Junior STEM Explorers Camp - Dinosaurs, Volcanoes & Fossils

Seneca Hill Summer Camp: Explore, Learn & Play!

At Seneca Hill Summer Camp, curiosity becomes creation, and play becomes problem-solving . Our Engineering & Exploration program blends hands-on STEM learning with energetic outdoor fun and thoughtful skill-building, making each summer day an exciting opportunity to think like an engineer, explore like a scientist, and connect with new friends along the way.

What Makes Our Program Special?

This isn’t a typical summer camp — it’s a STEM adventure designed to spark imagination and build real critical-thinking skills. Every week features a different STEM Building Challenge where campers dive into the engineering design process: identifying problems, imagining solutions, planning, building prototypes, testing ideas, and iterating improvements 📐🔧. These challenges encourage creativity, collaboration, and confidence, and campers get to take home their own engineered creations at the end of each week. 

Our experienced educators — many of whom are classroom teachers throughout the school year — guide children through these projects with patience and enthusiasm, creating a supportive environment where curiosity leads the way.

What Will Children Do & Experience this week? 

Weekly STEM Building Challenge

Each week, campers participate in a STEM Building Challenge where they use a kid-friendly Engineering Design Process to imagine, design, build, test, and improve a project they get to take home. These challenges are designed to spark curiosity while strengthening problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills — all while having tons of fun.

Using an age-appropriate engineering framework, campers will:
Test & Improve: Try it out, analyze results, make adjustments, and improve performance.
Create: Build a working prototype using hands-on STEM tools and materials.
Plan: Select a design and gather materials.
Imagine: Brainstorm ideas, explore possibilities, and sketch designs.
Ask: What is the problem? What are we trying to build?

Week 4: Dinosaurs – Volcanoes & Fossils

Travel back in time to the age of dinosaurs! Week 4 invites campers to explore Earth’s prehistoric past through hands-on science and engineering. In Dinosaurs, campers combine imagination and discovery as they build a light-up volcano and investigate fossils as part of our signature Weekly STEM Building Challenge 🦖🌋.

Volcanoes & Fossils: Engineering the Prehistoric World

This week’s challenge encourages campers to think like earth scientists and engineers as they explore how volcanoes form and how fossils preserve clues about life long ago 🔦🪨. Campers investigate key STEM concepts such as cause-and-effect, chemical reactions, geology, light circuits, and observation, while learning how scientists study the past.

Campers will build and test a glowing volcano model, experimenting with structure, materials, and simple circuitry, and explore fossils through hands-on sensory activities. Through testing, observing, and questioning, they learn that science is about curiosity, discovery, and making connections.

By the end of the week, campers leave with:

• A deeper appreciation for Earth science, history, and discovery
• Increased confidence in problem-solving and creative thinking
• Hands-on experience with the engineering design process
• A light-up volcano model to take home
• Excitement for the STEM adventures still to come

A Typical Day at Camp

Each day is thoughtfully structured to ensure a balance of active play, learning, and free time. While activities vary by week, here’s a general schedule:

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Welcome & Morning Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Sports, Games & Outdoor Play
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM | Snack Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Science Experiment or Craft Project
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | Lunch
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Reach Ahead Language & Math / Special Theme Activities
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Water Play, Nature Walk, or Special Event
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM | Snack Break
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM | Games & Wind-Down Activities
4:00 PM | Dismissal

At Seneca Hill Summer Camp, every camper leaves with new skills, lasting friendships, and cherished summer memories. Whether they are discovering new passions, strengthening academics, or simply having the best summer ever, our camp is the perfect place to explore, learn, splash, and play!

👉 Join us for a summer of fun and discovery!