Science Summer Camps
Summer camps are very popular; in fact the host of different themed typed camps will boggle the mind – everything from business to modern dance camps. In today’s science summer camps children can attend day or extended camps which are age and skill appropriate, and geared toward children that have a particular interest in learning about, or refining their skills to a higher level. Classes in science summer camps offer a wide variety of study choices too, such as instruction is offered in computer aided design; robotics, maps or even star formations. Looking back at the development of specialized classes for children at summer camps is an interesting subject to say the least, and it all began with educators.
Summer camps for children have in some form always been science summer camps. Originally all summer camps began as places where children primarily swam, hiked, biked, and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, but with that exploration and semi instructional class room of the wilderness they learned about bug collections, snakes, star patterns, and the different fish species of the surrounding lake. The history of camps actually began with a college student from Dartmouth University in 1881, and it was established for the rich children that lived in and around the eastern seaboard of the United States. The idea was that children need to be stimulated mentally and physically, so they would understand the moral values of hard work and at the same time learn about the natural world around them. A lot of camps were spearheaded by educators. After the 1930s there were approximately 1100 camps in the country. Segregated camps existed based on racial and gender lines, but by 1893 the exclusion of children into summer camps was beginning to be broken down. Charity organizations became involved such as the YMCA and others too. An explosion of camps developed in the 50s and 60s for disadvantaged youths in city and country. It is easy to recognize the role of educators and how other charitable organizations have refined the basic summer camp of general learning, into science summer camps for all children to learn and grow.