Stepping Stone School continues providing academic enrichment over the summer with a research-based curriculum. This year’s focus takes an in-depth look at the pioneers and explorers who have discovered places and ideas that have shaped our world. Through this unique and innovative summer camp, children will develop a meaningful understanding of the impact of exploration and they’ll feel empowered to become the pioneers of the future.
Stepping Stone’s Summer Camp at The Brainery™ is Always a Bright Idea!
Our year-round developmental learning curriculum continues through the summer to provide your child intellectually-stimulating program with health and wellness education and character-building activities disguised as fun! Make your child’s summer a whole-child adventure that will nourish mind, body and spirit.
Our unique summer camp experience includes:
Engaging and Exciting Summer Curriculum
Our summer curriculum achieves a balance between engaging and challenging students, while ensuring they’re ready for the coming school year. Your children will take part in an organized math and literacy time each day to help them focus and hone the skills learned during the school year. This summer, our campers will explore people whose discoveries changed the world along with their adventures and contributions to mankind in Pioneers & Explorers. There will be bi-weekly themes and each day students will investigate the incredible journeys and exploration made by various men and women throughout time. Through daily study over the course of the summer our campers will develop a meaningful understanding of how the pioneers and explorers of the past helped shape the world of today. Your students will be inspired to dream of the changes and contributions they can make as we move into the future. We are dedicated to preventing summer “brain drain!”
Click here to view full lesson plans.
Our educational themes are the basis for fun, interesting activities and field journeys. During the 2017 summer session, our campers will participate in a minimum of two Field Journeys per week. Nothing keeps your child’s brain active quite like the educational and exciting field journeys at Stepping Stone School. Journeys may vary by location, and include but are not limited to:
- Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Zach Scott Theater
- Austin Aquarium
- The Thinkery®
- Blanton Museum
- IMAX Theater
- Games 2 U
- Lego Robotics
- Innerspace Caverns
Our innovative S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum is fully integrated into all of our programming. S.T.E.A.M. principles are woven into the curriculum during daily Math and Literacy time. The campers will engage in activities, experiments, and investigations which pertain directly to the pioneers and explorers they are studying that week. The children will develop problem-solving skills through critical thinking projects. Some examples of projects that have been worked on in the past are building pinhole cameras and solar stills to investigating Bernoulli’s principle and designing/building a roller coaster. Children will be hands-on participants in their learning. Furthermore, your child will discover art as a gateway to all of the S.T.E.A.M. domains through a variety of art projects each week. Read more about our S.T.E.A.M. curriculum for each developmental stage, and the philosophy behind this innovative way of learning.
Our exclusive Professional Speakers Series will provide children with an opportunity to visit our area conference centers to learn from top Austin Area professionals. Some of the Professional speakers from the past have been:
- Local TV weatherperson
- Professor of Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin
- Professor of Etymology from Texas A&M
- Gaming Designers and Programmers from EA (Electronic Arts)
- Dinosaur Rocks®from the Houston Museum of natural science
- The Prima ballerina from Ballet Austin
- Architect
- Geologist
- NASA scientist
- Educational Director of the Austin Zoo
- The cast and crew of the Zach Scott Theater
Fit for Life™
In addition to strengthening their minds, children will be learning how to maintain a healthy body. Through our Fit for Life™ program, they will learn the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. The children will also participate in a week-long Sports Camp during which they will learn a variety of athletic skills and sportsmanship.
Young Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists™ program
Stepping Stone School’s summer camp provides a unique and exclusive program which exposes our students to the principles of forming and running a business, as well as the philanthropic giving which is an integral part of a community-conscious business model. Over the summer, the students will form four businesses in which they will make products and sell them in booths at our campuses. The profits of each business will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin. Recently, Stone School began a new tradition of matching the total amount raised by the children which will continue this year. To date, our students have raised and donated over $33,000 through this wonderful program.
The Atelier™ brings students new learning environments in the fields of Art & Design with hands-on workshops that fully engage children’s creative potential. Learn more.
Compassion and Character Building
Lastly, The Brainery™ summer camp offers a series of compassion and character-building activities to accompany weekly lesson plans. Research demonstrates that helping others is key to happiness and there will be trips to assisted living facilities to sing for and converse with the residents. Your children will also have an opportunity to participate in guided reflective thinking time each day.
Every activity your child participates in at The Brainery™ will further their knowledge, increase their curiosity, peak their imagination and move them forward in their development.