Summer Programs
Creative Fusion
Creative Fusion is an experiential arts workshop that provides children the opportunity to discover contemporary and traditional artistic methods through the mentorship of professional artists.
Summer Camp
UCDS camp programs run for six fun weeks every summer. Information for summer camp 2012 will be available at the end of February.
If you wish to join our mailing list for Summer 2012, please email our Summer Camp Registrar, . Then watch for information to arrive in your inbox this February.
Sparlers Camp for kids 3-5
Sparklers Day Camp caters to our younger adventurers, ages three to five, providing them with a wide variety of fun and engaging activities.
Through adventures on campus and planned field trips, we encourage campers to discover new things about themselves and the world around them. Our experienced staff, small camper/teacher ratio and safe environment make this the ideal place for your young adventurers to spend their summer days!
Spark Summer Series for kids 6-12
Here is a sampling of Spark Series camps from 2011.
Lego Robotics:
Legos are on the loose. Spend a week building, experimenting and programming with the Lego NXT and RCX Robotic Systems. Explore a wide variety of construction methods while building amusement park rides, vehicles of all sorts, simple machines, manufacturing systems, intelligent homes, alternative energy sources, pneumatics and of course, robots. Students new to Lego Robotics can learn the basics, while advanced builders and programmers can tackle the inventions of their dreams. We have nearly one million sorted Lego pieces to build with, a library of the latest Lego idea books and access to hundreds of internet resources. Each morning and afternoon session will begin with a short instruction/discussion session followed by several hours of open-ended discovery and investigation. On the last day of camp students will share their creations with family and friends.
Chef Camp:
Get ready for a fun-filled week of cooking! Each day will center on a theme, like local or regional foods, and kids will learn about cooking tools and techniques. We will finish the week by designing a cookbook to bring home. Flex your culinary muscles and bring your appetite!
Photography:
CLICK! Come explore the world of photography this summer. Learn about the parts of the camera as well as some focusing and exposure techniques. Experiment with lighting and manipulating photographs on and off of the computer. Even make a photo album to save your prints! CLICK!
Chinese Cultural Exploration:
Set in the wonderfully rich and diverse International District of Seattle, Chinese Cultural Exploration is an exciting and stimulating introduction to the culture and language of China. While developing basic Mandarin skills, campers will be introduced to the traditional and nontraditional aspects of Chinese culture that have drawn countless visitors to this Asian country. On any given day during the weeklong cultural bonanza, campers might be brush painting, dancing and singing, and so much more! Participants will also get a delicious opportunity to create and taste traditional Chinese cuisine. Rather than being taught in a traditional classroom environment, basic Chinese language skills will be integrated into all aspects of this camp. Activities will be a springboard for vocabulary building, opportunities to practice speaking abilities. Campers will naturally pick up the language without having to devote long hours to studying. This is the perfect summer for your child to widen their horizons and develop a love not only for a new language but also for one of the most ancient cultures on Earth.
Art in the Wild:
The world is your art studio... whether it's the urban jungle or a rushing waterfall, a museum or a millipede under a microscope. We will pack our art supplies and capture images in new art forms. Experiment with techniques in sketching, painting, sculpture and collage. A chance to look at the world through an artist's lens, this camp is a great compliment to Poetry on the Go the week before.
Reader's Theatre:
The show must go on this summer! Come explore the art of acting in Reader's Theatre Camp. We'll become improv artists, playwrights, actors and set designers this week as we flex our acting muscles! Fantastic worlds will be created and marvelous scenarios enacted!
Puppet-Making:
Camp will begin with an introduction to the exciting world of puppetry arts. We will work together to build large-scale puppets with costuming—encouraging and stretching your creativity and imagination! Learn to collaborate between the visual and performing arts and finish the week with a culminating puppet performance or dance to the music you choose. The possibilities are truly endless.
Short Story Writing:
Explore your imagination on paper through pictures and words. Camp will begin by taking a look at favorite authors and their use of conventional storyline. Bring your fantastical ideas to life or make your true-life experiences everlasting. With their ideas as inspiration, each child will publish their own short story by the end of camp.
Jewelry Making:
Campers will explore a variety of jewelry-making techniques including wire wrapping and metal hammering among other methods. There will also be plenty of outdoor time to seek some inspiration from nature! Bring your creativity, your sense of style and your desire to have fun!
Tennis Camp:
Anyone for tennis? Come learn about the basics of tennis or practice your strokes on the court this summer. The week will be filled with tennis drills, techniques and lots of fun. Our day will be balanced with activities both on and off the court. All levels welcome!
Ultimate Frisbee:
Join Cailey Marsh for a fun-filled week of Ultimate Frisbee! Cailey has coached and played competitively for many years. Players at camp will learn to love the game of Ultimate, appreciate the sportsmanship behind Spirit of the Game and enjoy that Seattle summer sun! Campers will get to take home a disc of their own at the end of the week!
Capoeira
Come join Santiago Crosby and Angie Manning-Goodwill for a weeklong introduction to Capoeira! This afro-Brazilian dance-like martial art helps build strength, flexibility, balance and physical discipline. Classes will not be limited to physical activity. Capoeira also involves music and a rich cultural tradition, which students will explore through videos, story telling and perhaps even a visit from an area Maestra. What could be more fun than a martial art that calls sparring "play"?
Once Upon a Time: Storytelling:
Adventure, mystery, magic—all of these are elements of exciting stories. Storytellers in this camp will listen to tales from a variety of different cultures, learn about many kinds of stories and tell stories of their own. We will use writing, art, theater, dance and music to make our stories come alive!
Outdoor Explorers:
This is the camp that highlights the true enjoyment of summer. Campers will explore the area in and around our beautiful city of Seattle. We will hire our very own Magic School Bus for transportation, travel to parks for free play and other activities, go on hikes, swim at different beaches and eat ice cream! There will be a field trip every day!
Coastal Explorations:
Put on your galoshes—this week we'll explore beautiful intertidal areas at local parks. Using hands-on activities, we'll investigate various coastal creatures and how they adapt to marine life as well as how tides work. Come prepared to play lots of outdoor games, learn crazy facts about the Puget Sound ecosystem and have fun!
