This August marks the exciting wrap-up of RAFT’s 2025 STEAM Dream Summer Camp and DreamBox season—our biggest yet! Over the course of eight action-packed weeks, we delivered more than 180 hours of hands-on STEAM programming, engaging TK–8 students from across the Bay Area in engineering challenges, storytelling adventures, and STEAM experimentation.

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With programs running across four public school districts and six private school sites, our camps reached over 600 students, inspiring them to learn, build, and create in new and meaningful ways. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our incredible team—nearly 100 seasonal staff members and 10 volunteers—who brought their energy, creativity, and expertise to every camp day.

Earlier in the summer, campers explored themes like Innovation Lab and Puppet Theater, diving into creativity and problem-solving from day one. You can read all about those first weeks of camp here.

In the second half of the season, campers tackled three more themes filled with discovery, creativity, and hands-on challenges:

🔍 Crime Scene Investigation

In this theme, campers stepped into the role of forensic scientists, using observation, analysis, and critical thinking to crack the case. They learned how science is applied in real-world investigations, from collecting evidence to piecing together clues.

Some of the hands-on challenges included:

  • Fingerprint Analysis: Campers learned to identify different fingerprint patterns and features, then created their own and lift latent prints from various surfaces.
  • Impression Evidence: Campers created and analyzed impressions from a variety of sources, including tire tracks, shoe prints, and even teeth!
  • Owl Pellet Dissection: Campers became forensic zoologists by dissecting owl pellets to identify the bones and skulls of prey, learning to carefully handle and analyze biological evidence.
  • Blood Sample Analysis: Campers performed a simulated hematocrit test on blood samples, practicing precise observation, measurement, and calculation to determine the ratio of red blood cells.

By the end of the week, campers had built strong problem-solving and analytical skills—along with a newfound appreciation for how science plays a role in solving mysteries.

🚗 Autonomous Vehicles

Through this theme, students became engineers and designers, creating vehicles capable of moving, turning, and completing challenges without direct control from the driver.

Some of the hands-on challenges included:

  • Vehicle Design & Power: Campers designed and built different types of autonomous vehicles and experimented with various power sources to make them move.
  • Creating a Base: Campers built and customized a base for their autonomous vehicle, focusing on stability and design.
  • Micro:Bit Orienteering: Our 6th-8th grade campers learned the basics of coding using micro:bits and then program their own autonomous vehicles to complete an orienteering course.

Through trial and error, students developed engineering know-how, persistence, and creativity—essential skills for tackling real-world transportation challenges.

🌀 Weird Science

In this theme, curiosity took center stage as campers experimented with the unexpected, the unusual, and the downright weird in the world of science. Each day brought surprising demonstrations and hands-on activities that revealed the hidden forces shaping our everyday world.

Some of the hands-on challenges included:

  • Gravity's Weird Effects: Campers explored the strange and unexpected effects of gravity by observing a gravity well demonstration and investigating objects in freefall. They also got hands-on by building their own DIY marble roller coaster.
  • Magnetic Phenomena: Campers learn about the Earth's magnetosphere and magnetic poles. They then used magnetic wands to create their own floating compasses that work both in the air and on water.
  • Electric Circuits: Campers learned about electric circuits as a path for electrons to flow. They built simple circuits with switches and light bulbs, and then explored the difference between series and parallel circuits to see how the arrangement of bulbs affects their brightness.

By the end of the week, campers had strengthened their inquiry skills and learned to embrace experimentation—even when results didn’t go as planned. Weird Science reminded students that in STEAM, curiosity and creativity often lead to the most exciting discoveries.

Thank You to Our Camp Community

From the creativity of our campers to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and partners, this summer was filled with growth, learning, and joyful discovery. RAFT remains committed to delivering hands-on STEAM experiences that empower young learners to think critically, collaborate effectively, and explore their world with curiosity and confidence.

We can’t wait to see what our campers dream up next summer! 

Want to bring STEAM Dream Camp to your school? Contact us at education@raft.net to learn more!