Summer & Break Camp Program Resources
-
Space Squad
-
Motion Makers
-
Critterville
Prepare for launch in 3… 2… 1… Blast off with us this summer by joining the EDMO® Space Squad! Squad members will work in collaborative teams to develop, design and build a plan to get to and live on the planet of Mars. The will learn what makes up our solar system and the galaxy surrounding us. Campers will design rockets, build space tools and create liveable shelters. They’ll also find out how rocket scientists, space engineers and astronauts are planning for the possible colonization of Mars. Join the ranks of these creative problem solvers and come along for an epic journey to Mars and beyond by joining the EDMO® Space Squad!
21st Century & SEL Skill Focus: Collaboration, Initiative, Problem Solving, Empathy, Critical thinking, Creativity
What things you may want from Home: Camp EDMO® will provide everything you need to actively participate in this theme!
Please Note: Daily schedules may vary slightly based on group or location.
Planets and Galaxies (1st – 2nd)
On their first day as Space Squad members, campers will be building a model of the planet Earth and the moon. Campers will then be expanding their horizons by creating a light-up pinwheel galaxy!What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning about all eight planets of the milky way galaxy, as well as other planetary bodies such as moons, dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. They’ll discover how these bodies can both revolve around the sun and other planets. Campers will then be learning about all things galaxy: how galaxies are formed, what makes up a galaxy and even how they move through time and space!Planets and Galaxies (3rd – 4th)
For their first day as Space Squad members, campers will be building a model of the planet Earth and the moon to study rotation and revolution. Space Squad members will then be looking at the different planets of our solar system and designing a model of a planet using paper mache! This will be the first chance campers will have to work in their Space Squad Design Teams.What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning basic astrophysics concepts like revolution and rotation and how those affect the movement of planetary bodies in our solar system. Campers will also be learning about the discoveries of other planets in far away galaxies and what scientists believe may exist beyond the realm of our own universe. Finally, campers will learn about different features of planets as well as how to collaborate in a team to come up with a group design.Features of Outer Space (1st – 2nd)
Campers will continue exploring different features of outer space by making a nebula in a jar! Campers will then be looking at satellites, human-made objects in space and will be making a model of the satellite type of their choosing.What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning all about nebulas, the huge clouds of dust that float through space. Campers will also learn how they are formed, where they exist and what scientists have discovered about the most recognizable nebula in our universe, the Horsehead Nebula! Campers will also be studying all different kinds of satellites, how they are made and what their purpose is. They will also learn about Earth’s gravitational pull and how satellites revolve around the Earth much in the same way as the moon does.Mission to Mars: Space Transit (3rd – 4th)
Our Space Squad teams will be given their ultra top secret mission for the week: designing and developing tools to enable their engineering team to investigate the possibility of humans one day colonizing the planet Mars. The first tasks will be to figure out how to get to the red planet and investigate it, by building a model of a rocket and a rover!What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning how to design and build in a collaborative team. Through the creation of a model rocket, campers will learn the concepts of rocketry, the forces of flight, and aerodynamics. Campers will also be learning how NASA scientists and engineers designed and built some of the past rover vehicles that were sent to Mars and the purpose of those expeditions. Campers will then be using what they learned in the design of their own rovers.Space Art (1st – 2nd)
Campers will be making salt dough stars and combining those stars to form a galaxy! Once our Space Squad members have learned all about stars, they will be given a hands-on look at constellations, as they design and make a constellation out of marshmallows!What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning all about stars and how millions of stars form various parts of our universe, such as galaxies and nebulas! Campers will also learn about the different kinds of gases that make up stars, how stars are born and what happens when they die. Finally, campers will discover how groups of stars form constellations and how and why different constellations can only be seen from the northern or southern hemisphere of Earth.Mission to Mars: Space Suits (3rd – 4th)
Our Space Squad engineers will be designing features of space suits for their adventures to Mars. Campers will design and build a model of a space helmet to help provide oxygen when out in space or exploring the planet. They will then design and make a rocket pack to help get around when venturing out into space!What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning how astronauts use space suits to regulate the oxygen they need to survive in space. Additionally, they’ll learn how some space suits that astronauts use contain boosters to provide mobility and movement in space. Finally, campers will learn how combustion works in space when there is no oxygen present and about alternative sources of fuel that NASA engineers use to help astronauts in space.Space Mobility (1st – 2nd)
Our young astrophysicists will be designing and making a rocket! Campers will then test their rocket with an air powered rocket launcher! Campers will also be designing and making prototypes of a rover that can transport astronauts and materials to help scientists collect information about far off worlds.What We’re Learning
Through the creation of a model rocket, campers will be learning the concepts of rocketry, the forces of flight and aerodynamics. Campers will learn how NASA scientists and engineers designed and built some of the past rover vehicles that were sent to Mars and the purpose of those expeditions. Campers will then use what they learned in the design of their own rovers.Mission to Mars: Space Tools (3rd – 4th)
Campers will be working in their engineering teams to design space tools that will help them pick up objects on Mars when exploring the planet in their bulky space suits. Campers will then design and build a Geodesic dome, a structure that is lightweight and built to be structurally sound using triangles.What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning how engineers design and build tools that have helped astronauts study the surface of the moon. Additionally, campers will learn about the surface of Mars, what has been explored and how scientists and engineers are designing tools for human exploration of the red planet. This includes tools for habitation and tools to collect specimens to send back to Earth for study!Life in Outer Space (1st – 2nd)
On our final day of Space Squad, campers will be designing and making a UFO and a crafty alien friend to come along for a thrilling ride through outer space! Campers will also design and build a space habitat. This habitat can be a space station, a research station in a far off world, or a futuristic home that humans may live in within the not so distant future!What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning about the history of UFOs, otherwise known as Unidentified Flying Objects, and how this history has led some to believe there is life out there in the far reaches of our universe. They’ll also have the chance to learn how to design and make a playful UFO and alien friend! Lastly, campers will see how astronauts live in outer space as they learn about the fundamental items that need to be present in outer space for a space station to support life.Mission to Mars: Space Habitat (3rd – 4th)
On our final day of Space Squad, campers will continue working in their engineering design teams to finish their geodesic domes. Our Space Squad campers will also be designing and making a prototypes of different types of habitats, such as a space station or research lab that would support life on Mars.What We’re Learning
Campers will be learning about geodesic domes and other kinds of habitats NASA engineers are currently prototyping that would support human colonization of planets. They’ll also discover the fundamental items that need to be present in outer space and on Mars to support human life.Here are some cool videos:
- Learn more about our solar system from this amazing video from FreeSchool.
- Check out this awesome video from National Geographic Kids on how the Hubble Telescope works!
Here are some cool books:
- Head over to your local library or purchase the following books to support your camper’s quest for more space knowledge!
- A Journey Through Space by Steve Parker
- The Sun is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk
- Exploring Constellations by Sara L. Latta
- Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum
Here are some cool places to see and learn more about space:
- Check out these fun activities to continue the space fun at home!
- Make a cool comet on a stick and watch it fly!
- For our younger campers try making this awesome moon dough at home!
- Explore the galaxy with this neat spaceship project.
Transportation of the future is here! Campers will learn the science behind some of our current transportation methods such as flying, driving and train travel. Campers will also learn about some futuristic ways of getting from here to there, such as magnetic levitation, pneumatics and rocketry. Come along for an exciting week of current and futuristic modes of transportation.
21st Century & SEL Skill Focus: Responsibility, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Emotion Management,
What things you may want from Home: Any recyclable materials such as cardboard, plastic or paper. Campers may also want to bring in other materials to help them with their projects.
Please Note: Daily schedules may vary slightly based on group/location.
How the Air & Forces Help Us Move
K-1st Grade: Welcome to Motion Makers! On our first day of our theme all about travel, our young makers will be constructing two different vehicles that use air to make them go. Campers will be designing and constructing balloon racers and a sail car. Each vehicle will use the air to move in a different way. Campers will then have the chance to explore the way force interacts with the different kinds of materials being used to construct each car, and to see which one utilizes the air the most! 2nd-4th Grade: Our older Motion Makers will start their first day designing and building balloon racers. After campers have constructed their racers, they will take them to our balloon racer race course and race them in a balloon race for the ages! Later, campers will build and launch a hot air balloon.What We’re Learning
Our young physicists will learn the basic forces of motion: the push force and the pull force. Campers will be taught the ideas of acceleration and friction and how they relate to Newton’s Laws of Motion. Later, campers will learn all about gravity, a pull force, and how it affects flying objects. Lastly, campers will learn how hot air rises and provides the push force to launch a hot air balloon!Lift and Drag and Flying Objects!
K-1st Grade: Our K-1 campers will be exploring two different kinds of airborne transportation: Gliders and Helicopters! Campers will participate in a glider design challenge and will test different designs to see which glides the farthest. Later, campers will construct a helicopter using a simple propellor and a rubber band. Campers will see how high they can get their helicopter to fly! 2nd-4th Grade: Campers will be exploring two different kinds of airborne transportation: Airplanes and Helicopters. Campers will participate in a Paper Airplane design challenge. Campers will test their designs to see which design travels the farthest and which does the most tricks! Later, campers will make Robocopters, taking the design of a rubber band helicopter and adding a motor! Campers will see how fast and how far they can get their Robocopters to fly!What We’re Learning
Campers will learn the other two forces involved in air travel, lift and drag, and how airborne transports get in to and stay in the air. Campers will discover how these forces, in combination with the push and pull forces they already learned about, effect the flight of an object. Campers will also take their learning deeper to compare the different effects of these forces on airplanes versus helicopters.Newton’s Laws of Motion
K-1st Grade: Our young motion engineers will be constructing a 3D, free standing marble run! Campers will collaborate to see who can build the longest and fastest marble run. Later, campers will test and redesign their marble runs. 2nd-4th Grade: Our older motion engineers will be working collaboratively to construct a hydraulic lift crane. Campers will design, build, and test their cranes to see which model can lift the most weight while remaining free standing.What We’re Learning
Throughout the day, campers will learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion. Our K-1 campers will focus on the effects of friction as it relates to objects in motion and at how acceleration can help reduce friction so that objects can travel farther. Our 2-4 campers will focus on how pneumatics can provide movement through a series of tubes. Campers will also discover what engineers envision as a future form of travel: hydraulic or pneumatic tubes.Rocketry
K-1st Grade: Campers will be building paper rockets as part of our rocketry design challenge! Later, campers will build and test the launcher that will be thrusting their rockets into the sky. Additionally, campers will test their rockets and redesign them for optimal height as they take off from the launch pad. 2nd-4th Grade: Campers will be designing, building and testing rockets as part of our rocketry design challenge! Campers will be introduced to magnetics as they build and test a magnetic levitation train using legos! What We’re Learning Both groups of campers will be learning about rockets, rocketry and the push force, thrust. Campers will also learn the concept of aerodynamics and how aerodynamically sound rockets are less affected by gravity. In addition to these concepts of rocketry, our 2-4 campers will learn about how the push and pull forces of magnets can move monorail-like trains along the tracks. Campers will also learn how engineers are using magnetic levitation in monorails as a replacement technology for electricity or other forms of energy.Boats that Float!
K-1st Grade: On our last day of Motion Makers, campers will be designing and building boats! Campers will work collaboratively to design and build a ship that can float in a tub of water. Later, campers will participate in our launching regatta to see which designs float and which designs sink. Campers will also have time to redesign their ships to make sure everyone has a successful launch. 2nd-4th Grade: On our last day of Motion Makers, campers will be designing and building a robotic paddle boat. Campers will race their RowBots in the EDMO paddle boat regatta!What We’re Learning
To wrap up the week, campers will learn about the force of buoyancy. Campers will learn how this force affects objects in the water and how it relates to water displacement. Through their design challenge, campers will see how different materials affect the buoyancy of a ship and the best way to design a ship to stay afloat in the water. Additionally, our older campers will learn how batteries and motors are used to make a simple robot.Here are some cool videos:
- Learn from one of the coolest kids in science with this amazing video about motion and forces!
- Watch this classic Bill Nye video about forces for lots of ideas on how to extend your learning!
Here are some cool books:
Here are some cool web resources and activities:
- Try these simple physics activities at home!
- Some fun transportation crafts to do at home for our youngest Motion Makers.
- After camp, test your projects out again and see if you can improve on them or show them off to your family and friends!
This week, our Critterville campers will be learning all about creatures in their park. Through nature walks, observation, storytelling and craft, campers will burrow into animals, their habitats, eating habits, and life cycles. The whole week culminates with an Ambassador Animal Design Challenge where campers will put it all together to help a favorite animal in the park. This week is going to be a blast and campers will come home with skills to practice in your own backyard or local park!
21st Century & SEL Skill Focus: Empathy, Collaboration, Responsibility, Problem Solving.
Please Note: Daily schedules may vary slightly based on group/location.