Ages 3-5
Even very young children love to make stuff. They often do not want to be told what to make, rather they want to be let loose in a fabulous space filled with cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, tape, fasteners, paper, ribbons, wood pieces, kid-friendly drills and glue guns, kid-sized hammers and nails, glitter, feathers, puff balls, legos, clay, wire, containers, metal, fabric, rubber bands, clothes pins and more! They already have ideas. They just need the grown-ups to stop directing their explorations. At Belle Vie Farm, supporting children while they explore is our specialty. For those campers who are ready to get started from day one, we offer them the materials, the safety rules and feedback when requested. For others who want more guidance, we offer tons of photos of possible inventions, help them draw "blueprints", show books about how to create from various materials and help them talk through an idea so they can make it happen.
The camp week will include both individual camper projects as well as whole group construction/maker projects. Campers will even design a chicken coop jungle gym and build it themselves!
Ages 6-11
Imagine a fabulous space filled with cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, tape, fasteners, paper, ribbons, fabric, beeswax, wood pieces, kid-friendly drills and glue guns, kid-sized hammers and nails, glitter, feathers, puff balls, legos, clay, wire, containers, metal, fabric, rubber bands, clothes pins, beads and other jewelry-making materials, tie-dye supplies and more! Our MakerSpace is filled to the brim with everything a kid (or grown-up!) might want to create.
Our older campers will have the time and space to create individual pieces. We will also present them with group challenges to create an object or machine within a specific period of time using a set of pre-gathered maker materials. Campers will create all manner of items: objects to admire, to wear, to things, to gift...the ideas are endless! Counselors will provide books, magazines, brainstorming sessions, and support for each camper throughout the week.