Makerspace Camps
Calling all Makers! We are thrilled to offer ten fun and interesting Makerspace camps during the morning and afternoon summer camp sessions to rising 2nd - 8th grade students from June 19 - July 28. Register for one, two in a row to make it a full day, or more and create and learn all five weeks! Our Makerspace camps are led by Joanne Papini, our amazing Makerspace teacher at Almaden Country Day School.
Week 1: June 19 - 23
9 am - 12 pm: Escape Room Building AM
12:45 - 3:45 pm: Escape Room Building PM (make it a full day!)
Week 2: June 26 - 30
Continue the Escape Room craze with one more week of summer camp working on new and exciting projects!
9 am - 12 pm: Escape Room Building AM
12:45 - 3:45 pm: Escape Room Building PM (make it a full day!)
Week 3: July 10 - 14
9 am - 12 pm: Tech Certified
12:45 - 3:45 pm: Minecraft Mania
Week 4: July 17 - 21
9 am - 12 pm: Makerspace Mania
12:45 - 3:45 pm: Gameology
Week 5: July 24 - 28
9 am - 12 pm: Gameology
12:45 - 3:45 pm: Makerspace Mania
To register, click the button below. For any questions, please contact our Summer Camp Director, Catie Weston.
Experience engineering, story planning, writing, designing/design thinking, basic structures, physics, and gameology. Cutting edge technology! Use a variety of low-tech and high-tech tools including mini saws, drills, engravers, coding apps, Scratch and MakeCode, Muse Laser Cutter, TinkerCad, Inkscape, StopMo, and more! Gain new skills, learn how things are made and how they work.
Week 1 - Morning
Date: June 19 - 23, 2023
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Makerspace: Epic Escape Room Adventures AM (Entering Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Note: Students can register for the AM session or register for the full day by registering for both the AM and PM session (see the PM session below)
The escape room craze continues at ACDS this summer with two weeks of camp dedicated to the designing and building interactive puzzle experiences for other campers. Register for two weeks or one. Brand new escape tools, interactive clues, puzzles and props will be taught each week. Using the high-tech and low-tech tools of the Makerspace, same-grade pods of 4-5 makers will work together to choose a theme, create a plan and build their cardboard escape experience. This camp is for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
Week 1 - Afternoon
Date: June 19 - 23, 2023
Time: 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Makerspace: Epic Escape Room Adventures PM (Entering Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Note: Students registering for the PM session, must also register for the Week 1 AM session
The escape room craze continues at ACDS this summer with two weeks of camp dedicated to the designing and building interactive puzzle experiences for other campers. Register for two weeks or one. Brand new escape tools, interactive clues, puzzles and props will be taught each week. Using the high-tech and low-tech tools of the Makerspace, same-grade pods of 4-5 makers will work together to choose a theme, create a plan and build their cardboard escape experience. This camp is for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
Week 2 - Morning
Date: June 26 - 30, 2023
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Makerspace: Epic Escape Room Adventures AM (Entering Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
The escape room craze continues at ACDS this summer with two weeks of camp dedicated to the designing and building interactive puzzle experiences for other campers. Register for two weeks or one. Brand new escape tools, interactive clues, puzzles and props will be taught each week. Using the high-tech and low-tech tools of the Makerspace, same-grade pods of 4-5 makers will work together to choose a theme, create a plan and build their cardboard escape experience. This camp is for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
Week 2 - Afternoon
Date: June 26 - 30, 2023
Time: 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Makerspace: Epic Escape Room Adventures PM (Entering Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Note: Students registering for the PM session, must also register for the Week 2 AM session
The escape room craze continues at ACDS this summer with two weeks of camp dedicated to the designing and building interactive puzzle experiences for other campers. Register for two weeks or one. Brand new escape tools, interactive clues, puzzles and props will be taught each week. Using the high-tech and low-tech tools of the Makerspace, same-grade pods of 4-5 makers will work together to choose a theme, create a plan and build their cardboard escape experience. This camp is for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
Week 3 - Morning
Date: July 10 - 14, 2023
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Makerspace: Tech Certified (Entering Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Just like the other Makerspace Camps we will take full advantage of the ACDS Makerspace both indoors and outdoors. Each camper will be met at their current level of technology experience and will receive an official, personalized gold-embossed Tech Certificate at the end of the week. Skill development will be project-based using the various software and electronic components connected with: 3D modeling, Laser and Router engraving, Coding microcontrollers, Animation, Moviemaking and more! (divided into same-grade pods).
Week 3 - Afternoon
Date: July 10 - 14, 2023
Time: 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Makerspace: Minecraft Mania (Entering Grades 2-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Whether you’re still building your crafting table and pickaxe, or you’re into a beacon shell corebox ender chest (LOL), we will block this week for everything Minecraft! Besides crafting new Minecraft things online, we’ll go offline and outside for some epic creative mining! Using the tools and materials from the Makerspace like 3D printers, electronics components, and the Green Screen, we’ll craft real world models of Minecraft torches, pickaxes, castles, furniture, beacons…and maybe even a baby pink sheep! This camp is for students entering grades 2-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods” (optional use of Makerspace ipads).
Week 4 - Morning
Date: July 17 - 21, 2023
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Makerspace Mania (Entering Grades 2-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Calling all makers! What would you build if you had access to all of the incredible tools and materials in the Makerspace? A light-up device or game? A work of art using a 3D printer or Laser? A candy dispenser? Each day makers will be given a specific project in order to teach the use of new tools and materials. Afterwards, we’ll roll out more maker supplies outdoors and it’s free tinkering time and STEM Challenges! This camp is for students entering grades 2-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods” (optional use of Makerspace ipads).
Week 4 - Afternoon
Date: July 17 - 21, 2023
Time: 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Makerspace: Gameology (Enter Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Just like the other Makerspace Camps, we will take full advantage of the ACDS Makerspace both indoors and outdoors. Gamers will learn to invent and build high tech and low tech games: tabletop family games and puzzles, sports, cardboard arcade games and more. Game designers will also have the opportunity to learn Scratch coding in order to design a game or toy that is played offline using the Makey Makey microcontroller! This camp is for students entering Grades 3-8 who will be divided into same-grade pods.
Week 5 - Morning
Date: July 24 - 28, 2023
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Makerspace: Gameology (Enter Grades 3-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Just like the other Makerspace Camps, we will take full advantage of the ACDS Makerspace both indoors and outdoors. Gamers will learn to invent and build high tech and low tech games: tabletop family games and puzzles, sports, cardboard arcade games and more. Game designers will also have the opportunity to learn Scratch coding in order to design a game or toy that is played offline using the Makey Makey microcontroller! This camp is for students entering grades 3-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
Week 5 - Afternoon
Date: July 24 - 28, 2023
Time: 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Makerspace Mania (Entering Grades 2-8)
Camp Leader: Joanne Papini
Price: $400
Calling all makers! What would you build if you had access to all of the incredible tools and materials in the Makerspace? A light-up device or game? A work of art using a 3D printer or Laser? A candy dispenser? Each day makers will be given a specific project in order to teach the use of new tools and materials. Afterwards, we’ll roll out more maker supplies outdoors and it’s free tinkering time and STEM Challenges! This camp is for students entering grades 2-8 in Fall 2023 who will be divided into same-grade “escape pods.”
About Joanne Papini
During her time teaching science, Joanne realized how much she enjoyed sharing with her students the amazing tools and technologies that are so much a part of 20th century learning.
This inspired her to start a business creating "maker" opportunities for her community through summer camps and after school workshops.
The innovative nature of the ACDS educators and community, and its makerspace filled with every kind of tool from manual to high tech, is what drew her to the school. At ACDS, she knows she has found her dream job being able to work alongside educators who share her commitment to kindness, joy, and lifelong learning.
Fun fact: Joanne is an entrepreneur having started many businesses of her own. She even auditioned for two reality shows: American Inventor (an Idol spin off), and Shark Tank! She came close to getting on Shark Tank with a sleeve towel invention. The experience of creating the towel and auditioning for Shark Tank confirmed how much she loves inspiring young people to invent!