Fifth- through ninth-grade campers select a schedule consisting of three recreational activities in the morning and two enrichment courses in the afternoon.
The schedule of courses can be found on the Grades 5–9 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.
Ever wondered how your favorite anime cartoons are made? From Avatar: The Last Air Bender to Dragon Ball Z, anime is a fun and interesting art form, and now you can create one, too! Join us in Anime Studio and see how to make pictures move and how to create your own anime flip books in this exciting adventure. New to drawing? No problem! Flip books are fun and exciting in all skill levels, from simple stick figures to elaborate inked drawings.
Calling all players, puzzlers, wizards, and warriors! Do you want to learn about applications while playing fun games, brainteasers, magical quests, and have friendly competitions? Join App Arcade, where we will use iPads to learn, explore, and create.
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!
Are you ready to get fancy and creative! You’ll work with gems, jewels, and beads to craft jewelry, make friendship bracelets, and decorate small totes and tumblers, and more! Let’s dazzle and shine, making everything sparkle while having a great time!
Imagine … You’re in a room; there’s a countdown on the wall urging you to find your escape. You’re shut in a lab with a zombie, trying to stay out of his decaying reach while looking for a way out. You’re sealed in a bank vault scrambling to exit before you run out of air. You will solve puzzles, search for clues, and break your way through locks to make it through each scary situation and find freedom. Escape is the challenge!
Do you have great aim? Come test your targeting skills by creating an ancient javelin to throw like the first Olympians! Build a catapult to knock down the castle wall and overtake the kingdom! You’ll also make modern carnival games like ring toss and dunk-a-duck to see who can knock the most down. Step right up and have some fun testing your aim throughout the ages!
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!
Join in the fun as you pound, poke, and roll clay into fabulous, handmade 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!
Get ready to be challenged! Compete in challenges like Minute to Win it, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, Rube Goldberg contraptions, Rubix cubes, puzzles, and even Dude Perfect challenges. Take your problem solving to fun new levels. Think you can crush these competitions and be the top team? Question is, are you in it to win it?
You could be the next Summer Place chess champion! Whether you’re a chess enthusiast or just a beginner, come play tournament-style chess in this exciting class. Learn how to strategize and hone your skills to wipe the opponent’s board of every knight, rook, and pawn with ease. Play will be organized by ability level and previous experience. Become a whiz at the game of kings and queens, which has entertained people all over the world for more than 2,000 years.
Are you 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!
Medieval war is a dangerous thing; goblins and trolls lurk in the woods and the soldiers of enemy clans take advantage of every weakness. To survive, an army must have the best-built swords and axes, and the sturdiest shields and armor. They must know the tactics of moving together, and they must individually be masters of swordplay. As one of the warriors, you’ll adorn your own weapons and armor, fight with swords and axes and shields (all safe and properly padded, of course), and maneuver on a battlefield, fighting the enemy in tactical combat. You’ll also venture into the wilderness to defeat your enemies. Raise your sword and heed the call to battle! Glory awaits!
Comedy Improvisation is the hilarious type of acting where you fly by the seat of your pants, making up your scene as you go along like the comedic actors in the popular TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? Learn the clever tricks that make improvisation so much fun to watch and practice the art of unrehearsed entertainment! On the last day, we’ll perform our own comedy improv show for special guests.
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!
You love watching cartoons online, but have you ever thought that you could actually make your own? Well, you can—and will—in this ultra-digital class. You’ll learn how to produce simple (and not-so-simple) computer animations, ranging from two-dimensional cartoon sequences to more exotic three-dimensional masterpieces. Unleash your creative energies as you sample some of the hottest computer applications around!
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.
Do you find yourself doodling at school or writing down snippets of poetry or song lyrics? In Cover to Cover, you will use daily prompts and a variety of art materials such as India Ink, oil pastels, mixed media and collage to create art in your very own visual arts sketch book. Join us to have fun using your unique artistic imagination!
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!
Do you love music, remixes, and dubstep? Ever want to be the one creating the beats, and not just the one listening and dancing? Think you can create beats better than the pros? Slip on your headphones and get ready to experiment on a digital DJ turntable to make remixes of your favorite songs! Using a DJ software program, you will make beats and samples by digitally scratching, beat matching, crossfading, and cutting songs. Think you have what it takes to bring down the house? Let’s find out.
Are you ready to unleash your imagination and dive into a world of miniature magic? Join us for a week of Dollhouse Miniatures where you’ll turn a simple shoebox into your very own dream room! Get ready for a mixed media adventure where you can let your creativity run wild. Pick out the coolest wallpaper, craft cozy mini furniture, and design funky decorations that reflect YOUR style. Whether you’re dreaming of a cozy hideaway or a vibrant hangout spot, this is your chance to build a tiny world that’s all about YOU!
Come and help fight a Demogorgon just like the characters in Stranger Things as we play the classic Dungeons and Dragons game! Pick your character – Will you be an elf, magic user, orc, or something else? We will go forth on our own campaign to fight monsters and find treasure with a Dungeon Master. So, grab your spells and we will see you at the entrance to the Dungeon!
Are you the next Nikola Tesla? Join Extreme Engineering to complete different design challenges and test your problem-solving skills with action-packed fun! Each day will be filled with a new design concept and a challenge to follow. From egg drops to building spaghetti towers, this class will truly test your ability to create unique out of the box solutions to engineering and design problems.
(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.
Have you ever dreamed of designing your very own computer game—one that combines the elements of your favorite adventures, battles, and races? Now you can! Together, we’ll create games with animated graphics, build backgrounds, and incorporate sounds. You’ll start out with simple games built from a template and advance to creating your own game to bring home and share with your friends!
Have you ever imagined yourself as a contestant on legendary game shows like Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, or Family Feud? Now is your chance! Welcome to the Game Show Showdown, where you will step into the exciting world of these iconic shows with a Summer Place twist. Whether you aspire to be a game show host, an eager participant, or even the creative mind behind your very own game show challenge, this is your opportunity to shine. Each day will bring a new game show challenge filled with fun and laughter. No previous experience or game show expertise is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and let the excitement and competition begin!
Dive into the exciting world of architecture and interior design with us! Using introductory architecture software, you will create your dream house from scratch, customizing every detail from furniture and wallpaper to location. Learn fundamental design concepts, capture professional renders of your creation, and present it in a stunning basic portfolio. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unleash your inner architect and designer!
Are you ready to become a Jedi? Come join us as we try to bring freedom to the galaxy through the Star Wars universe. You will begin your camp adventure as a mere Padawan—by the end, become a full Jedi knight! Build your own light sabers, create aliens, and chart a path for your X-Wing fighter to take through the stars (or would you prefer the Millennium Falcon?). We will even stop by the Mos Eisley Cantina from the original Star Wars and create an out-of-this-world treat.
Have you ever wanted to create your own jewelry? Now you can learn how! Using a variety of techniques from around the world, you’ll learn how to transform ordinary materials such as wire, resin, beads and string cords into extraordinary chains, rings, bracelets, pendants, and even decorative ornaments. Let your creative imagination loose as you craft your own unique-and wearable-creations!
Step into the spotlight and get ready for an exciting journey into the world of music and performance in Karaoke Games! Whether you’re a shower singer or a stage superstar, there’s something for everyone in this class. Put your lyrical knowledge to the test with “Don’t forget the lyrics,” compete in musical trivia, and play hilarious games like Jimmy Fallon’s “Wheel of Musical Impressions”. Who will win the Summer Place Karaoke Games Prize?
So, you want to be a star? Join us onstage! You’ll develop your dramatic imagination and communication skills and learn how to bring a play to life from script to stage by exploring characters, blocking scenes, and experimenting with acting techniques. You’ll even get to show off what you learned with a performance on the last day, in front of your very own audience of family and friends. Watch out, Broadway, here you come!
Mario and Luigi just built new racetracks around Summer Place and are looking for some new drivers to race with! Can you collect the most coins, avoid the banana peels, and cross the finish line first? Are you up for some friendly sabotage by sending red turtle shells at your opponents? If so, join us for some Mario Kart madness as you build your own racing kart and create your own item boxes, turtle shells, and mega mushrooms to give you an advantage during the competitions. No prior knowledge or experience with Mario Kart is necessary, all are welcome to try their skills and luck. Only one question remains—do you have what it takes to be crowned the next master of the tracks?
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an eager newbie, team up with your friends to create, craft, and explore in the exciting world of Minecraft. You’ll start by learning the basics of building structures, gathering resources, and crafting tools, allowing you to build your very own world. The only limit to your adventure is your imagination! Note: No Minecraft account needed.
Try a variety of mixed media art techniques in this class full of exploration and fun! In Mixed media mosaic, you will push your creativity with new ideas and new materials. Using different mediums such as clay and glass, you will unleash your creativity in this class to make your own colorful mixed media masterpieces!
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!
The TV show may be over, but Summer Place is just getting started busting myths! Combining science, creativity, safety goggles, and a few (safe) explosions, you will decide if popular myths are actually true or need to be busted. How explosive are Pop Rocks? Does the 5-second rule work? Test the limits of building just about anything out of Duct Tape? You will work in teams to pick a myth to test and film your own segment of MythBusters to keep forever!
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!
Do you ever feel like you’ve got too much going on and you could just use a break? Take a trip to the Summer Place Relaxation Retreat! You will learn some breathing and mindfulness exercises, and make your own fidget toys or stress balls, and take some time to escape into a good book or play cooperative games with your peers. There’s nothing like a retreat to help you feel refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day!
Hear ye, hear ye! Your presence is requested at the Summer Place Renaissance Faire! Step into a world of knights, jesters, and adventure. Try your hand at dueling with a rapier and shield, make your own medieval hat or crown to present to the crowds, take part in a life-sized checkers game, and of course, enjoy some delicious Ren-faire food. Let’s travel back to the 1600s for some medieval fun!
Experience the excitement and satisfaction of successfully launching rockets that soar into the atmosphere to heights of close to 1,000 feet—that’s skyscraper height! You’ll assemble and paint each rocket that you make before shooting it up to the clouds! Both beginning and experienced rocketeers are welcome on the launch pad.
Do you love doing hands-on experiments? In this class, we will design experiments like scientists and conquer challenges like engineers! Using creativity and problem solving, we will plan, test, and analyze a variety of fascinating investigations. You will experiment with physics, create your own slime, and even grow your own edible Rock Candy. Be a science fair fanatic and join us on this extraordinary adventure!
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!
Let the games begin! Get your wheels turning with chess matches, brain teasers, puzzles, and more! Learn to take on personal challenges and team games to outwit and succeed in lots of different strategy games. Hone your skills and learn new techniques to up your game. Ready, player one?
New summer...new crimes! Who stole the gasoline from the Summer Place golf cart? Who put a popsicle in Craig’s morning coffee? Join Summer Place CSI to become a crime scene investigator and solve these mysteries and more. Learn to analyze fingerprints, test chemicals, and use many other forensic techniques. We will collect evidence and solve a different mystery each day. Inspired by the investigations, we will film our own episodes of Summer Place CSI. Note: All cases involve nonviolent crimes and non-hazardous materials.
Grab your PJ’s and get ready for crafts, games, great times, and good laughs with friends! That’s what a slumber party is all about. Decorate your own pillowcase, create delicious “midnight” snacks, make your own healthy spa supplies, concoct unicorn slime, and play giggle- worthy games, all while the sun is still shining! Why wait for evening when you can have the fun of a slumber party every day at the Summer Place?
What makes a good superhero? Is it their powers, like flight or super strength? No – it’s the gadgets! The right gadgets can turn an everyday hero into a legendary superhero. Join us for an action-packed class where you will build amazing items and artifacts inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Universe, and all your favorite comic worlds. Let your creativity run wild as you design your very own superpowered devices. From high-tech gadgets to quirky inventions, the sky is the limit! Team up with fellow aspiring heroes, share ideas, and watch your creations come to life. Become the hero of your own story!
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 singing along 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!
Calling all fashion designers! Make your own designs come to life in this fun and creative class where you can personalize and decorate shirts with beads, thread, buttons, puffy paint, and more. Whether you want to rock a cool graphic tee, sparkle like a star, or show off your wildest ideas, this class is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild. Learn techniques and tips while having a blast being creative with friends. Plus, you'll walk away with one-of-a-kind items that truly represent YOU!
Get ready to create a project that allows you to express your own unique style and aesthetic! Using a cardboard loom, yarn, string, and natural items, you make your own tote bag to carry around your favorite things, or design a wall hanging in your favorite colors to decorate your room. You’ll spend the week learning basic techniques for changing fiber colors and making shapes to create a project you can be proud of for years to come. Who knows? You might just discover your new favorite hobby!
Join us for a summer adventure like no other! Taskmaster Challenge is an exciting, hilarious, and mind-bending class inspired by the popular TV show. You will compete in a series of zany challenges that will test your creativity, wit, and teamwork. Each day brings new opportunities for laughter as you each aim to become the ultimate Taskmaster champion. Whether it's solving puzzles, showing off unusual skills on the obstacle course, or outsmarting fellow campers, this class guarantees a summer full of unforgettable memories and a chance to showcase your unique talents. Are you up for the challenge? Your time starts now.
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.
Introducing and expanding upon the foundations of watercolor, this class will include basic painting techniques, while focusing on using principles and elements of design to develop refined and thoughtful paintings. No prior experience in painting is required. Using photographs and still lifes for reference, each student will learn the skills needed to build a small body of work, preparing them as future professional artists! On the final day, work will be displayed collectively as they would in a gallery!
Do you think you can create the next viral meme? Unleash your creativity in this hilarious class, where you will learn how to make digital art that’s packed with humor and pop culture. You’ll get hands-on experience with Adobe Photoshop as you design your very own original memes and eye-catching digital collages, mastering the basics of design and photo editing. Whether you’re a total beginner or looking to up your digital art game, this class is perfect for anyone who wants to blend creativity and fun with the internet’s hottest trends. What will you create?
Burn and etch your creative ideas into wood by learning this “hot” hobby! You will discover techniques for drawing, shading, and adding color to your wood-burned projects. You can transfer your original drawings, favorite sports team logo, or cartoon characters to a work of art that you can proudly hang on your wall or give as a gift! Note: Due to safety issues, maturity and appropriate behavior are necessary to guarantee a safe and rewarding experience for all.