Captivate Explorers Camp

Registration is now open!

Captivate Explorers Camp is a full-day (9:00 am – 3:00 pm), integrated camp which shows how “Science, Art, and History Fit Together.” We offer week-long camps during summer break for children ages 5-7. We believe that kids learn best through hands-on investigations and children will explore different cultures and time periods in our history. Our camp program fosters the development of the “whole child” and incorporates many team-building and spirit activities. Our teachers are experienced and credentialed.

We always maintain a maximum 1:12 staff-to-student ratio to ensure that each child gets plenty of attention. Our camp is kept intentionally small so that campers can build relationships with each other and the staff. We foster a learning environment filled with engaged students who are exploring, creating, laughing, playing, and moving.The camp is located at Milliken School in Santa Clara. We foster a learning environment filled with engaged students who are exploring, creating, laughing, playing, and moving. Extended care is available to extend the day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Minimum enrollment to hold camp: 18.

2020 Themes for Captivate Explorers Camp

• June 15 – 19: Castles & Catapults
• June 22 – 26: All Roads Lead to Rome!
• June 29 – July 3: Explore Hawaii
• July 6 – 10: Legends of the Sea
• July 13 – 17: A Bug’s Life!

Castles and Catapults

Enter the world of the Middle Ages. Design a castle and its defenses. Use models of catapults and battering rams to bring down the castle walls. Train like a knight–shoot a model, crossbow, and fire a trebuchet. Explore daily life in the Middle Ages; serfs and merchants, knights and kings all played a role in this complex society. Examine the devastation caused by the Bubonic Plague and learn about medieval medical practices. Play medieval games like Chess, Draughts, and Nine Men’s Morris. Design a stained glass window, weave on a loom, draw a castle, and create your own coat of arms.

All Roads Lead to Rome

Imagine chariots racing through the center of Rome–the greatest city in the ancient world. Use blocks to build a massive model of a Roman city, including: roads, walls, aqueducts, sewers, baths, markets, temples, theaters, arenas, and a forum. Help build a working aqueduct that can even move water uphill. Learn why the arch was the “keystone” of Roman architecture and explore the marvels of the dome. Train like a Roman soldier and defend your legion from the enemy. Make concrete like the Romans. Create a relief sculpture and mosaics and learn how the volcano Mt. Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii but preserved a portion of the Roman Empire.

Explore Hawaii

Erupting volcanoes, brightly colored coral reef ecosystems, lush tropical rainforests and incredible sunsets. Hawaii is beautiful! Explore the geology, biodiversity and amazing Polynesian culture in this fascinating camp program. Students will learn about the gods and goddesses of Polynesia, including the legend of Pele, the “Fire Goddess”. Dive into the culture and beauty of this tropical island and its beautiful people.

Legends of the Sea

This camp is part science and part mythology. We will explore the ocean zones and the sea creatures that inhabit them. Learn about jellyfish and other pelagic creatures and create stunning art to represent them. Learn about Octopus and Squid and investigate the legend of the “Kraken” which was inspired by these organisms. Study the science of sharks and how they are commonly misrepresented at the “monsters of the sea.” Learn about lampreys and eels and the the legend of the “sea serpent” that sailors so feared. Investigate the Greek/Roman god of Neptune/Poseiden and some fun stories about this deity. This camp is part science and part storytelling and will spark a passion for the sea.

A Bug’s Life!

Some folks are afraid of bugs but they are nothing to fear. Insects play a vital role in ecosystems and food webs. Students will learn the anatomy of an insect and spider and how to differentiate between these arthropods. Through labs, stories, art projects and kinesthetic modeling, we will learn more about the life of ants, bees, monarch butterflies and spiders. After all, it is a “bug’s life”!

Fees

Please see the Fees page.

Locations

Millikin Basics+ Elementary School
Santa Clara Unified School District
615 Hobart Terrace
Santa Clara, CA 95051

Holy Family School
4850 Pearl Avenue
San Jose, CA 95136

Sample Daily Schedule

Drop-off Window: 8:45 to 9:00 AM
Pick-up Window: 2:45 to 3:00 PM

8:00 – 9:00: Extended Care
9:00 – 9:30: Free Play, Team Building, Overview
9:30 – 10:15: Arts
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:00: PE or Recess
11:00 – 12:00: Science or History
12:00 – 12:30: Lunch & Recess
12:30 – 1:00: Storytime
1:00 – 1:45: Crafts
2:00 – 3:00: Snack, Outside Play (Playground Kinder)
3:00 – 6:00: Extended Care

Note: Schedule may vary based on activities