Themes By Week: Kickstart and Discovery

Kickstart Academy: “My Community, My World” Skills

Discoverers Academy: "Community Connections: Helping, Leading, Belonging”

This Session:

• Introduces the idea of community through familiar settings such as school, family, and helpers.
• Focuses on cooperation, kindness, sharing, and learning how to be part of a group.
• Supports early social‑emotional growth and a strong sense of belonging.

Skills Strengthened

• Builds social awareness, empathy, and belonging
• SEL foundation at the start of summer
• Integration of community helpers / service learning: Camp Cares!
• Works across both academics and play

Sample Activities 

• Community helpers (and the roles they play)
• Summer program community vs. neighborhood vs. town
• Camp Cares Service projects (age-appropriate) 
• Problem-solving in a community (fairness, kindness, safety)
• Maps, places, and ideas for community helpers

Cross-Curricular Fit

• Literacy: letters, thank-you notes, storytelling, job interviews
• Math: counting helpers, building maps, graphing favorites
• STEM: designing a “better playground,” simple structures
• Arts: murals, props, role play
• SEL: cooperation, helping roles, responsibility

Kickstart Academy: “Little Explorers”

Discoverers Academy: “World Explorers & Young Investigators”

This Session:

• Encourages questioning, observation, experimentation
• Supports STEM with skilled teachers
• Emphasizes People, Animals and the places they live 

Sample Activities Within the Theme

• Nature & outdoor exploration including animals and habitats
• Weather 
• Maps, globes, and cultures
• How people explore (scientists, travelers, inventors)

Cross-Curricular Fit

• Literacy: nonfiction read-alouds, observation journals
• Math: measuring, sorting, comparing
• STEM: asking, predicting, building, testing
• Arts: animal art, world flags, texture studies
• Movement: scavenger hunts, obstacle challenges

Kickstart Academy: “Imagine, Create, Build!”

Discoverers Academy: “Inventors, Designers & Creators”

This Session:

• Invites campers to express ideas through art, building, music, and imaginative play.
• Emphasizes exploration, creativity, and trying new things.
• Joyful self‑expression.

Skills Strengthened

• Supports creativity and problem-solving
• Naturally includes arts and STEM
• Strengthens fine motor skills, confidence

Sample Activities Within the Theme

• Building challenges (blocks, recycled materials, LEGOs)
• Inventions that solve problems
• Art across different mediums
• Dramatic play & storytelling
• Simple machines and structures

Cross-Curricular Fit

• Literacy: storytelling, explaining designs
• Math: shapes, symmetry, measurement
• STEM: engineering design process
• Arts: visual art, music, drama
• SEL: perseverance, collaboration, confidence