Step into Design Hive's hands-on Maker Space for an unforgettable in-person day camp experience built around creative exploration, real-world problem solving, and genuine making. This camp is designed for young thinkers, builders, and artists who love to get their hands involved and see their ideas take shape.
Each day blends structured project work with open-ended exploratory activities, engaging campers across a rich variety of disciplines, including kinetic art, circuitry, game design, movement, architecture, engineering, and more. No two days are exactly alike, and campers are consistently challenged to approach familiar problems in unfamiliar ways.
What You'll Learn:
- This camp offers a rotating mix of project-based work and exploratory activities that span art, craft, engineering, and technology.
- Activities may include, but are not limited to, kinetic art constructions, basic circuitry and electronics, game design challenges, movement and spatial exercises, architectural modeling, and hands-on engineering builds.
A Note on Tools:
- We teach proper tool use and expect that all campers use the tools we provide. Our studio uses real hammers, nails, screws, and screwdrivers. We work with actual high-temperature hot glue guns, not cool-touch or low-heat alternatives. Protective hand-wear is not used during tool work, as we believe working directly builds confidence and skill. Occasional small burns or minor bruises are part of the authentic making and learning process.
Sample Daily Schedule:
Times and specific activities are subject to change.
- 10:00 to 10:30: STEAM Project Workshop
- 10:30 to 10:45: Snack and break
- 10:45 to 11:30: Process Art Activity
- 11:30 to 12:30: Outdoor Lunch Break and Movement
- 12:30 to 1:00: STEAM Workshop continued
- 1:00 to 2:00: Engineering and Exploration
- 2:00 to 2:30: Pick-up
Before You Register: What to Know About Our Studio
Design Hive is a small, process-driven art and STEM studio. Our space does not include a dedicated outdoor area, although we incorporate stretching, dance, and movement throughout the camp day. Our scheduling reflects the physical realities of our studio, which is why camp hours are shorter than a traditional school day, and extended care availability is limited. What you see when you walk through our door is what you get, and we take pride in that transparency.
Because we do not have separate rooms or breakout spaces, campers of all ages work side by side on projects together. We embrace this wide age range intentionally. Our curriculum is carefully designed and scaffolded so that a six-year-old and an eleven-year-old can meaningfully engage with the same project at their own level. Older students are invited to dive deeper into complexity, while younger students benefit enormously from observing and collaborating with their more experienced peers. Our team brings more than thirty years of combined classroom teaching experience, and we believe deeply in the educational value of mixed-age learning communities.
If you are looking for age-segregated programming or a camp catered to a very specific technology skill set, we encourage you to consider that carefully before registering, as we do not issue refunds for camps.
