RAFT’s STEAM Dream Summer Camp is officially underway, and the first few weeks have already been packed with creativity, curiosity, and hands-on learning! We kicked off our 2025 summer programming on June 9 at Stratford – Crestmoor Canyon in San Bruno and launched additional sites the following week at Orchard School and Alum Rock School Districts in San Jose, Bayshore Elementary School District in Daly City, and Stratford Milpitas – Corning.
Different weeks and camp locations explore a different theme through engaging, project-based activities that encourage students to think like scientists, engineers, and artists. Read on to see what campers have been diving into so far!
Campers gather around as their teacher demonstrates the features of a trekking pole, kicking off a hands-on design challenge for the Innovation Lab theme.
🛠️ Innovation Lab
In our Innovation Lab theme, students stepped into the shoes of young inventors and entrepreneurs. Using craft and repurposed materials, campers brainstormed, prototyped, and built imaginative solutions designed to help mountaineers stay safe on their journeys.
Some of the hands-on challenges included:
- Sustaining Innovation, A Better Ice Axe: Campers explored the design and function of ice axes through photos, videos, and group discussions. They then reimagined the tool, building rapid prototypes of improved versions using maker materials.
- Disruptive Innovation, Oxygen System Design Challenge: After learning about the effects of high altitudes and the importance of supplemental oxygen, campers created models of innovative oxygen systems, incorporating creative design features tailored for mountaineers.
- STEAM Team Challenge: Drawing on their knowledge of mountaineering and innovation, students tackled a final design prompt that challenged them to generate and prototype unique safety solutions for climbers.
Throughout the week, campers strengthened their collaboration, engineering, and design thinking skills-while turning their big ideas into bold, tangible inventions.
Three proud campers show off their creative ice axe prototypes, designed to keep mountaineers safe during Innovation Lab week.
🎭 Puppet Theater
The second theme brought a burst of creativity with Puppet Theater, where students combined storytelling and STEAM to create puppets and perform original plays.
Highlights included:
- Puppet Creation: Campers designed and built a diverse cast of puppets-including stick puppets, hand puppets, sock puppets, and intricate marionettes-each with its own character and flair.
- STEAM Team Challenge: Working in teams, campers crafted scripts, built their own puppet theaters, and rehearsed collaborative performances. The week ended with live shows where students performed for their peers and teachers, showcasing their creativity and public speaking skills.
In addition to exploring mechanics and motion, students built confidence and communication skills as they brought their stories-and characters-to life.
A camper proudly showcases his handmade puppet, ready to take the stage for Puppet Theater week!
🌱 Living World
At another camp site, students immersed themselves in the Living World theme, exploring biodiversity and uncovering the interconnectedness of life on Earth.
Some of the hands-on challenges included:
- Animal & Plant Diversity: After learning about the variety of life forms on our planet, students created models of animals and plants using a range of makerspace materials, celebrating nature’s creativity.
- Human Impact: Campers examined how human actions affect ecosystems. They designed slogans, prototypes, and action plans aimed at protecting biodiversity and raising awareness in their communities.
- STEAM Team Challenge: In a culminating project, student teams engineered detailed model habitats to support diverse species. The week ended with a showcase where they presented their ecosystems and explained how their designs support sustainability.
Through this theme, campers built a deeper appreciation for the natural world-and learned how to design with empathy, creativity, and purpose.
What’s Next?
Campers have only just begun their STEAM adventures! Upcoming themes include Crime Scene Investigation, Autonomous Vehicles, and Weird Science-each one designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding through hands-on exploration.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we highlight the exciting projects and learning happening across all our sites.
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Have questions or want to learn more about RAFT Summer Camps? Contact steamcamp@raft.net to find out how you can get involved or support a camper today.