Charlotte has lots of options for summer day camps that feature sports, dance and other activities to keep kids’ bodies stimulated while school is out — but what about stimulating their minds?
Summer learning loss or “summer slide” affects kids of all ages, causing students to lose some of the work and academic achievements they accomplished during the previous school year. Teachers say it’s common for kids to forget what they’ve learned, and it can take weeks to get it back. Math skills are often the first to go. But summer learning programs can help stop the brain drain, and Charlotte Latin‘s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Camps bridge the gap between learning and fun.
Here are five reasons to consider sending your kids to one of Latin’s STEM Camps this summer:
1. The camps are so fun, kids won’t even realize they’re learning.
Tom Dubick, the head of Latin’s engineering department, told us the camps are all about being “hands-on and minds-on,” and campers will always be creating things. Kids in the Star Wars camp will learn to create vehicles, light sabres and more using equipment like 3D printers and laser cutting machines. During the dinosaur camp, kids can create their own T-Rex head and go on a simulated fossil dig — all while learning to use technology that adult engineers use every day.
And just like traditional day camps, kids will get to bring home their projects when they’re done. But instead of a macaroni necklace, it might be a functioning light saber.
2. You don’t have to be a Latin student to come to camp.
Latin’s engineering camps are available for kids ages 4 to 18, and they’re all taught by qualified professionals (the Charlotte Latin School engineering staff is MIT-trained). Latin’s facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment like multiple 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters and more.
“It’s all about making things accessible. We have lots of materials and everyone has their own equipment,” Dubick said. “We’re doing the camps everyone else will be doing in a few years. (Campers) will be doing things no one else is doing.”
Latin’s 200-acre campus also features Lake Latin, which engages campers with nature-friendly elements, so kids won’t be stuck inside all day.
3. It may ignite a child’s interest in STEM.
Dubick said your child may be a good candidate for a STEM camp if he or she likes taking things apart, playing with Play-Dough, putting together puzzles or playing invention-based games. And don’t worry if your child isn’t a math or science buff. All they need is some interest in one of the many topics the camps offer (see the full list here).
“If they get excited about this stuff, it could lead to a great career,” Dubick said.
These camps aren’t just for boys. Every camp is open to boys and girls — which Dubick said is important since women are desperately needed in the STEM world. If your daughter isn’t all about Star Wars, but she enjoys creating things, working with friends or even learning about history, there’s definitely a topic or learning track for her.
4. They’ll learn skills that could help them in their job one day.
In addition to working with computers, vinyl cutters and other equipment your child may use in their future careers, Latin’s STEM camps emphasize communication, teamwork and innovation — all soft skills that will benefit your child in school and in the workforce.
Dubick said the arts are an important component of STEM camps as well. Campers often choose colors, designs and other visual elements of their project designs, encouraging creativity and both left- and right-brain thinking.
5. There’s a STEM camp for virtually every interest you child could have.
Does your kiddo love space, Harry Potter or airplanes? There’s a camp for all of those. At the medieval-themed camp, kids can learn to create ancient weaponry like the catapult with new age technology. Campers in the Dungeons & Dragons camp will learn to make a dice tower that’s customized to their exact taste. If your child is obsessed with Minecraft, they’ll love the Minecraft modding and making camp. Latin also offers a fashion and jewelry design camp for girls ages 12 to 15 where campers can learn designing and making their own clothing and jewelry using sewing/embroidery machines and advanced manufacturing techniques. There’s even an ice cream engineering camp. View the list of camps and enroll here.
Whether your child’s already a mini-engineer in the making or you’d like to encourage some outside-the-box thinking, Latin’s STEM camps have an option for everyone. For more info, visit charlottelatinsummer.com.
Charlotte Latin School
9502 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, 28277
Camp Contact Information:
Charlottelatinsummer.com
Phone: 704-846-7277
Email for inquiries: Lwalker@charlottelatin.org
Follow CLS Summer Camps on Facebook @charlottlatinsummer
Follow CLS Summer Camps on Instagram @latinsummercamp
