<p class="ql-block">What an incredible week of adventure, creativity, and connection! From the Town Green classroom to the Maple Grove basketball court and Maple Grove Library, our campers filled every space with laughter, curiosity, and teamwork. Each day brought a new surprise—from designing inviting room interiors and building bridge-worthy STEM creations to tackling debate challenges, sharpening literacy skills, splashing in the pool, and shooting hoops on the court. Along the way, we navigated mazes, visited our favorite duck friends (who seem to know us by now!), and created memories that will last long after camp ends. As another unforgettable week comes to a close, we’re celebrating all the learning, friendships, and fun that made this week so special.</p> Basketball <p class="ql-block">Basketball lessons are filled with fun, movement, and opportunities to build coordination. Young children learn best through active games that keep them engaged and moving. Each lesson begins with a quick warm-up, followed by skill-building activities such as Red Light, Green Light and Dribble Tag, which help develop ball control and body awareness. Students also practice simple passing skills, such as passing to a target and catching or receiving the ball with their hands. These playful activities help children build confidence, improve coordination, and develop basic basketball skills while having fun.</p> Interior Design <p class="ql-block">Throughout this 5-day course, students learned to think like interior designers by designing and building their own apartment interior models. They explored how different users have different needs, planned functional room layouts, improved their designs by considering size, movement, and sightlines, discovered how style and the design process turn ideas into real spaces, and presented their finished projects with confidence. By the end of the course, students gained a better understanding of how thoughtful design can create spaces that are functional, comfortable, and unique. </p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:20px;">Day 1</span></p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:20px;">Day 2</span></p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><b style="font-size:20px;">Day 3</b></p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><b style="font-size:20px;">Day 4</b></p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><b style="font-size:20px;">Day 5</b></p> English Language Arts <p class="ql-block">The lessons provide a variety of engaging, language-rich activities that help students develop literacy, communication, and creative thinking skills. Younger students participate in creative dramatics by acting out picture books, while all students enjoy games, songs, chants, charades, and vocabulary-building activities. Phonics and vocabulary practice includes interactive games such as Bingo and activities from the Words Their Way program. Students also strengthen their storytelling skills by retelling stories, creating their own stories using objects, and reading fairy tales with peers or adult support.</p><p class="ql-block">Older students develop literacy through reading, writing, Readers Theatre, drawing, and meaningful conversations. Students read independently, with partners, and as a group while discussing characters, events, and text features. Writing activities encourage students to express opinions, observations, and procedural steps, such as writing recipes. Throughout all activities, students practice key literary elements, including setting, characters, plot, conflict, and resolution. Frequent discussions help students build vocabulary, confidence, and speaking skills, while the support of student volunteers allows for individualized instruction and increased student engagement.</p> Bridge Up <p class="ql-block">Students learned the six major bridge types, built a scaled Da Vinci self-supporting bridge, and explored tension vs. compression through lectures, examples, and trivia — then built Truss, Beam, and Cantilever models. The final day wrapped up with a review of each bridge's features and advantages. The week balanced instruction with plenty of hands-on building to keep students engaged. </p> Debate <p class="ql-block">Throughout the week, campers built debate skills step by step. Day 1 covered argument structure (uniqueness, link, impact) with a writing activity. Day 2 focused on building strong arguments with evidence and reasoning. Day 3 taught refutation and rebuttals—responding to opponents rather than making new points. The week culminated on Day 4 with a full-class debate, where campers showcased their growing confidence, critical thinking, and public speaking.</p> Library Swimming Maple Maze Lake and Ducks Volunteers