LFA Summer STEAM Camps

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18 (12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
 

What does it mean to say we are “going green?” How big is your carbon footprint? What role does the economy play in environmental issues? What can one person do? Is global warming real and what can we do about it? These are only a few of the thousands of questions that come up every day when looking at the environment and the impact we have on it. In this week-long class, you will look at answering these questions and many more through discussion, debate, activities and hands on labs. Learn how you can leave your mark on this environment and leave it in a better place!

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18 (9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Kerry Cedergren
 

This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Students will separate dyes, turn copper into silver, determine how much blue dye is in sports drinks, make a potato clock, learn how to make ice cream (and then eat it!), solve a mystery and much more.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18 (9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Ruth Smith
 

Do you like solving riddles and thinking logically through evidence. Campers will be given opportunities to test their analytical powers while comparing evidence to samples. You will learn how to methodically secure, search and investigate a crime scene. Based on the story and the clues, you will learn how to justify any conclusions you draw from handwriting samples, blood splatter, hair, fiber, fingerprint and toxicology evidence. During this class several Science Olympiad concepts will be covered.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Teacher: Patty Kochaver
 

This will be an opportunity for students to get an immersive experience in making pottery on the wheel. They’ll learn from a professional how to center, form and finish functional work that they can take home and use. Students with some experience will be able to build on their throwing skills, and beginners will get a thorough introduction to the wheel.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Teacher: Joe Ward
 

No experience necessary! Learn how to make web-based applications that can be run on any device. This 15-hour class will take you from no experience to having your own application created and posted on a website to share with your family and friends. These applications will be simple at the end of our week-long session, but they will have the ability to be expanded upon into more complex applications. Languages may include Dart, Flutter and Javascript.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Teacher: Ed Shaughnessy
 

Campers will learn about the exciting world of electronics by building a variety of circuits each day using equipment that they will be able to keep. The class will be 100% hands-on, and the campers will be able to bring home their projects each day to impress family and friends alike. The students will also use the Arduino to learn how to write the code that will control its outputs and inputs. During the week, the campers will build several open-ended projects that foster a better understanding of circuit design and coding. A light activated circuit that can turn on an array of LEDs, an infrared remote controlled by the Arduino to adjust the speed of a motor from across the room, program the Arduino to write messages on a Liquid Crystal Display, use the bluetooth module with the Arduino and a smartphone to turn on a fan are just a few of the possible projects. A camper needs to have a personal laptop and a $45 fee is added for the Arduino kit that the campers can continue to use after the one week session.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
 

Let’s get outside! Come explore the Lake Forest Academy campus and surrounding area with an environmental lens. Each day will focus on a different unit, from aquatics and water quality testing, wildlife ecology and tracking, forestry and tree identification, soil science, and mapping with GPS. Each half day session will give students time inside the classroom engaging in inquiry-based labs, and time outside of the classroom bringing these concepts to life.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Patty Kochaver
 

While gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of slab and coil construction, students will use their imaginations, and employ practical considerations, in creating unique bird houses, bird feeders, and bird baths... and any other accoutrements a bird might need!

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Joe Ward
 

In this 15 hour course, students will learn the basics of the most popular eSports game in the world, League of Legends. The first thing students will learn is how to download and install the game (which is free to download), how to make an account (also free), and the different game modes. Once everyone is set up the week will be spent teaching the main concepts of how to become a high-level player, the ranking system, how to play different champions and more. Students will also be introduced to competitive gaming, meet some team members from the Lake Forest Academy team, hear about college scholarships for eSports athletes, and participate in a small in-house eSports tournament.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 14–18, June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Matt Boresi
 

For young performers with stage experience, those looking to try acting for the first time, or those just looking to build confidence, this class will help budding actors work on their voice, movement, character creation and reactions. The camp will feature theatre games and up-beat ensemble activities and is capped off with a brief showcase for parents and friends.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 21–25 (12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
 

Why aren't there volcanoes in Illinois? How can life affect the planet? Why is Illinois so flat? How do glaciers transform the Earth? What can ocean rocks in Illinois tell us about the changing planet? This course provides students with an overview of the violent forces that continue to shape Earth every day. We will explore the physical impacts on Earth from the history of life, plate tectonics, natural disasters, oceans and freshwater, and glaciers and climate.

Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 21–25 (9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m.)
Teacher: Ruth Smith
 

What does the future of medicine look like? Are X-men possible? In this week-long class genetics will be explored using various methods including classical Mendelian genetics and some innovative applicative biotechnology. Students will begin to develop mathematical skills that aid in analysis of population genetics and will conduct population studies. DNA technology will be examined and students will begin to develop skills used by genetic engineers. DNA technology is the next great technology and this course will allow students to understand the future direction of this discipline of biology.