Our Summer Museum Makers Camp is a four week STEM focused experience for students ages 9 to 12 from four local elementary schools. Selected from a long list of eager applicants, campers dive into weekly themes like Secret Agent and Personal Style. Each theme challenges students to learn new skills, solve problems, and collaborate with peers. While the program is hands on and rooted in science, technology, engineering, and math, it also fosters growth in communication, teamwork, and relationship building.
During one session, a staff member stepped into the room to capture photos and was immediately drawn in by what the campers were building. The activity centered on 3D pens and a simple but exciting challenge! Design and create a pair of glasses from layered lines of plastic. It looked cool. It felt accessible. Kids focused on steady hands and clean lines, then talked through fit, strength, and how to fix small mistakes. Instructors modeled safe use and technique and offered quick tips that turned frustration into progress. You could see the pride as frames took shape and the room filled with that feeling that this is a fun place to be and a place where real making happens.
The 3D pen project became a mini lesson in prototyping. Campers tested, adjusted, and tried again. They compared ideas at the tables. Some added small design touches and color choices. Others checked how the pieces joined and learned why structure matters. It was playful and it was learning, all at once.
Instructors witness remarkable transformations as students from different schools and grade levels learn to work together. One camper, initially frustrated when her ideas were not heard, learned to listen, share leadership, and rejoin her team to complete their project. Thanks to a grant funded interpreting device, even language barriers did not stop students from connecting and collaborating. In another moment, learning to see from a teammate’s perspective was celebrated with high fives and smiles.
At the end of the camp, families are invited to the museum to see the students’ projects and hear directly from the young makers about what they built and learned. More than a STEM camp, Museum Makers is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and community.
