Summer Academy

This immersive, week-long camp will give campers the opportunity to engage directly with local community partners through meaningful service-learning projects. Participants will explore a variety of social and environmental issues on local, national, and global levels, gaining a deeper understanding of how global challenges connect to local action. Through hands-on projects, group collaboration, and reflective activities, campers will put empathy into action while developing leadership and interpersonal skills. This camp also serves as a catalyst for campers to bring impactful projects back to their own schools. By the end of the week, campers will have made tangible contributions to their community and gained insight into the power of collective action.

This fun and engaging camp offers an exciting hands-on introduction to the world of computer science. Campers will dive into coding to solve puzzles, navigate maps, and learn about computational thinking. They'll develop problem-solving skills by breaking down complex problems into manageable steps and designing algorithms to find solutions. This camp provides an excellent foundation for campers interested in Advanced Computer Science Principles, with optional challenges around algorithms for those who want to explore more advanced concepts. It's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to build a strong understanding of computer science in a fun and interactive way.

Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long camp, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.

Unplug, explore, and reconnect with the natural world in this weeklong outdoor adventure. Each day combines yoga and mindfulness in the gardens at Lake Forest Academy with biking along the scenic Melody Farm Trail, where campers pause to hike, observe, and learn about local wildlife. A midweek field trip to Elawa Farm adds hands-on discovery, while afternoon art projects inspired by nature encourage creativity and reflection. Through movement, mindfulness, and making, campers will find balance, awareness, and the joy of being present—no phones, just open skies and curiosity.

Campers must supply their own bike and helmet, and know how to ride. They can securely keep their bike at LFA for the week if they wish.

Campers will learn two main printmaking techniques---relief (linocut) and screen printing. They will learn how relief printmaking works by carving a lino block and then printing it onto paper and/or fabric. Campers will also learn basic screen printing skills, creating an image and making their own T-shirts or tote bags.

In this dynamic and creative camp, campers will discover the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and machine learning. They'll learn how computers use data to make decisions and predictions, gaining insights into the power of AI in real-world applications. Campers will develop machine learning projects around real-world data and will have the opportunity to design their own machine learning app to solve a problem that is personally relevant to them. The camp blends creativity with technology, allowing campers to explore how AI is shaping the future while giving them the tools to build their own AI-powered solutions.

This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Campers 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.

This is a crash course in world geography. Campers will engage in activities that center around learning everything about physical, economic, and human geography. The projects, games, and assignments revolve around maps, statistics, and science. By the end of the course, campers will be able to see how geography plays into global conflicts and collaboration. There is more to geography than just knowing flags, recognizing shapes of countries, and playing GeoGuessr, though those are also going to be formative parts of the experience. Campers should be prepared to engage in a fun and high energy setting!

This introductory ceramics camp will expose campers to basic hand-building, including pinch, coil-building, slab-building procedures, and wheel-thrown techniques. Campers will construct a variety of utilitarian and non-utilitarian projects. Campers will also engage in fundamental glazing and basic electronic kiln firing techniques. All projects will include exposure to various tools, methods, and visual art elements and principles. Last but not least, campers will be introduced to a brief history and aesthetic appreciation of ceramics art via global lenses, as opposed to only European arts.

This Mindful Movement camp will introduce campers to the practice of yoga and mindfulness techniques to promote physical health, emotional balance, and mental clarity. Each day campers will engage in guided yoga sessions, breathing exercises, and meditation practices to develop self-awareness and reduce stress. This camp will also include outdoor activities and creative crafts designed to deepen mindfulness and connect with nature. Through hands-on experiences and personal exploration, campers will cultivate skills for calmness, connection, and overall well-being.

This camp is designed to make learning to code both fun and interactive. Campers will engage with Blockly Games, solving puzzles and navigating mazes while learning programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and functions in a visual and easy-to-understand format. As the camp progresses, campers will use Game Lab to create their own animations and interactive games, further developing their programming skills. This camp is perfect for middle schoolers and beginners who want a hands-on, creative introduction to coding, allowing them to make their own projects and share them with friends and family in a fun and engaging way.

Optional: available for minecraft game design.

This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Campers 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.

Get ready to dream it, design it, and make it! In this hands-on camp, you’ll spend time in the beautiful formal gardens to sketch and watercolor your ideas before heading to the maker studio to bring them to life. Use 3D printing, sublimation, and vinyl cutting to create awesome custom merch—like stickers, pins, totes, puzzles, and more. You’ll mix art and technology, craft and creativity, while learning real design and fabrication skills. By the end, you’ll walk away with your own collection of unique creations that show off your imagination and maker style!

Campers will learn to write and explore a variety of genres, including fiction, poetry, drama, and personal narrative, and may choose to specialize in one or more of these. The camp emphasizes the process of creating original pieces from brainstorming and revision through the final draft.

In this dynamic and creative camp, campers will discover the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and machine learning. They'll learn how computers use data to make decisions and predictions, gaining insights into the power of AI in real-world applications. Campers will develop machine learning projects around real-world data and will have the opportunity to design their own machine learning app to solve a problem that is personally relevant to them. The camp blends creativity with technology, allowing campers to explore how AI is shaping the future while giving them the tools to build their own AI-powered solutions.

Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long camp, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.

Combine words and music to tell stories that sing! In this inspiring week, campers will explore lyric writing, rhythm, and melody, no musical experience required. They’ll listen to and break down favorite songs, jam out ideas together, and end the week with original lyrics or full songs they can share with friends and family.

*Students should bring an iPad or laptop, but computers are available if needed. 

This new camp is designed for campers with no prior programming experience—just curiosity and a desire to learn. Campers will explore what a website is, how websites are created, and they will learn the fundamentals of HTML and a bit of CSS. Campers will create their own basic website, either individually or with a partner. It’s a fun, hands-on camp that encourages creativity and problem-solving.

Campers will unleash their inner performers in this high-energy improv summer class! Through a series of dynamic improv games and ensemble exercises, they will develop their verbal and nonverbal speaking skills, confidence, and creativity through the art of spontaneous storytelling. This camp teaches participants to think on their feet, listen actively, collaborate, and embrace the unknown. The camp culminates in a live performance where they will demonstrate their newfound skills and creativity in a supportive and fun filled showcase.

Discover how poetry can express emotion, rhythm, and voice in endless creative ways. Campers will experiment with poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, while exploring performance and visual layout. Along the way, they’ll try interactive activities like blackout poetry, collaborative group poems, and a mini open-mic, then finish the week by creating their own poetry book to take home.

*Students should bring an iPad or laptop, but computers are available if needed.

This fun and engaging camp offers an exciting hands-on introduction to the world of computer science. Campers will dive into coding to solve puzzles, navigate maps, and learn about computational thinking. They'll develop problem-solving skills by breaking down complex problems into manageable steps and designing algorithms to find solutions. This camp provides an excellent foundation for campers interested in Advanced Computer Science Principles, with optional challenges around algorithms for those who want to explore more advanced concepts. It's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to build a strong understanding of computer science in a fun and interactive way.

This summer debate camp introduces middle school campers to the art of persuasion by focusing on the preparation and delivery of impactful oral arguments. Campers will learn to explore current events and find interesting evidence to support their ideas, writing clear claims that they then bring to life through confident speaking and effective organization. While the camp emphasizes the writing process, the ultimate goal is for campers to perform with poise, mastering the ability to listen closely and offer quick, reasoned rebuttals to their opponents. By engaging in these verbal exchanges, participants develop the communication skills and self-assurance needed to express their opinions and think on their feet. This program is an ideal way for campers to find their voice and improve their public speaking in a fun, collaborative summer environment.

Unleash your imagination through stories that captivate and characters that come alive! This week focuses on narrative storytelling and script writing as campers learn the essentials of building plot, dialogue, and dramatic tension. Campers will dive into fast-paced prompts, mini “writers’ room” collaborations, and playful challenges that turn their ideas into shareable short stories or scripts by the end of the week.

*Students should bring an iPad or laptop, but computers are available if needed.