Third- and fourth-grade campers select a schedule consisting of two enrichment courses in the morning and three recreational activities in the afternoon.
The schedule of courses can be found on the Grades 3 and 4 course worksheet. You may use the worksheet to help organize and select your camper’s daily camp schedule.
All classes are listed below.
Go on an animal adventure with The Children’s Museum in West Hartford! Each day brings exciting encounters with animal ambassadors from the Museum’s Wildlife Sanctuary and hands-on activities designed to inspire young zoologists. From furry mammals to scaly reptiles, campers will get up close and personal with a fascinating array of animals, learning about their needs, adaptations, and habitats. *Note: Appropriate behavior, maturity, and patience are required to guarantee a safe and rewarding experience for all.
Calling all players, puzzlers, digital wizards, and warriors! Do you want to learn about applications while playing fun games, brainteasers, magical quests, and have friendly competitions with your classmates? Welcome to the App Arcade – where we'll transform iPads into our magical tools for learning, exploration, and creative adventures like you've never experienced before!
Get ready to unleash your inner artist and dive headfirst into a world of creative exploration and artistic fun! In this class, you will experiment with a kaleidoscope of mixed media art techniques that will leave your imagination soaring. We will push our creativity with new ideas and new materials. Whether you make clay creations, collage, watercolor, or acrylic paintings– don’t be scared of experimenting and getting messy!
Have you ever watched a baking show and thought about trying to make those masterpieces yourself? Join us and put your baking and decorating skills to the test! You will make your own cake sculpture, dip and design your own donuts, and decorate cookies. Get your baker’s hat on and join us for a delicious adventure in the kitchen!
Come make your favorite accessories shine in the Summer Place Be-Dazzled Boutique! Work with gems and jewels to create glittery headbands, dazzling bracelets, and sparkly beads. Add shimmery jewels to all of your favorite summertime outfits so your friends can spot you from afar as you glimmer in the sun!
Have you ever watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or visited an old-fashioned candy store? If so, you might have found yourself wishing you could make your own delectable treats. This class will take you to a whole new level of sweet temptations, guiding you through the basics of candy making. Learn to mold, marbleize, dip, drizzle, and paint your sweet concoctions. Mix, cook, and stretch some tasty taffy, too!
Have you ever played the board game Candy Land? Join us to make a GIANT interactive version of this favorite game! Each day, you will work on a different aspect of creating the life-size Candy Land game, ending in a grand finale where you’ll get to play the completed game. Who will journey through the Lollipop Woods and over the Gumdrop Mountains to reach Candy Castle first?
Do you want to become an expert in the kitchen? What would you do with a basket full of mystery ingredients? Imagine competing against other teams of Summer Place campers to win the Summer Place Cleaver Award! Join us as we chop it up in this fun cooking class using the University of Hartford’s state of the art kitchens!
Join in the fun as you pound, poke, and roll clay into fabulous, hand-made clay creations! Learn how to use slab, coil, and pinch techniques to make a variety of exciting and functional ceramics projects. Roll up your sleeves and experiment with a variety of textures and glazing techniques. You’ll be amazed when your finished work comes out of the kiln!
Bring your stories and illustrations to life as you step into the world of comics! Create your own crazy characters and illustrations, then construct your own comic books using folded and stitched book-making techniques. You will leave this class with a book full of your very own creations from your own imagination!
If you have ever seen something in a movie and thought, “That looks delicious!”, this is the class for you! Join us to watch clips of your favorite movies and recreate the yummy foods you see. We will make meatballs from Lady & the Tramp, Gummy Bugs from Disney’s The Lion King, and many more of your movie favorites! Which ones will taste the best? Take home a recipe book of our finest movie food creations to impress your family and friends.
Become a Summer Place chemist as you discover and experiment with basic science concepts! You will get to explode pop rockets, get lost in a dry-ice cloud, create gooey slimes, send geysers of soda high into the sky, create “worms” and “snow” by mixing just the right liquids and powders, and even shake and make ice cream. This course is sure to excite the curiosity of all future scientists!
Come explore the world of digital art with a focus on photography! This class teaches a variety of ways to change and edit a photo. You will learn the basics of photo editing and work within a theme to create projects and experiment with digital collage. You will even have a chance to make your own small books called zines!
Spend the week at camp in your own imaginary world by creating and designing a shoe box sized room furnished with your homemade mini furniture and accessories! You can even make a tiny doll to live in your room. Choose your favorite wallpaper, build some cozy mini-furniture or paint some funky decor, and create a miniature room that’s uniquely YOU!
Welcome to Fancy Fast Food! Here, you will learn how to make your favorite items from favorite fast-food establishments from scratch. You will make your own versions of famous fast foods like Burger King’s Chicken Fries or Auntie Anne’s pretzels (but better, and healthier!), and more. Join us to see what fast food masterpieces you can make!
Farm fresh and fabulous! Did you know that fruits and vegetables are not only healthy, but there are SO many different ways to use them to make delicious meals? In this class you will learn how produce is used in cooking by exploring different ways to eat potatoes, tomatoes, and so much more! You will also bring home a recipe book at the end of the session so you can feast on your favorites all year long.
Are you excited to explore the colorful world of Spanish-speaking countries? Join us on an adventure where you’ll discover yummy food, lively music, and fun celebrations from around the globe! You will get to make your very own Peruvian mini llama piñata, create sparkling lanterns from Costa Rica, play fun games like Rainforest Bingo, and dance to catchy Spanish music as we visit a different Hispanic culture each day. Let’s fiesta together!
Freeze! Do you want to run around camp taking pictures and videos of your friends? Become a master at photography and action- packed videography in this thrilling class. You will experience stunt based digital photography and video projects for online platforms such as Instagram using cameras, GoPros, and even a drone! What will YOU capture?
Do you want to be a doctor or nurse when you grow up? Or maybe you just want to know why your body does the weird and gross things it does. If so, then this is definitely the class for you! Making simulated snot and measuring the length of your intestines are just the beginning. Get ready for a week full of learning about the human body while completing an array of disturbingly and disgustingly fun projects!
Learn the basics of computer programming through this puzzling and problem-solving course. Play games using innovative and adventure seeking apps. Learn how to easily program loops while coding your own superheroes and robots to complete challenges. You will be surprised how “In-CODE-ably” easy and fun coding can be.
Calling all LEGO® fans! Come and compete in building challenges as we take an exciting LEGO® journey. We’ll build people for our LEGO® town and cars for them to drive in. Then we’ll construct an entire city, complete with a fire station, an airport, and even a market. At the end of the two-week adventure, you’ll have your own kit to mix up more LEGO® madness at home. LEGO® Land is waiting for you!
LEARNING ZONE (1-4) – Weeks 1-6
The Learning Zone is an enrichment course option offered to Summer Place campers who could benefit from small-group academic instruction in reading, math, written expression, and study skills. The class is offered to students entering grades one through nine. Groups meet in a relaxed, air-conditioned space that is highly conducive to learning.
The Summer Place learning-skills specialist focuses on an individual plan for each student, based on the needs of the child. The Learning Zone teacher will contact each parent prior to the summer to gather the information needed to develop an educational plan. The specialist will then teach, model, and reinforce the concepts and learning strategies necessary to achieve each student’s specific goals. At the end of each week-long session, parents will receive a written report that summarizes progress made and current achievement levels. This report may, in turn, be passed on to the student’s teachers in the fall.
Summer Place campers may enroll in a Learning Zone course in each session they attend. A nominal fee of $80 per Learning Zone course for week 1 is charged for this individualized program. Weeks 2-6 will be $100. For additional information on this special option, please call the Summer Place office. For additional information on this special option, please call the Summer Place office.
The world of Minecraft is full of dangers. Adventurers require the quickest wit and the deepest thinking in order to survive. In this class, you’ll learn about Redstone creations and building schematics that can help you thrive in those dangerous and blocky lands. Best of all, you will create a world together, working as a team to complete challenges and conquer your Minecraft missions! Note: No Minecraft account needed.
Calling all future astronauts! Are you ready to embark on an epic journey beyond the stars? Join us in Mission to Mars: Space Academy, where you will explore outer space within Summer Place! Here, you will learn about the solar system as you build your own spacecraft, create galaxy art, and complete “astronaut training” to prepare for your future in space exploration. Are you ready for lift off? In 3…2…1…
The next blockbuster film of the summer is about to be released! What’s it about? Well, that’s for you to decide. Bring your creativity and energy to the silver screen as you write, direct, and star in your very own movies. You’ll gain experience producing short films where the sky is the limit. Practice your acting, directing, and camera work in preparation for a red-carpet premiere of your unique feature film at the end of the session. So, what are you waiting for? Lights…Camera…ACTION!
Every day is a party when we’re painting! Learn new painting skills while having a blast and unleashing your creativity. Students will follow step by step instructions in watercolor and acrylic painting techniques with chances for customization. By the end of the session, students will be creating their own museum worthy masterpieces!
Picture this: You’re looking through a lens and taking your own unique photographs with film, then printing them in a real darkroom! You will have ultimate control over how your photographs look. You will create photograms, learn the basic elements of black-and-white photography with a 35mm camera, how to develop your own film, and how to print in the darkroom. Smile!
Would you like to “dip” into making amazing art with plaster of paris? You will learn how to the use molds, face mask templates, and how to sculpt simply using tape and rolled up newspaper. Experiment with different dipping methods to transform everyday objects, from your favorite flowers to special shells you found at the beach, into lasting pieces of art to admire forever. You will use molds to capture form in plaster then perfect your piece by adding color and carving detail to ensure your treasures last a lifetime.
If you’ve ever dreamed about becoming a Pokémon trainer, now’s your chance! In this class you will be able to develop your own trainer persona, make your own Pokéball, and create new Pokémon to add to your collection or trade with friends! Throughout the week you’ll complete challenges to earn badges, end engage in an epic battle to test your skills! Gotta catch ‘em all!
Welcome to the world of slime creations! This class is designed for campers who love getting their hands a little messy while discovering the fascinating science behind slime and other gooey concoctions. Join us for an adventure filled with colorful, squishy, and imaginative activities. We'll be making different recipe variations of stretchy, fluffy, glow-in-the-dark, and squishy slimes from scratch. You will also have the opportunity to explore and experiment with oobleck, flubber, foam, and more. So, roll up your sleeves, and let's make some slime!
Create, play games, and relax with good friends—what could be better? Start by pampering yourself using common ingredients. Unwind by making and using custom healthy spa treatments, run your hands through unicorn slime, decorate textiles, and create your own jewelry and friendship bracelets. Take a morning tea break while decorating scrumptious cookies to enjoy and play giggle-worthy games. You can even become a fashionista with your own designs to model during this fashion and relaxation week. RSVP “yes” to attend Spa Days!
Calling all Swifties! Get ready for the Summer Place 2025 Eras Tour, where you'll craft iconic Taylor friendship bracelets and create sparkling ornaments and mementos while dancing and singing to your favorite TSTV tunes. Unleash your inner artist as you polish your poetry and songwriting skills, and enjoy Taylor themed games like “Finish the Lyrics” and a scavenger hunt. Let’s make this summer unforgettable—don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic!
Roll up your sleeves and dig into the exciting world of rocks, crystals, and fossils! Join the excavation team as we dig up an entire dinosaur skeleton and put it together. You will also get to grow your own crystals, learn how to identify rocks, and pan for real gold in a homemade river. What will you dig up and bring home to show your friends and family? Join The Big Dig and find out!
From the simplest coin trick to the most elaborate illusion, magicians have used science and psychology to manipulate their audience and create truly amazing tricks that dazzle and bewilder! Learn about the science of magic tricks while learning the fundamentals of close-up magic tricks. Your prestidigitation training will culminate in a magic show at the end of the week that is sure to impress and astound!
Have you ever wondered how certain foods are made? In The Science of Cooking, you will find out! In this culinary class, you will learn how to use liquid nitrogen to make your own Dippin’ Dots, make your own cheese and bread from scratch, and even make your own rock candy! Join us to stir up some delicious experiments!
We’ll be tie-dying like crazy, and we’re not just talkin’ T-shirts! Dip and dye in bright, bold colors using sunbursts and wild patterns as you discover new ways to make your tie-dye project one-of-a-kind. Incorporate your favorite pop song lyrics or inspirational quote into your piece by using fabric paint and markers. Try the accordion knot technique to make a wall hanging, a T-shirt, or a colorful pillowcase that your friends can sign at your next sleepover.
Get ready for launch! Learn how to transform an ordinary two-liter soda bottle into an extraordinary water rocket that really flies. Add fins and a nose cone to create an aerodynamic design. Achieve maximum altitude on launch day and become a Summer Place junior astronaut.
There are so many ways to create beautiful paintings and bring art to life! Join us to find out what’s so wonderful about watercolor! You’ll learn basic watercolor techniques, using photographs and everyday objects for inspiration, to create your own small collection. On the final day, your paintings will be displayed just like they would be in a gallery!
Let’s explore nature in the world around us! Learn how to grow the tallest and strongest beans from seed, make twig boats to sail across the pond, and go on an exciting scavenger hunt to find tiny insects and creatures. Get ready to play games, make nature- based art projects, and discover a new nature adventure each day. Come outside with us and play!
Come and enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter! Experience a Hogwarts education firsthand. You will master magical potions, create your own wand for spell duels, compete in an intense Quidditch match, participate in the Tri Wizard Tournament, and then sip butterbeer with friends. You’re in for a magical time!
Want to know a secret about Summer Place? Okay, but you have to keep it to yourself. This place is full of hidden treasures. Behind buildings, around the lake, under the trees—there is amazing stuff to find all over! How do we know? Because we hid it all, of course! And if you want to find all of these treasures, you’ll need to use teamwork and the latest GPS technology each day as you follow clues, answer trivia questions, discover new clues, take and upload pictures, and find the prizes at the end—where X marks the spot!