Seneca Hill Summer Camp: Explore, Learn & Play!
At Seneca Hill Summer Camp, curiosity becomes creation, and play becomes problem-solving . Our Engineering & Exploration program blends hands-on STEM learning with energetic outdoor fun and thoughtful skill-building, making each summer day an exciting opportunity to think like an engineer, explore like a scientist, and connect with new friends along the way.
What Makes Our Program Special?
This isn’t a typical summer camp — it’s a STEM adventure designed to spark imagination and build real critical-thinking skills. Every week features a different STEM Building Challenge where campers dive into the engineering design process: identifying problems, imagining solutions, planning, building prototypes, testing ideas, and iterating improvements 📐🔧. These challenges encourage creativity, collaboration, and confidence, and campers get to take home their own engineered creations at the end of each week.
Our experienced educators — many of whom are classroom teachers throughout the school year — guide children through these projects with patience and enthusiasm, creating a supportive environment where curiosity leads the way.
What Will Children Do & Experience this week?
Week 2: A Bug’s Life – Moving Caterpillars
Inspired by the tiny world beneath our feet, Week 2 invites campers to explore simple mechanics through the lens of nature. In A Bug’s Life, campers investigate how movement works by designing and building their own moving caterpillar models as part of our signature Weekly STEM Building Challenge 🐛🔩.
Weekly STEM Building Challenge
Each week, campers participate in a STEM Building Challenge where they use a kid-friendly Engineering Design Process to imagine, design, build, test, and improve a project they get to take home. These challenges are designed to spark curiosity while strengthening problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills — all while having tons of fun.
Using an age-appropriate engineering framework, campers will:
Test & Improve: Try it out, analyze results, make adjustments, and improve performance.
Create: Build a working prototype using hands-on STEM tools and materials.
Plan: Select a design and gather materials.
Imagine: Brainstorm ideas, explore possibilities, and sketch designs.
Ask: What is the problem? What are we trying to build?
Moving Caterpillars: Engineering Through Nature
This week’s challenge encourages campers to think like biological engineers as they design a caterpillar that can move using simple mechanisms and materials 🐛⚙️. Campers explore key STEM concepts such as motion, cause-and-effect, sequencing, and basic mechanics, while observing how real insects move and adapt.
Campers will experiment with connectors and movement methods to see how changes affect flexibility and motion. Through hands-on testing they learn that engineering often starts with inspiration from the natural world — and that improvement comes through curiosity and persistence.
By the end of the week, campers leave with:
- Excitement for the STEM adventures still to come!
- A fully built moving caterpillar model to take home
- Hands-on experience with the engineering design process
- Increased confidence in problem-solving and creative thinking
- A deeper appreciation for nature-inspired engineering
A Typical Day at Camp
Each day is thoughtfully structured to ensure a balance of active play, learning, and free time. While activities vary by week, here’s a general schedule:
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Welcome & Morning Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Sports, Games & Outdoor Play
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM | Snack Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Science Experiment or Craft Project
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | Lunch
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Reach Ahead Language & Math / Special Theme Activities
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Water Play, Nature Walk, or Special Event
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM | Snack Break
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM | Games & Wind-Down Activities
4:00 PM | Dismissal
At Seneca Hill Summer Camp, every camper leaves with new skills, lasting friendships, and cherished summer memories. Whether they are discovering new passions, strengthening academics, or simply having the best summer ever, our camp is the perfect place to explore, learn, splash, and play!
👉 Join us for a summer of fun and discovery!
