Welcome to Thinkering Lab!
Summer Camps Coming Soon!
Registration opens: January 1
Early enrollment special: Enjoy 10% off all enrollments from January 1–March 1
Summer 2026 Camps
Summer stART
May 26-29
Campers experience art as a creative journey where they experiment, play, and let their imaginations soar. Process Art is key in this camp, where we emphasize exploration and self-expression by allowing children to freely engage with a variety of materials without necessarily yielding a pre-determined product.
Sample Projects
- Handmade paints and art tools
- Child-directed projects (e.g., jewelry making, clay modeling, painting on natural canvasses)
- Shadow art
Crown and Craft
June 1-5
In Crown & Craft, campers imagine, design, and build their own kingdoms from the ground up! Each day brings new challenges in castle-building, invention-making, and storytelling as young creators bring their realms to life. The week ends with The Regal Gathering, where every camper’s unique kingdom is celebrated.
Sample Projects
- Crown making
- Jewels and trinkets
- Planning and making The Regal Gathering
Water Wonders
June 15-19
Campers explore the colorful world of fish and other sea creatures through hands-on art, building, science, and storytelling. From shimmering aquariums to imaginative underwater habitats, children will discover the magic and beauty of life beneath the waves.
Sample Projects
- DIY Aquariums
- Fish Mechanisms
- Ocean Layer Jars
Music in Motion
June 22-26
Campers will invent and build their own instruments, explore rhythm and sound, and move their bodies to create dynamic musical stories. Each day is filled with music-making, dance, and playful sound experiments, culminating in a mini performance for family and friends.
Sample Projects
- Instrument making including a drum set
- Music exploration (rhythm games, sound experiments)
- Collaborative music and dance projects
Humor Me!
June 29-July 3
Humor Me! is an exploration of what makes something funny—both in our own imaginations and out in the world. Campers will discover humor in stories, everyday moments, and works of art as they learn to tell, write, and perform their own jokes. On the last day of camp, families are invited to a comedy show that takes place on a stage in front of a skyline that participants design.
Sample Projects
- Comedy show including “Fortunately/Unfortunately” improv
- Puppet comedy skits
- Comic strip creations
Nature’s Hues & Creatures Too
July 6-10
Explore the wonders of nature through art! Campers will discover animals, insects, and plants, then bring them to life with painting, weaving, and hands-on crafts. A perfect mix of creativity, curiosity, and outdoor adventure! Includes one-day trip to the zoo.
Sample Projects
- Building bug hotel
- Gardening activities
- Animal habitats
Book & Cook
July 20-24
Join us for a deliciously fun week where stories come to life … in the kitchen! At Thinkering Lab’s Book & Cook Camp, young readers and future chefs will explore beloved children’s books and turn the stories into hands-on cooking, baking, and mixing activities.
Sample Projects
- Read and explore stories in a playful, interactive way
- Create and taste foods that bring the books to life
- Learn kitchen skills safely and confidently
Faces & Places
July 27-31
Campers explore the integration of art and geography as they create whimsical portraits, life-sized people, villages, maps, and more. Campers experiment with a variety of techniques and materials to make original art.
Sample Projects
- Self portraits
- Map making
- Storytelling dioramas
Woven Wonders & Stitched Stories
August 3-7
Campers dive into the world of fabrics, threads, and colors as they explore the art of sewing, weaving, and textile magic. Throughout the week, children experiment with looms, needles, and a variety of textured materials to create both functional and whimsical pieces.
Sample Projects
- Stuffie
- Mug rug
- Portrait weaving
Experience the Best of Summer with Thinkering Lab’s Programming. With Every Camp You Get:
- Small group sizes best for learning new skills
- Lots of outside play at a near-by park
- Collaborative and individual project work
- Friendly, non-stressful pace and environment
- Child choices of materials and process within each project
- Thinkering Lab t-shirt
-
- Ice cream on the last day of camp
- A community of supportive, creative makers – new friends!
- Maker Showcase to exhibit projects for families
- Customized ‘Spark Book’ (journal) to capture bright ideas and note discoveries. Includes prompts to spark ideas throughout the semester.
The Power of Play
In the early months of the pandemic my mom died. For so many reasons, my grieving process was unbearably messy. Simultaneously processing personal loss and managing life amid a world health crisis left me emotionally paralyzed. I was stuck and off balance....
Loving Ways Families Raise Readers
It’s almost a certainty that you’ve heard about the importance of reading aloud to your children. It’s likely that a teacher has required that you read to your child at least 20 minutes every day. Thae importance of Storytime cannot be overstated when it comes to...
Jolabokaflod: Christmas Book Flood
The holiday season is replete with traditions. How does your family spend time during the holidays? Some families watch their favorite movies, engage in winter events like ice skating or sledding, decorate cookies, and plan family gatherings that bring everybody...
Thinkering Lab
The mission of Thinkering Lab is to enhance children’s literacy development by providing rich and engaging experiences in a makerspace environment. In the Thinkering Lab children explore their surroundings, fiddle with materials, play with words, invent gadgets — all while solving problems, learning, and having fun along the way. Through open-ended exploration, children put their stamp on their creations and test their theories of the world.
Testimonials
