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Camp Themes
Your child can discover a new interest or dive into something they already love with any of our 17 themes. Like all BADM experiences, all the fun is research-backed so the learning never stops!
2020 Themes:
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
During frequent visits to the Fort Baker beach, campers will conduct scientific investigations and observe animal behavior. They’ll dive deep into local marine life, and examine the flora and fauna supported by the ocean. A visit to our local Coast Guard station is a special opportunity to learn more!
Ages: 1st - 3rd Grade
You’re never too young to become a master of your craft! Campers will be inspired by major artistic movements throughout history and some of the best-known artists of all time. Then they’ll stretch their creative muscles to put their own spin on classic artistic techniques.
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
We’re taking budding artists out of the studio and into the outdoors! Our Fort Baker location provides a wealth of inspiration for campers to tap into. Campers will go on hikes and explore by the beach, then create artwork that reflects what they see, feel, and experience in the natural world.
Ages: 1st - 3rd Grade
Some art is larger than life – just ask our Big Art campers. After exploring examples of large-scale art installations—such as architecture, life-sized sculpture, and performance pieces—campers will work together to create a collaborative big art piece. It’s the bigger the better when it comes to Big Art!
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Tools, tinkering, and tech, oh my! In this introduction to making and tinkering, young makers will explore different types of tools—from hammers and wrenches to laser cutters and 3D printers—to explore how they work and what they do. After a visit to BADM’s new Try it Studio, campers will use what they’ve learned to create inventions of their own.
Ages: 1st - 3rd Grade
A fort can be an endless source of entertainment, and we know building them is where the fun begins! Campers will use real tools and unique building materials to design and construct both individual and collaborative forts. They’ll use decorations and signage to put their personal stamp on what they build.
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Science is magical, if you know what to look for! Campers will explore chemical reactions and properties of matter so they can better notice the fascinating moments of everyday chemistry that happen all around us! They’ll use scientific tools to form hypotheses, conduct experiments, and draw conclusions from the evidence they uncover.
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Creepy crawly or sweetly silly? Working individually and collaboratively, campers imagine and construct monsters using various art materials like clay, paint, and fabric. All monsters need a good origin story, so campers will take inspiration from the characteristics and habitats of real animals to invent a narrative backstory for their own creations.
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
BADM campers are on the case! In Mystery Solvers, campers hone their detective skills by decoding riddles, making disguises, and solving a mystery that has happened at the museum. Then it’s time for the roles to reverse; campers will use what they’ve learned about detective work to create a mystery of their own for other campers to solve.
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
There’s no better way to appreciate BADM’s Fort Baker location than seeing it for yourself. Campers will act like junior naturalists as they explore the plant and animal life of Fort Baker and engage in activities like bird watching. What they observe will serve as inspiration for their own scientific illustrations, nature field guide, and more!
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
We’re on the move, and looking for more ways to get from one place to another! After exploring planes, trains, boats, and cars, and learning about the physics involved in each mode of transportation, it’s time for invention. Campers use the dynamic design process to engineer new modes of transportation that could get us from place to place.
Ages: 1st - 3rd Grade
Get up close and personal with the great outdoors! Campers will explore Fort Baker, and learn key outdoor survival skills, such as how to find and make clean drinking water, what materials can be used to build the best shelter, and which plants are safe to eat. A highlight of the camp week is a special behind-the-scenes visit to the Coast Guard, where campers meet with an officer and learn about maritime safety.
Ages: 1st - 3rd Grade
During this maker camp, children get to explore three different digital fabrication tools: laser cutter, vinyl cutter, and 3D printer. They’ll take what they’ve learned and use the tools to design and create objects inspired by three themes:
- On the Bay
- In the City
- In the Wild
Ages: 2nd - 4th Grade
When you spend the summer making, you make the most out of the summer! In each Maker Camp, BADM’s oldest campers get an in-depth experience with one of the digital fabrication tools in the brand new Try It Studio WorkShop. Each session is a chance to learn new skills and make creative projects. Maker Camps introduce a single tool each week, and may be taken individually or as a series.
Maker Camp Themes:
Game on: Toys, puzzles, and games using the Laser Cutter
Build it: Woodworking using the CNC Router
Tech Styles: Stickers, sewing, and wearables using the Digital Embroidery Machine and Vinyl Cutter
Pop Art: 2D and 3D art using drawing materials and the 3D Printer
Ages: Transitional Kindergarten - Kindergarten
We’re giving your child permission to get messy, all in the name of artistic expression. Campers will explore the world around them in a hands-on way through sensory art activities like finger painting, sculptures, murals, and more. Clean-up is on us!