon)
In this engaging class, students will dive into the world of game design using Super Mario Maker 2. They'll learn to create their own platformers, experimenting with gameplay mechanics, level design principles, and creative storytelling. Through hands-on projects, participants will develop skills in designing challenging obstacles, crafting engaging environments, and incorporating unique power-ups. This class encourages collaboration and creativity, allowing students to share their creations and provide feedback to peers. Join us for a fun-filled exploration of platformer design, where imagination and gameplay come together!

CLASS POLICY