7 Reasons Why your Child Should go to Summer Camp

 

With the end of the school year nearing, we want to break down what you need to know for summer: some great reasons to extend learning during the school break. It’s not what you might think! It is not about keeping their minds active or even the old standard, we don’t want them to forget anything over the summer.

Take a look at our TOP 7 reasons to send your child to summer camp.

7 Reasons Why your Child Should go to Summer Camp

Chilling at summer camp

7. THE PRESSURE IS OFF: Out of school learning environments naturally allow for non-stressing exploration of new topics. There aren’t grades associated with activities and the playing field is usually level as new tech is often introduced.  

Fun activities during summer camp with friends

6. NEW FRIENDS: Sure it can be intimidating to arrive on day 1 and not know anyone. Summer camps plan icebreakers and other social activities to encourage co-design and collaboration.  As mentioned in numerous other posts, these skills are vital for the development of the whole learner.

Latest Technology at Robotics Summer Camp

5. TECHNOLOGY: This is pretty straight forward. Out of School environments and camps can provide the latest and greatest tech due to their size and agility to pivot to what’s trending. Many schools find it challenging to stay ahead of the technology curve because of a lack of dedicated Tech Ed resources. Beyond that, camps can explore areas of interest that there just isn’t time for during the school year. 

Professional teachers in summer camps

4. TALENT: Summer finds university students, faculty, and staff looking to keep active in their area of expertise. Professionals and students provide up to date and relevant materials – and just as important – are excited about sharing their passion!

Outdoor play at Santa Monica tech summer camp

3. TIME FOR PLAY: Who doesn’t miss recess? Summer programs bake in physical activities to get your learner away from screens and in touch with the physical world around them. When tech and nature can work together, even better!

Learning new technology in summer camp at Digital Dragon

2. BITE SIZED LEARNING: Camps go by surprisingly quickly. By design they offer educational experiences in small doses. These short expeditions into various disciplines can inspire and engage learners and may surprise them through a newfound passion.

1. FUN: A good design challenge, dedicated time to create, puzzles, and authentic problem solving? I’ve never won a Spelling Bee before, but that spells “FUN” to me. Our learners need experiences like these to become creators rather than just consumers. Enjoy summer, kick back, and learn!

 

Digital Dragon’s summer camp experience luckily includes everything on this list! Starting June 10th, we offer camps in our Santa Monica studio as well as many campuses all over the Los Angeles area. Take a peek at what we have on deck for your students this summer. Students can explore technology education that doesn’t fit into their schedule during the school year, including video game design, robotics, programming, video production, and digital design.

 

John Balash was instrumental in Digital Dragon’s launch in 2013 as its first Curriculum Director and is now back in the fold as a consultant on all the latest and greatest in tech education.This is John’s latest contribution to a monthly blog series we’ve launched, Tech News from the Frontier. John is the Director of Educational Engagement at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center. John has worked on educationally focused initiatives with clients ranging from D.A.R.P.A. to Disney. Working from both sides of the desk, you can find John in classrooms and conferences around the world exploring new uses for technologies in learning environments.