Winter Break Camps
December 23rd – January 3rd
Join us for Winter Break Camps that combine the best of fun and learning! Campers will explore awesome projects and experiments while learning collaborative teamwork skills. Each camp is a brand new curriculum, so you get the first look at our new annual winter programs. Whether you book one or all days, your student will have a super COOL time!
Our camps follow state and local safety guidelines illness and COVID-19. Please remember to read all camp policies at the bottom of the page before registering.
Members: $70 per day or $35 for half-day
Non-members: $80 per day or $40 for half-day
(Prices include all instructional materials and take-home projects)
Important Links: 2022 Camp Health Form, Sci-Tech Covid-19 Camp Policies, Email Questions Here
STEAM Winter Break Camp: 1st – 2nd Grade
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 23 (Half Day) |
North Pole Science: Take the magic of winter, sprinkle in a hint of Holiday cheer, add a heaping handful of experiments, and you’ve got the recipe for North Pole Science! Learn where the North Pole is located, see cool animals that live there, and try out winter-themed experiments about all the ice and snow at the North Pole! |
| December 27 (Full Day) |
Winter Wonderlab: Walkin’ in our Winter Wonderlab, you will discover the science of the Holiday Season! Get ready for icy investigations, explore “candyology,” light up the world, and so much more. Hold on to your goggles, we’re about to deck the halls… with science! |
| December 28 (Full Day) |
Toymaker’s Workshop: Discover the Science of Toys! Learn how circuits work by building your own light-up creations. Then, take apart animatronic toys and learn how to put them back together. Finally, explore how video game controllers work and create one of your own. These experiments and more are sure to delight in the exciting ToyMAKERs Workshop! |
| December 29 (Full Day) |
Polar Animal Parade: Learn all about our Ant(arctic) friends! We’ll study things like where they live, what they eat, how they travel and so much more! |
| January 2 (Full Day) |
Go 4 Gold!: See the science behind some of your favorite winter sports! Find out how to get the best ski jump distance, how to move faster on the ice, and more in this dynamic camp! |
| January 3 (Full Day) |
Snow Way!: Learn “cool” experiments that all involve snow and ice! Unleash your inner scientist as you learn how to make water freeze without turning to ice, make a snowflake out of crystals that will never melt, and how there can be ice without water. Finish out the camp making ice cream that freezes instantly with liquid nitrogen! |
STEAM Winter Break Camp: 3rd – 4th Grade
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 23 (Half Day) |
North Pole Science: Unravel the mysteries of the North Pole. Find the answers to questions like; “What are those lights in the sky?”, “Where is north anyway?”, and more in this exciting camp! |
| December 27 (Full Day) |
Arctic Animals: The Artic provides animals with a unique set of challenges. Discover how arctic animals adapt to survive and thrive in their special home! |
| December 28 (Full Day) |
Winter Wonderlab: Science takes no breaks in the winter! Enter the lab and make lights, candy, and new formulas for fun! |
| December 29 (Full Day) |
Toymaker’s Workshop: To learn about toys, break them apart in our Toymaker’s workshop! Learn about circuits and you can put the toys back together. Become a toymaker in our workshop and your winter will be full of fun devices. |
| January 2 (Full Day) |
Snow Way!: You’ll be surprised at what we can do with ice! Grow a snowflake, build an igloo, and more in this super “cool” camp. |
| January 3 (Full Day) |
Go 4 Gold!: Athletes are getting “faster, higher, and stronger” all the time. See how athletes use science to get the job done from the skating rink to the ski jump ramp. |
STEAM Winter Break Camp: 5th-6th Grade
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 23 (Half Day) |
Toymaker’s Workshop: To learn about toys, break them apart in our Toymaker’s workshop! Learn about circuits and you can put the toys back together. Become a toymaker in our workshop and your winter will be full of fun devices. (Please note, this half-day camp will teach similar concepts as the full-day Toymaker’s Workshop, but will feature different activities than Monday, December 27th.) |
| December 27 (Full Day) |
Toymaker’s Workshop: To learn about toys, break them apart in our Toymaker’s workshop! Learn about circuits and you can put the toys back together. Become a toymaker in our workshop and your winter will be full of fun devices. |
| December 28 (Full Day) |
Arctic Animals: The Arctic is a rapidly changing environment. Investigate how our arctic friends learn to survive in an icy world. |
| December 29 (Full Day) |
Winter Wonderlab: Winter…What a wonderful time for science! Bring your maker spirit as we create candy, solder circuits, and more! |
| January 2 (Full Day) |
Get Cozy with Coding: Draw fantastic art with great freedom as you refine your processing skill! Then, take your art from the computer to the physical world. Code with Arduino to customize your art with blinking lights in this relaxing lab! |
| January 3 (Full Day) |
Snow Way!: Can we make a batch of water that is colder than ice? Discover the answer to this question and more in the camp that is sure to surprise. |
Camp Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
What will camp look like for my learner?
- Camp features a balance of hands-on experiments, activities, and crafts mixed in with age appropriate breaks, play time, and STEAM themed games.
- Generally, older campers experience about 1 “Brain Break” per 1 hour of instruction time as well as a 30 minute lunch break and 30 minute museum exploration time. Younger students will have more frequent breaks.
- While lessons feature many TEKS aligned activities, the primary focus in camps in placed on the scientific process and inquiry-based learning. Campers will use their own observations, questions, and discoveries to guide their learning journey!
Who is with the campers?
- All camps are led by experienced certified teachers or experienced museum informal science educators.
- Teaching assistants are all experienced in working in informal STEM camp environments and go through education/inquiry-based learning training.
- Students are with instructors at all times and will NEVER be alone in a private space with a single adult.
What do we bring?
- Campers SHOULD bring:
- NUT FREE snacks and a sack lunch (Full Day Camps Only)
- Reusable water bottle
- Any medications or Epi-Pens (Please give directly to the Camp Manager or Instructor)
- Closed-toe shoes for lab and/or workshop safety
- Campers should NOT bring:
- Backpacks or large bags
- Toys, phones, tablets, or handheld gaming devices
- Money
- Food containing nuts or nut products
What time is camp?
- FULL DAY: 9AM – 4PM
- HALF DAY: 9AM – 12PM or 1PM – 4 PM
- Doors will open for drop off at 8:50AM
- Students will be available for pick up by 3:50PM
- Campers picked up after 4:10PM will be charged a $1/minute Late Pick-Up Fee
How much does camp cost?
- FULL DAY:
- Members: $70/Day
- Nonmembers: $80/Day
- HALF DAY:
- Members: $35/Day
- Nonmembers: $40/Day
- Unfortunately, at this time we do not offer discounts for siblings or multiple bookings.
Can I cancel/get a refund?
- Yes, you may cancel your Winter Break Camp reservation. However, refunds are given on a sliding scale based on advance notification of cancellation.
- 2 Weeks in Advance = 100% Refund
- 1 Week in Advance = 50% Refund
- Less than 1 Week Notice = 0% Refund
Which age group should I select for my learner?
- Please select the grade level in which your student is currently enrolled.
- If your learner is taking courses at different or higher levels than their peers, we recommend choosing what most closely aligns with their age, as it is easier on many children’s social skills in informal learning environments.
Is there anything I need to do before camp begins?
- Please download the Camp Health Form and complete it for all of your campers. This form MUST be returned before your student will be allowed into camp for safety reasons.
- Double check that the food you are sending is NUT FREE.
- Make sure you are sending your learner in clothes you are comfortable with getting messy.
- Communicate any health or medical concerns directly to our Camp Manager by emailing us at camp.admin@scitechdiscovery.org.
Do you have a behavior or disciplinary plan?
- We believe in ensuring that all students feel safe and nurtured within their classroom environment. This means offering age-appropriate support for conflict or disruptive behavior.
- Instructors may use techniques such as:
- Utilizing a “Cool Down Corner” where students can rest on a rug and use toys or pillows to calm down after an incident
- Having a guided discussion about how they are feeling, identifying emotions, and reflecting on actions
- Assigning students to different groups who struggle with communicating/cooperating with each other
- Intentional violence is NOT tolerated at Sci-Tech. If a camper actively hurts another student, the issue will be immediately addressed and parents will be notified.
- If a behavior issue cannot be remedied after discussion with parents/guardians or if there is physical harm/threat of harm to staff or students, Sci-Tech reserves the right to dismiss a camper from the program without a refund.
My learner is neurodivergent/has special needs. Can you accommodate them?
- While students of all abilities are welcome to participate in camps, please note that Sci-Tech staff is not specifically trained to work with children with special needs and cannot provide one-on-one care.
- You may opt to provide your child with an aide during camp to assist them. This could be anyone from a trained professional to a sibling, so long as they are familiar with meeting your student’s needs.
- If you have questions about whether our camps may be a good fit for your student, please feel free to reach out at camp.admin@scitechdiscovery.org.
My child does not speak English yet. Can they still attend camp?
- Due to safety working with chemicals, equipment, and other dangerous materials, we do require that all campers understand and speak conversational English or have a translator present.