Startup Wonder Summer Camp combines computer programming or coding with entrepreneurial projects to mix analytical and creative skills development. Some students perceive STEM and technology subjects as dull and far from exciting. As a result, when given a chance they will pass at a chance to learn or be exposed to these subjects. Startup Wonder program is designed to expose all students, right-brain or left-brain, to wonders of creativity and problem solving regardless of the subject. Teams of students collaborate to complete a project. Every contribution is significant and by the end of the week-long camps students gain an appreciation for many of the skills that their teammates possess.
Instructors are trained to nurture the interest of the students and guide them to find a way to build on their interest. The 8-years-old child who seems to love creating origami pieces realizes that his origami creations are contributing to his team’s overall success at convention day by bringing the visitors and mentors to their booth. He in encouraged and comes back the following week to attend the invention camp. The 9-year-old child who loves to do craft learns to create a website and add pictures of the bracelets she made in camp to her website.
Younger kids attending summer camp need to practice their motor skills and there is no reason they cannot learn other subjects while they are creating an Ad poster, for example. Arts and craft, games and sports is a necessary part of summer camp, however, Startup Wonder’s curriculum packs in multiple subjects in every activity in order to expose children to many subjects and to demystify STEM or computer science while highlighting soft skills such as communication too.
Children, much like adult, may naturally be right brain or left brain and excel at certain subjects but summer camp is the best time to let kids be kids while exposing them to little bits and bytes of complex new ideas wrapped in fun activities.
