Welcome to the Fab Lab summer camp page for 2024! We have a great year of camps for you, with some new additions and (of course) all of your favorites! For those of you who are new to our camps, we have put up the tldr;
Early drop off – as early as 7:45am to 9am ($25/week)
Drop off your kid early so you can get to work on time! You can start dropping off kids at 7:45 am! There is no extra curriculum, and we will keep them off of the computers until camp starts. They should bring something to entertain themselves.
Morning Camp – 9am to Noon ($200/week)
Our morning camps run from 9am until noon. There is a snack break and we go to a nearby park daily to get the zoomies out of everyone’s system. Each kid should bring a reusable water bottle and a snack (we have a vending machine as well). There may be some field trips (walking distance) for some camps.
Lunch – Noon to 1pm (Free! If kids are in both camps)
If you are signed up for both Morning and Afternoon camps, you can leave your kid(s) with us and we will keep them safe during the lunch hour. Parents are responsible for lunch for their kids!
Afternoon Camp – 1pm to 4pm ($200/week)
Afternoon camps go from 1pm to 4pm. We will go to the nearby park for a play and snack break. Kids should bring a reusable water bottle and a snack (we do have a vending machine as well). There will definitely be some field trips and outside activities for some of the camps!
Late Pick-up – 4pm up to 5:15pm ($25/week)
Pick up your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm. There is no extra curriculum. We just keep them safe and sound for you.
Policies and Procedures
Here we go with the fun fine print stuff. Policies and procedures for the Fab Lab when it comes to summer camps are not that different from the policies and procedures for adult members of the Fab Lab. Everyone is expected to be aware of their own bodies and their own property. There are a lot of machines and tools at the Fab Lab, some are dangerous if handled incorrectly, some are dangerous if handled at all, and some are expensive to purchase, run, and maintain. There is no running or playing rough in any area of the Lab. If a person does not handle equipment correctly and is a danger to themselves or others, they can be asked to leave for the day, for the week, or for the full summer. There will not be refunds for any camper leaving due to behavior issues.
What they should wear
Campers should always wear closed toed shoes with a wrap around heel. Sandals are fine, but they should have something in the back holding them onto the foot, and should cover the toes. Shoes also need to stay on for the full day. There are plenty of places you don’t want bare feet. Students should bring a hair tie if their hair is longer than shoulder length. There may be times we are using equipment that having hair tied back for is the safe choice. Other than that, they can wear what they feel comfortable in.
What they should bring every day
Each camper should bring (daily); a reusable water bottle, a snack for snack time, (one per camp if they are here all day) and a lunch if they are staying between camps. They can also bring money for the vending machine, but realize that the snacks they are going to get are not apples and protein bars. There is candy, chips, etc. The machine takes change and ones, it won’t take a $5 bill.
They should also bring sunscreen if that is something you want them to have (but THEY are responsible for applying it. They can ask for employee help, of course, but we will not be able to enforce them wearing it.) They can bring a handheld gaming device, a book, art supplies, etc. to entertain themselves during lunch or early drop/late pick-up. We sometimes will not allow them to use the computer lab before or after camps.
Behavior expectations
Good behavior is pretty mandatory. That does not mean kids can’t get frustrated or have a bad day, just that they can not take it out on others. There is a lot of equipment around that can be very bad for health if it is run into or used wrong. If they have behavior issues WE NEED TO KNOW. If they have been kicked out of other camps before, WE NEED TO KNOW. If they are on the autism spectrum that is great. We need to know ahead of time so we can make arrangements if they need a quiet space or a reset time if things get too hectic for them. If they have a paraeducator during the school year, they MUST have one for our camps as well. We are not a part of the school system, and we are not trained to be paraeducators. If you have questions, email [email protected] BEFORE you register so we can get the details worked out.
All campers MUST keep hands to themselves and not roughhouse. This is an ongoing problem with siblings. Even if there are two brothers who play-wrestle ‘all the time at home’ or have a habit of doing other sibling behaviors that they would not do to anyone else, they CAN NOT do those things at the Fab Lab. Other campers do not see two brothers being brothers, they see one kid beating up another kid and getting away with it. We have a zero bullying policy and we will enforce it. Kids sent home for bullying won’t come back and won’t receive a refund. Even if it is a sibling. Even if they were just having a bad day.
Along with bullying physically, the Fab Lab is a place where everyone should feel free to be themselves (as long as it is not practicing to be the next John Wick). We will respect the camper’s chosen name, respect their pronouns, and respect whatever your child wants to wear as normal every day wear. We won’t allow verbal abuse, although we do understand that everyone is human, and everyone can sometimes make mistakes, or be unaware they are being hurtful. That being said, purposeful hurtfulness is not tolerated.
Medications and Allergies
If your kid(s) have medications they need to take, we need to know about it. If they are responsible enough to take it themselves with no adverse reactions, that is fine and it can be in their backpack or whatever. We DO need to know about it so we can check in to make sure it was taken on time. Also there are two people who can be responsible for medications at our camps; the kid themselves (if they are responsible enough, see above) or US. There is not a third option where another sibling also at the camp is burdened with the responsibility of making sure their sibling takes medication. We need to know.
Allergies are taken seriously as well. Let us know about any allergies, especially if there is a possibility of something needing an epi pen or something else life-threatening. If there is a mild peanut allergy, but they can be around nuts, let us know and we will make sure all the kids know at the beginning of the week. If they will swell up if they see a picture of a JIF (pronounced ‘giff’) peanut butter jar, we need to know so we can warn the kids AND the parents about lunch options, as well as making sure our vending machine is not full of allergens for that week. If they may need an epi pen, let us know. We can hold it or they can have it where they feel comfortable accessing it.
Refund Policy
Our refund policy is pretty simple. If you need a refund on a camp that is more than two weeks away, you get a full 100% refund on that camp. If you have to cancel within two weeks of the camp, you will get a 50% refund on that camp. If you cancel within six days of the camp starting, you won’t get a refund for that camp.
The reason for this policy is that we are a nonprofit, and we rely on the funding from the camps to pay for the supplies, the staff, the rent, and that sweet, sweet air conditioning. If you cancel far enough in advance, we can find another camper to fill up that space. If you cancel right before a camp, we have already spent that money on our programming and have no hope of getting it back. That being said, there can be exceptions for unforeseen events and emergencies, of course.
Scholarships
We do accept scholarships, and sometimes we have some scholarship money available for a limited number of campers per year. If you want/need a scholarship from us, let us know by emailing [email protected] so we can give you the details. IF we have scholarship money to give, it is usually only half of the cost of one camp. There are outside scholarships that can cover the full amount, and we will try to keep a list of available scholarships for those who ask. It is completely the responsibility of the parent to get the scholarship if it is not an internal Fab Lab scholarship.
One more note on scholarships; No one involved in the camps knows who the scholarship recipients are. Kirk (the director of the Fab Lab) might know, but he sucks at names, so he still won’t know. Not even the summer camp staff know. It is no one’s business but yours.
Jump to a Week
Week of June 10th to June 14th
Early drop off June 10-14, 2024
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
15 in stock
Minecraft Teams Morning June 10th to 14th
Did you know that kids who play Minecraft have been shown to get higher grades in classes like chemistry and biology later in life? Did you know that working on something with a small group of peers is one of the best ways to learn how to cooperate and build leadership skills? We do! That…
Out of stock
3D Design Afternoon June 10th – 14th
It is a brave new world, full of different space age materials, and new ways to combine them. Along with new materials come new ways to manufacture, and being able to visualize the world in 3 dimensions is essential for anyone interested in art, science, engineering, chemistry, sculpture or any other field that creates real…
Out of stock
Late Pick-up June 10-14
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
15 in stock
Week of June 17th to June 21st
Early Drop Off June 17-21
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
10 in stock
Minecraft Mods Morning June 17th to 21st
Have you ever wanted to make something in Minecraft that doesn’t exist? During our time with this camp, we have seen some amazing creations! From slime shoes that bounce you around like you are on the moon, to a sword that spawns dolphins every time you hit someone, with our mods class you can learn…
Out of stock
Survival #1 Afternoon June 17-21
What happens when the power goes out? Do you know what you need to do to survive in an urban or a wilderness environment? Sure, it is easy when you have a tent, a car, and cans of ready to eat food, but what if you didn’t? In this camp (so popular we are running…
8 in stock
Late Pick-up June 17-21
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
18 in stock
Week of June 24th to June 28th
Early Drop-off June 24-28
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
16 in stock
Animation Morning June 24th – 28th
Did you know the first motion picture was created to win a bet? One gentleman bet another that a horse at a gallop had all four hooves in the air at once. They set up a series of cameras and galloped a horse past, and boom! A motion picture! Fast forward to now, and we…
3 in stock
Electronics and Robotics Afternoon June 24-28
We live in a complex world, full of machines, AI, and motorcycle cops looking for the son of Sarah Connor. Things with buttons, wires, and lights are everywhere, and understanding what is going on inside of them is a great way of knowing how society works. In Electronics and robotics, we focus on some of…
3 in stock
Late Pick-up June 24-28
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
15 in stock
Week of July 1st to July 5th
Early Drop-off July 1-5
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
18 in stock
Minecraft Mods Morning July 1-5
Do you like playing games with cheat codes? Do you like to push the boundaries of what can be done with software? This modding class is a good way to get started! Using a modding software, we will spend about half of the time during this camp creating new things in Minecraft, from a new…
10 in stock
Drawing Camp Afternoon July 1st – 5th
Art is part of what makes us human. From cave paintings to canvas, humans have always had a need to share their experiences with others of the tribe. Like most skills, the best way to get good is to practice new things, and look at things from different perspectives. This week will be spent trying…
3 in stock
Late Pick-up July 1st – 5th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
17 in stock
Week of July 8th to July 12th
Early Drop-off July 8th -12th
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
17 in stock
Minecraft Teams Morning July 8 – 12
Have you ever wanted to blow up stuff in Minecraft? Do you like solving puzzles, or creating fiendish ways to make other players respawn? This camp is probably made for you. Minecraft Teams is all about small group tactics and making sure that your base is protected from the other team. Remember that the other…
1 in stock
Survival #2 Afternoon July 8th – 12th
With great demand, we have added a second survival camp to our roster this year! Whether your camper took the first one earlier this year and wants to continue to learn and hone skills, or this is your first time around, this camp is full of cool tips for surviving any situation you may find…
12 in stock
Late pick-up July 8th – 12th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
18 in stock
Week of July 15th to July 19th
Early Drop-off July 15th to 19th
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
17 in stock
Animation Morning July 15th – 19th
When you think about it, almost everything is animation. Your eyes only record at around 60 hertz, or 60 frames a second, and they can see in a bit less than 4K resolution (Hot tip: Don’t buy that 5K tv. You literally can’t see the difference unless you are a Mantis Shrimp). That means that…
10 in stock
Building the Best Afternoon July 15 – 19
Think you can build the tallest tower? How about the strongest bridge? The best paper airplane? The fastest racecar? In Building the Best, we will challenge your creativity by creating a bunch of different challenges! Sometimes building in groups and sometimes building solo, we will work on a little bit of everything. This camp is…
14 in stock
Late Pick-up July 15th – 19th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
20 in stock
Week of July 22nd to July 29th
Early Drop-off July 22nd – 26th
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
16 in stock
Minecraft Teams Morning July 22nd – 26th
Teamwork makes the dream work, and Minecraft makes a fine raft… Ok, that one didn’t make much sense. You can’t win them all. But in Minecraft teams, you can work together to make sure that you have a great shot at it! Minecraft teams teaches great lessons for the rest of your life. Listening to…
7 in stock
Cosplay week 1 Afternoon July 22nd to 26th
Our signature camp has come back! In cosplay camp, each camper gets to create their own weapon, shield, or piece of (small) armor from their favorite tv show, manga, comic book, or movie. In the past we have had video game devices, props, shields, swords, and signature equipment built in this camp. There are only…
14 in stock
Late Pick-up July 22nd – 26th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
20 in stock
Week of July 29th to August 2nd
Early Drop off July 29th to August 2nd
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
16 in stock
Minecraft Mods Morning July 29th – August 2nd
Minecraft is a curiously complex game. The block look fools a lot of people (especially parents) into thinking it is a simple videogame that kids spend too much time on. We disagree completely. Minecraft is as complex as you make it, while being easy enough for new players to dive right in. With Minecraft Mods…
8 in stock
Cosplay #2 Afternoon July 29th to August 2nd
You asked and we listened! Many of the students who have taken our popular Cosplay camp have always wanted to have more time to work on something bigger, better, or with more detail. If you sign up for both Cosplay 1 and 2, you get two weeks to work on your project. If you can…
13 in stock
Late Pick-up July 29th to August 2nd
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
19 in stock
Week of August 5th to August 9th
Early Drop-off August 5th – 9th
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
17 in stock
Animation Morning August 5th – 9th
So much can be done with moving pictures. From classics like Loony Tunes to epics like Avatar (the blue ones, not the airbender) our culture is steeped in different ways to tell stories using different types of animation. We will work on lots of different types of animation during this week’s camp. We will study…
11 in stock
Medieval Makers Afternoon August 5th – 9th
I gotta be honest. I use spell check every time I try to spell mid-evil. Darn it! See? It is a hard word. The Medieval (ha!) times were even harder than the spelling of the word, though. While we were building castles, creating swords and armor, and making sure our royalty was rich and inbred,…
3 in stock
Late Pick-up August 5th – 9th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
17 in stock
Week of August 12th to August 16th
Early Drop-off August 12th to 16th
Do you still need to get to work? We get it. It is hard to get your kid to a 9am camp when you have to be at work at 8! Luckily we have you covered! By choosing Early Drop-off, you can bring us your camper(s) as early as 7:45am! We will keep them safe…
13 in stock
Minecraft Teams Morning August 12th to 16th
It is the last full week of the summer. Time to have one last team up and week of videogames! In Minecraft Teams, you get a bit of both! Don’t worry if you have not been to this camp before, it is not a solid three hours of minecraft. Usually about an hour or so…
5 in stock
Spy Camp Afternoon August 12th to 16th
Just the word “Spy” sounds intriguing. From the outlandish (I am looking at YOU, 007) to the more sneaky, there is something about spies that make everyone sit up and take interest. This week’s camp will be all about the spycraft. We will do lots of different spy activities, from learning how to write secret…
Out of stock
Late Pick-up August 12th to 16th
What good is an afternoon camp that ends at 4 if you work until 4:30 or 5? We got you covered for the after hours! Sign up for Late Pick-up and you can come and get your kid(s) as late as 5:15pm! We will keep them safe and sound until you can pick them up.…
14 in stock