Campers from last year’s “Robotics 101” Summer Camp work together to program their bot during the “Battle of the Bots” competition.
Santa Maria, Calif. – June 2, 2016 – Children from across the Central Coast will get to program robots, create and perform an original musical, decorate a cake, or create art from around the world at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum’s four imaginative summer camps starting this July.
“The Discovery Museum’s summer camps will inspire children and their families to fully engage in the world around them by having fun and learning at the same time,” Program Director Amy Blasco said. “We’re excited to partner with organizations in our community to offer unique educational programming that focuses on important subjects like STEM, health and nutrition, and the arts.”
Summer camps will kick off July 18 to 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. with “Robotics 2.0,” the follow up to last year’s highly popular “Robotics 101.” The Orcutt Academy High School Spartatroniks robotics team will be back to teach aspiring engineers how to program FIRST LEGO League robots. The camp, which is open to children ages 8 to 14, will culminate with a “Battle of the Bots” competition on Friday, July 22. Cost is $100 for members or $150 for non-members.
During “Broadway Bootcamp,” July 25 to 29 from 1 to 5 p.m., members of the Righetti High School Theater Department will teach children how to perform dialogue, sing, dance, and develop a script. Campers will show off everything they’ve learned in an original one-act musical performance on Friday, July 29. Cost is $85 for members and $100 for non-members. The camp is designed for children ages 8 to 14.
Children will discover and hone their culinary skills at the “Food is Fun! Cooking Camp” Aug. 1 to 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. Campers will start the week with experiments demonstrating the science of food with Cal Poly kinesiology professor Alison Ventura, Ph.D. Other activities include cake decorating and hands-on cooking demonstrations with local health and nutrition professionals. The camp, which is open to children ages 6 to 10, will culminate with a family food fair on Friday, Aug. 5. Cost is $85 for members; $100 for non-members.
The Discovery Museum’s 2016 summer camp season will end with “Art Around the World” Aug. 8 to 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. Graphic designer Heather Walter will lead campers on a trip around the world to learn about art from global cultures. Each day will feature a different country or region and art project, including ceramics, mosaics, and painting. The week will end with an art show on Friday, Aug. 12. Cost is $85 for members and $100 for non-members. The camp is designed for children ages 6 to 10.
Located at 705 S. McClelland St., the Discovery Museum is fun for all ages, with 13,000 square feet of “please touch” exhibits, weekly programs and special events that explore ourselves, our valley, our world and beyond. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Discover the power of play at the only children’s museum in Santa Barbara County.
For more information about summer camps and other special events, visit smvdiscoverymuseum.org or call 928-8414.