Enrichment Programs

List of 63 items.

• The Fundamentals of Financial Literacy

  With so many young adults graduating from college deep in debt and not knowing how to live within their means, it is absolutely essential that kids get into the habit of responsible money management sooner rather than later. This class will focus upon personal money management (basics of banking, budgeting, and managing your finances), investing (understanding terms and nomenclature, the stock market, portfolios, income taxes, etc.), and asset protection (types of insurance, estate planning, identity theft, and reputation management).

  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

   

  Week 2 (rising sophomores - graduating seniors; 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.)
  
  About the instructors:
  Mr. Michael Cozene and Mr. Julio Castro are founding partners of Evercore Wealth Management’s southeastern U.S. office located here in Tampa Bay. Evercore serves high net worth individuals, families and related institutions, delivering the following: customized investment management; financial planning; trust and custody services; and risk management. Additionally, Messrs. Cozene and Castro work with families to develop the financial literacy skills of the next generation around the family’s wealth and provide philanthropic advisory services. Prior to Evercore, Mr. Cozene and Mr. Castro served as managing directors at GenSpring Family Offices, one of the largest multi-family offices in the U.S. During their tenure, they were instrumental in developing GenSpring into a national practice serving at the peak 700 of the nation’s wealthiest families with $22 billion in assets under advisement. Mr. Cozene earned his B.S. degree from Florida State University, with a concentration in finance and accountancy. Mr. Castro earned his B.A. degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law.

• Adobe Illustrator with Mrs. Farkas: Design Your Dreams

  Have you ever wanted to create your own logo? Or perhaps you’ve wanted to design your own cartoon. Imagine if you could design your very own font! If you can dream it, this workshop can help you design it. Mrs. Farkas will cover the fundamentals of Adobe’s vector-based software which is used by artists and graphic designers to create a variety of digital and printed images. Along with creating a graphic of your choice, you will learn tools, actions, and digital coloring.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming 7th-9th graders)

• Adobe Photoshop with Mrs. Farkas: Your Digital Masterpiece

  Adobe Photoshop is the world’s most advanced digital imaging software; if you’re looking to unleash your creative control over digital images, this workshop is for you. Mrs. Farkas will introduce the fundamental photo editing and paint software used by professionals in the creative industry, from photography, animation, illustrations, and advertisement for multiple platforms. You will learn tools ranging from exposure adjustment to the removal of unwanted elements, plus much more!
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 3 (incoming 7th-9th grades)

• Skateboard Design and Fabrication Workshop with Mr. Q

  In this two-week, half-day workshop led by Mr. Q, Berkeley's Fabrication Studio Assistant, students will be introduced to all the woodworking tools and design processes needed to produce a custom, hand-crafted skateboard of striped mahogany and maple wood. From milling rough lumber to engraving custom designs with a laser cutter, students will have the opportunity to work hands-on in a professional fabrication studio creating their own unique product.
  
  This is a two-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1-2, Weeks 6-7 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Vector Graphic Designs and Laser-Cutting Projects with Mr. Q

  In this half-day workshop led by Mr. Q, Berkeley's Fabrication Studio Assistant, students will learn fundamental principles of designing vector graphics on PC computers and implement those designs into various laser-cutter produced projects.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 5 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Camp Buccaneer

  In this full-day camp with Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Salgado, Mrs. McDonough, and Mrs. Bellegarrigue, children will test themselves in a fun-filled camp that promotes teamwork and team building. Daily challenges will push them academically, mentally and physically in their quest to be the best team. Competitions include reading challenges, STEM activities, math problem solving, cooking and sporting events!
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 7 (incoming 2nd-5th graders)

• Competitive Math Skills Camp

  Join Berkeley math teachers Mr. Fisher and Mr. Sullinger in this unique approach to increasing your math skills. Lessons are designed in competition format for individuals and small groups. Logic problems as well as SAT/ACT type problems will be introduced to the students to further their math knowledge.
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 5, 6, 7 (incoming 5th-9th graders)
  

• VEX Robotics and Engineering with Dr. Kline

  This intensively hands-on workshop, led by Berkeley upper division science instructor and Robotics Club coordinator Dr. Kline, allows campers to design, build, and operate robots. Campers work independently or in teams, problem solve, analyze systems, manage projects, access information, troubleshoot, and document what they learn. In an atmosphere that is dynamic and engaging, campers will discover principles of design and system integration as they tackle problems of robot motion, power, control, and autonomy. They will program in Robot C and explore the use of loops and conditional statements to control their robot. By the end of the workshop, campers will have designed and constructed, using the engineering design cycle, a robot that can sense and respond to changes in its environment as it moves under its own power.
  
  This is a two-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 5-6 (incoming 8th-12th graders)

• Storytime STEAM

  Each day campers will explore their favorite stories and authors with STEAM activities. Enter the world of Dr. Seuss, “see” with Brown Bear, build with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and many others. Campers will be challenged with fun and engaging STEAM activities as they build with legos, create slime, play with robots, and much more, all while learning basic coding skills.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 4 (incoming grades Pre-K-K)

• Robotics for Little Coders

  Welcome to a fun and action packed week of play with popular robots like Ozobot and Dash. Campers will learn the basics of coding as they teach their robots how to dance, bowl, navigate a maze, and compete in the Robot Olympics!! The fun continues as we integrate toys, games and STEAM activities into this exciting camp!
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 4 (incoming 1st-2nd graders)

• Programming and Robotics Fun

  In this full-day hands-on camp taught by Berkeley Technology/Makerspace coordinator Mrs. Henderson and Berkeley Lower Division Technology instructor Mrs. Driscoll, eager campers will learn the fun of coding and programming with robotics, coding apps and websites, and Apple Swift language. Using Osmos, Botley, Pro-Bots and more, students will learn to program using code, sound, light and touch.
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 5 (incoming 2nd-5th graders)

• Programming and Robotics II

  In this full-day hands-on camp taught by Berkeley Technology/Makerspace coordinator Mrs. Henderson, campers will learn to code and play with the latest robotics, such as Harry Potter wands, Augie (the Augmented Reality Coding Robot), Botley, Arduino, AdaFruit, circuits, and more. We’ll balance out the gadgetry with hands on building and play.
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 7 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Harry Potter: Sorcerer's Stone Camp

  Campers will enter into the magical world of Hogwart’s in Tampa. We'll study "Herbology," "Defense Against the Dark Arts," and "Care of Magical Creatures," play Quidditch and other wizarding games, and learn to make Polyjuice Potion. On the first day of camp, campers will be sorted into houses by the Sorting Hat, and camp closes with an End of Term feast. If you are at all interested in magic and mysteries, you should attend this camp. An AM session and a PM session are offered.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 5 (incoming 3rd-5th graders)

• Harry Potter: Triwizard Tournament Camp

  Campers will be entered into the Triwizard Tournament! Attempt various feats of magical aptitude to win the Triwizard Cup – solve riddles and puzzles to get to the prized dragon egg, rescue someone important to you from peril, and escape the Room of Requirement. There’ll be time to squeeze in a magical craft as well as attending the end-of-term feast!!  An AM session and a PM session are offered.
  
  

  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 6 (incoming 3rd-5th graders)

• Escape Room: Can You and Your Team Escape in Time?

  Welcome to a new kind of camp.  For five days, your curiosity will be put to the test. You and your team will be required to solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints and strategy. You and your team will be given a time limit to unveil the secret plot which will be hidden in the rooms. It will be an exciting and fun time, equal parts tense, challenging and thrilling. An AM session and a PM session are offered.
  
  

  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 7 (incoming 3rd-5th graders)

• Astronomy and Rockets with Mr. Barnes

  Blast off this summer with Berkeley middle division science instructor Mr. Barnes into an adventurous curriculum of astronomy, the stars, and how rockets work. Have fun learning all about celestial objects, as well as the history of rockets and the most recent rockets that are being developed (and build your own rocket, too!).
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 6 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Audio Engineering 101 with Mr. Cook

  Join Berkeley's performance facilities manager and production technical director Chris Cook and explore system setup, mic techniques, the building blocks of mixing, and trouble-shooting your system. 
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 1 (incoming 9th-12th graders)

• Lighting 101 with Mr. Cook

  Join Berkeley's performance facilities manager and production technical director Chris Cook and explore different types of lighting, their use, and how to circuit them into the dimmer. The camp will also delve into understanding DMX lighting control protocol and programming a show on the ETC Ion.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 2 (incoming 9th-12th graders)

• Set Design and Construction with Mr. Cook

  Join Berkeley's performance facilities manager and production technical director Chris Cook as we design the set for the first show of the year and then build it!  You will learn how to use many tools and what it takes to follow blueprints and build a set on stage.
  
  This is a full-day camp for two weeks.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 6-7 (incoming 9th-12th graders)

• Seminars in Policy Debate: Research and Critical Advocacy

  Click here for an excellent article on the educational value of debate. This is a must-read for parents researching summer debate programs.
  
  Policy debate is an outstanding training ground for research, critical thinking, and oral advocacy. The process of learning about a particular topic and assembling arguments on both sides of an issue will help students to understand how to craft positions, defend them with evidence, and extend them into new arenas. Politics, history, communication, philosophy, economics, and other subjects will be covered as students develop arguments in writing and through speech, including the art of asking and answering questions. Studies have concluded that participation in debate leads students to higher levels of academic achievement and this seminar aims to enhance such active learning and expertise in research and critical advocacy.

  
  INTRO TO DEBATE: No experience is necessary for this session. For students with debate experience, the second week of classes will feature a one week “advanced debate” seminar, but students can attend week one in order to gain the experience necessary for week two. Please contact Dr. Kuswa at kuswakev@berkeleyprep.org with questions, particularly if the student has already attended more than two competitive debate tournaments in policy debate. The primary emphasis in the introductory session will be on research skills and debate technique. We will divide the National Speech and Debate Resolution into multiple categories and engage in specific research assignments. Research groups will be organized around central questions and each individual will contribute to the final product, utilizing a broad range of sources and discussing the qualifications for various types of evidence. In addition to specific research projects, sessions will also include mini-lectures and group discussions on the various techniques of policy debate. We will delve into cutting-edge debate theory involving how framework arguments can shift the judge’s decision calculus, how counterplans can give the negative team a strategic option beyond the status quo, how topicality can work in tandem with both disadvantages and case arguments, and how so-called “kritik” positions can challenge the underlying assumptions of the affirmative plan. We will also engage in micro-debates on very specific issues, full practice rounds, extended cross-examination sessions, and rebuttal re-dos. Different forms of engagement will be deployed so that students learn about judge adaptation and how to respond to opponents with distinct styles. Each afternoon, students will deliver speeches, analyze speeches performed by their colleagues, and discuss ways to improve both style and content. We will use two classic rubrics that have survived the test of time to analyze and compare speeches: Aristotle’s tripartite scheme of ethos, pathos, and logos and the rhetorical canon of invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. 
  

  
  This is a full day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 1 (incoming 6th-12th graders)
  
  ADVANCED DEBATE: Week two will continue the themes of the first week, but will add a more sophisticated set of research skills to the agenda, looking at the narrative paradigm, the ability to pre-empt an argument from multiple angles simultaneously, and the distinctions between conditional approaches and an ethical framework. We will also go deeper into permutation theory, performance-based arguments, and ways to indict or bolster particular pieces of evidence. The objective will be to teach the practice of evidence comparison as a way to direct focused research. Afternoon sessions in the second week will add the element of judging to the equation, allowing students to see how different arguments are perceived and articulated. This will add another layer of persuasion to students’ speeches as we strive to develop an intricate sense of timing, allocation, and climax to each speech. The other major element we will cover in week two is data organization and speech structure—how to find and organize the most important points of refutation, how to store and retrieve the information that best clashes with the opposition, and how to use an offense-defense model in rebuttals. Flowing—a sophisticated means of taking notes during a debate—will be the central vehicle for preparing and delivering speeches.  Students must have attended week 1 Intro to Debate or last summer's debate camp in order to attend this week 2 camp.
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming 6th-12th graders)
  
  About the instructor:

  Dr. Kevin Douglas Kuswa is the co-author of Argumentation and Critical Thought: An Introduction to Advocacy, Reasoning, and Rhetorical Analysis, a textbook used in debate classes at the collegiate level. Dr. Kuswa’s students have been successful at every stage, winning virtually every debate tournament in the country on the high school and collegiate levels. He has been teaching and coaching debate for 25 years at institutions such as the University of Richmond, California State University, the University of South Carolina, and Dartmouth College (where his team won the National Debate Championship). Dr. Kuswa himself won the National Championship debating for Georgetown University where he received a degree from the School of Foreign Service. Earning his PhD in Communication Studies with a specialty in Rhetoric from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Kuswa has presented his scholarship at numerous conferences and published pieces in the top journals in the field such as the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, and Argumentation and Advocacy. Teaching has long been Dr. Kuswa’s passion and he is ecstatic to be serving as the Head Debate Coach and Upper Division English faculty member at Berkeley Preparatory School.

• Public Speaking, Research, and Advocacy

  Many scholars contend that anxiety about speaking in public ranks among our greatest fears.  This course will help students overcome concerns about public speaking by working on a number of techniques for addressing a variety of audiences in multiple contexts.  Are you confident and ready to speak in public with or without notes? with or without a powerpoint? to a friendly or oppositional audience?  on a silly or serious topic?  If not (or if you are interested in improving your public speaking skills), this class is for you.  Come work with the author of a college textbook on public speaking, Dr. Kuswa, and learn how to prepare and deliver an introductory speech, an instructional speech, an advocacy speech, and a ceremonial speech.  Speaking in public is an essential tool for future success and the best way to improve is to prepare and practice. This is an afternoon camp designed for any skill level!
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 5, 6, 7 (incoming 6th-12th graders)
  
  About the instructor:
  Dr. Kevin Douglas Kuswa is the co-author of Argumentation and Critical Thought: An Introduction to Advocacy, Reasoning, and Rhetorical Analysis, a textbook used in debate classes at the collegiate level. Dr. Kuswa’s students have been successful at every stage, winning virtually every debate tournament in the country on the high school and collegiate levels. He has been teaching and coaching debate for 25 years at institutions such as the University of Richmond, California State University, the University of South Carolina, and Dartmouth College (where his team won the National Debate Championship). Dr. Kuswa himself won the National Championship debating for Georgetown University where he received a degree from the School of Foreign Service. Earning his PhD in Communication Studies with a specialty in Rhetoric from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Kuswa has presented his scholarship at numerous conferences and published pieces in the top journals in the field such as the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, and Argumentation and Advocacy. Teaching has long been Dr. Kuswa’s passion and he is ecstatic to be serving as the Head Debate Coach and Upper Division English faculty member at Berkeley Preparatory School.

• Introduction to American Sign Language

  This class will cover the beginnings to signing in ASL. Topics will include greetings, basic conversation openers, and common phrases in daily conversation, school situations, and shopping.  Students will learn the ASL alphabet and counting numbers. The course will also cover topics related to Deaf culture in the United States. 
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Chess Camp

  “Chess is one of the most powerful educational tools available to strengthen a child’s mind,” writes Dr. Peter Dauvergne in his highly cited scholarly article “The Case for Chess as a Tool to Develop Our Children’s Minds.”  Click here to read the article.
  
  Berkeley Chess Camp is the finest summer chess camp in the southeastern USA. The camp is a “super camp,” which – in chess talk – means a United States Chess Federation-rated tournament camp. The full-day camp includes top instructors (Coach Taylor's staff is comprised of national, state and regional champion coaches), tournaments, swimming, fun games, and more! All levels are welcome!  For over 20 years, Coach Willard Taylor’s summer chess camps at Berkeley have been one of Summer Programs’ most popular offerings. Thousands of kids have completed the camp which attracts absolute beginners who have never played before to the very advanced. 
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1, 3, 5 (ages 5-14)

   

  About the coach: Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Coach Willard Taylor is the president of Florida Scholastic Chess League, the governing body of scholastic chess in Florida which consists of over 32,000 scholastic players in the state. He is also president of Tampa Chess Club, Inc., which organizes U.S. Chess Federation-sanctioned tournaments for over 3000 players a year in western Florida. Coach Taylor has been playing for over 50 years and has been coaching chess since 1977. He has coached teams to numerous national, state, regional and county championships. His players are currently playing for many Ivy League and highly regarded universities around the country.

• iPads and App Programming with Mr. Chase Smith

  During this one-week, full-day camp, kids will learn to program apps on and for their iPads. Kids will start with the basics of programming in a fun, challenging environment, improving their skills by solving more and more complex problems. They will quickly move on to designing and programming their own iOS games that they can play on their own devices. Not only will students finish the week with a working app, they will have the skills and knowledge to produce more apps on their own.
  
  Campers are required to bring their own iPads. This course also requires the one-time purchase of the Codea app (by Two Lives Left) from the App Store. The app costs $15 and must be installed on the student’s iPad prior to the first day of class. This app is only available on the App Store.
  

  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1, 4 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• STEAMing Ahead with Sports! with Mr. John Coup

  We are going to bring the worlds of sports and engineering together into one camp! The goal will be to challenge not only your mind with programming and engineering problems, but your body with athletic games and swimming. We will be looking to show how important engineering has become in sports and where we can we go from here!
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 5 (incoming 4th-8th graders)

• To Mars with Mindstorms® with Mr. John Coup

  The students will be charged with carrying out the first manned mission to Mars! Build a Mars outpost that can support human life and act as a base for future exploration. It will not be an easy task as it will take precision in building your vehicles, satellites and bases, as well as make sure that they can act autonomously. The students will learn to program using the LEGO Mindstorms® program. They will create algorithms for problems using Boolean statements, loops and sensory responses. The challenge is yours if you choose to accept it!
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 6 (incoming 2nd-7th graders)

• BRICKS4KIDZ LEGO® Star Wars - Minecraft Mashup

  A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was a world…. of MINECRAFT. Bricks 4 Kidz wants everyone to know just how awesome LEGO® can be! In this summer camp, your child will learn science, technology, engineering, math and the arts through the worlds of MINECRAFT and STAR WARS made from our signature LEGO® model builds! Ever want to see a LEGO® Creeper Storm Trooper? Want to build a 3D LEGO® Steve JEDI Knight and motorized moving LEGO® Enderman out of LEGO® bricks? Then this camp is for you!
  
  

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!

  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  

   

  Weeks 1, 6  (ages 5-12)

• BRICKS4KIDZ: The LEGO® Gamer's World (Fortnite and Roblox)

  Today it’s all about the online video game world. So Bricks 4 Kidz wants to tie that into our world of LEGO® bricks! In this BRAND NEW summer camp, every day our campers will experience a different online game through the eyes of a LEGO® Master builder. Campers will bring games such as Roblox, Fortnite, Pokemon, and Minecraft to life through the use of our LEGO® robots, mosaic and 3D LEGO® art! We will also bring back some of the classics like Super Mario Bros, Pacman, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Each day will be a new adventure as the virtual and LEGO® worlds combine!
  
  

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!

  
  

  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

   

  Week 2 (ages 5-12)

• BRICKS4KIDZ LEGO® Jurassic World

  Did you ever wish that dinosaurs were still alive? They will certainly come to life during this prehistoric themed summer camp! Go back in time to the Jurassic age and explore the world of dinosaurs! Come roar your way into some colossal fun as we make LEGO® robotic T-Rex’s, raptors, tetradactyl, and much more! Spend one day creating LEGO® 3D fossils, and the next battling the Indominus Rex with Owen Grady. This camp proves learning can be fun as we explore the Jurassic World and the unbelievable creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago!
  
  

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!

  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 3 (ages 5-12)

• BRICKS4KIDZ LEGO® Sports Spectacular

  Play Ball! LEGO® ball that is! We are super excited to be bringing this camp to Berkeley Prep for the very first time! In our Bricks 4 Kidz LEGO® Sports Spectacular, our all-star campers will be creating motorized LEGO® athletes such as soccer players that shoot, hockey skaters that skate, gymnasts that tumble, and much more! They will also be making their favorite sports team’s logos and players, all out of LEGO® bricks. Whether it’s college football or professional hockey, campers will love all that is in store for them this camp season when they attend our Bricks 4 Kidz LEGO® Sports Spectacular camp! Go Team LEGO®!
  
  

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!

  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 4 (ages 5-12)

• BRICKS4KIDZ All the LEGO® Movies

  Are you a fan of all the popular LEGO® shows and movies? The LEGO® Movie, The LEGO® Movie 2, The LEGO® Batman Movie, LEGO® NINJAGO, LEGO® NEXO KNIGHTS!?! Then this fun LEGO® Movies Camp is for you! Campers will start with the challenge of stopping Lord Business and his minions with the help of Emmet, Wyldstyle and friends. They then will enter Gotham City to help our favorite cape crusader LEGO® Batman take down the Joker. Campers will enter the Spinjitzu Zone in LEGO® NINJAGO with Kai, Lloyd, Jay, Nya, Sensi Wu, and the rest of the clan to battle Lord Garmadon. Campers will then enter the world of the medieval times with the LEGO® NEXO KNIGHTS, complete with castles and knights, but with elements of the future such as robo horses, catapults, and lava launchers and charge into the futuristic Kingdom of Knighton! Get all your favorite LEGO® themed adventures in one action packed week!

   

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!

  
  This is a full-day camp for one week.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

   

  Week 5 (ages 5-12)

• BRICKS4KIDZ LEGO® Theme Mashup

  Bricks 4 Kidz wants everyone to know just how awesome LEGO® can be! In our NEW Summer LEGO® Mashup Camp, you will experience a different LEGO® theme each day such as Star Wars, Superheroes & Villains, Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Pokemon, and much more! Your Master Builder will have a chance to create motorized models, color brick builds and our NEW LEGO® Mosaics. Have fun building LEGO® Tie Fighters from Star Wars, Batman's tumbler, Harry Potter's magical wand, or a T-Rex from Jurassic Park! Explore your super powers with Spiderman one day and build a Minecraft Creeper the next! Can't decide which you like more??? Join us for this awesome Summer Camp and try them all!
  
  

  All campers will take home fun crafts throughout the week, make a collage of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week, and take home a LEGO® minifigure!
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 7 (ages 5-12)

• Games to Make You Smarter!

  Like dolphins and chimpanzees, human beings are naturally adapted to learn through creative play. In this fun and educational course, we will explore a variety of games that share one thing in common: they all make you smarter, more creative, and better at solving complex problems. Our daily routine will include storytelling with table-top RPGs (think Dungeons and Dragons), classical games of strategy (Risk, Pandemic, Catan, Taboo), and modern computer games (Civilization, Sim City, Democracy, Minecraft). In between, we will play a variety of team-building exercises that are designed to stimulate our minds and get our blood pumping. There are no time-wasters here—just hours of brilliant fun!
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Week 5 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Brain Games

  Prevent summer brain drain!  Brain games are a wonderful way to help your children develop their growing brains; mental exercise is important for keeping brains strong and resilient. Research is finally demonstrating that our brains do better in the long term if they are exposed to novel activities including brain teasers, brain games, and logic puzzles. During this camp led by Berkeley math instructor Scott Montgomery, we will use activities like these to help flex and strengthen your child’s brain.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Weeks 3, 4, 6, 7 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Mathematical Game Theory for Middle School

  What do mad scientists, military commanders, billionaires, and computer programmers all have in common? They’re all very, very interested in Game Theory, an exciting branch of mathematics that looks for winning strategies for competitions and conflicts. In this camp led by Berkeley math instructor Scott Montgomery, students will explore the basic concepts of Game Theory and sharpen their math skills while having a lot of fun!
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1, 2 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Cryptology & Code-Breaking

  Cryptology is the study of making—and breaking—secret codes. What few people realize is that if you want to be good with secret codes, you’ve got to know some math! In this fun and exciting camp led by Berkeley math instructor Scott Montgomery, students will spend a week learning about the math and science behind this key part of being a spy. Fun projects will include using math to break real-life secret codes, designing our own encryptions and using them to send secret messages to each other, mastering the code that Julius Caesar used to direct the Roman army, and exploring the ways technology is being used today by cryptographers and cryptanalysts.
  
  

  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 1, 2 (ages 11-14)

• Maker Camp

  Do you like to tinker, design, and create? This is what the Maker Movement is all about! In this full-day hands-on camp taught by Berkeley Technology/Makerspace coordinator Mrs. Henderson, campers will stretch their imaginations by designing and creating a variety of projects. These project options include marble roller coasters, 3D modeling and printing, molding and form making, green screen movie making, and robotics. Campers will also explore the basics of game and app design and augmented reality. Campers also have the option of designing their own maker project to work on throughout the week.
  
  

  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 3 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

• Young Makers

  In this camp led by Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. DePew, little engineers will have lots of messy hands-on projects to build fine motor skills, including painting, sewing and tying, measuring, and building. We'll use lots of real kid-friendly tools and build with imagination.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming grades Pre-K-1)

• Makerspace

  Create, invent and market with Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Cascio!  Learn the skills of young inventors and entrepreneurs to build your own amazing invention. Learn how artists and inventors come up with new ideas while building your creativity skills!  Skill-building projects include woodworking, circuits, 3D printing, molding and prototyping.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming 2nd-5th graders)

• Get Your Game On!

  There is nothing better than learning while having fun! At the “Get Your Game On!” camp with Berkeley fourth-grade teachers Jennifer Stoll and Sue Thompson, we’ll be investigating science concepts, working with words, practicing our math skills, and exploring history through games. Students will be up and moving, working in cooperative teams, using problem-solving strategies, and much more! Games shows like The Amazing Race, Wheel of Fortune, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? and The Price Is Right will all be transformed to practice essential language arts skills, math concepts, and more for rising third through sixth graders. Activities will be age-appropriate and will challenge each student at their own level.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1, 2 (incoming 3rd-6th graders)

• Virtual and Augmented Reality Filmmaking

  This full-day camp led by Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Cascio will stretch your skills in film-making and animation and will dive into virtual and augmented reality. Using iOS devices and Oculus Rifts, we’ll experience existing VR creations and delve into creating our own. You’ll create AR experiences of various forms and original movies and animations. A green screen wall is waiting to transport you to any location in the universe or of your own making.
  
  This is a full-day camp for one week. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 1 (incoming 3rd-6th graders)

• Mini-Math Explorers

  Explore math concepts in an exciting hands-on format with Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Croslin!  Campers will have the opportunity to review age-appropriate math concepts and learn new skills through fun activities and projects. We will use technology, play games, and even do some cooking!

   

  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

   

  Week 4 (incoming grades Pre-K-1)

• Math Explorers

  Explore math concepts with Ms. McKenna in an exciting hands-on format. Campers will have the opportunity to review age-appropriate math concepts and learn new skills through fun activities and projects. We will use technology, play games, and even do some cooking! Problem solving and critical thinking are an integral part of the camp, as is the fun!

   

  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

   

  Week 4 (incoming 2nd-5th graders)

• Animals, Animals, Animals, and Habitats Too!

  Learn all about your favorite animals and their habitats with Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Perez!  Campers will integrate books and technology to investigate different types of animals and their homes.  Campers will also have fun creating animal-themed art and cooking projects! Perfect for future zoologists!
  
  

  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 2 (incoming grades Pre-K-3)

• Books, Cooks, and Crafts

  Cooking, Crafts, and Books with Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Perez! We are going to cook up some reading fun! We are going to cook up some reading fun!  Campers will create art and cooking projects based on some of our favorite stories.  A delightful way to spend the morning for budding chefs and storytellers!
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 1 (incoming grades K-3)

• Letters, Numbers, and Stories - Oh, My!

  Have fun with reading and math readiness with Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Perez! We will explore letters and numbers with tactile hands-on projects, yoga, technology, and cooking!  We will also incorporate stories that feature reading and math!
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 3 (incoming grades Pre-K-K)

• Science, Technology, and Engineering

  Join Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Perez for hands-on fun experimenting with science, using technology, and creating feats of engineering! Exciting (and messy) science experiments are interspersed with the opportunity to use technology to explore your interests. Campers also spend time solving design challenges and building models.
  
  

  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 1, 2, 3 (incoming grades K-5)

• Berkeley CSI

  Join Dr. Ackerson in the Berkeley Crime Scene Investigation Lab as students attempt to solve two crimes using forensic science, critical thinking and teamwork.  Each day, students will conduct experiments in one area of forensic science including fingerprint analysis, unknown substance identification, trace evidence, hair and fiber identification and more. Students will sharpen their observation, measurement and mathematics skills while solving daily mysteries.  Lots of fun things to bring home.  Can you catch a criminal?  Join us and find out!
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 1 (ages 11-14)

   

  About the instructor: Dr. Nicole Ackerson grew up in Tampa and earned her Bachelor’s degree in biological science from the University of Notre Dame.  She then returned to Tampa earning a Doctoral degree in medicine from the University of South Florida.  Dr. Ackerson worked as a professional scientist for an additional four years at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, before returning home to teach science at Berkeley.  In her five years with Berkeley, Dr. Ackerson has earned three nationally recognized awards from the National Science Teachers Association and published two articles in peer-reviewed journals. She is the current chair of the science department.

• Learning Latin Using the Greek Myths

  Dive into the Greek myths through an introductory Latin course with Mr. Dillinger.  Learn the basics of the Latin language by exploring the tales and myths of ancient Greece and Rome. Explore the perilous Mediterranean Sea with Odysseus and Jason! Slay the gorgon Medusa with Perseus! Race with Meleager and Atalanta! All the while learning some rudimentary Latin vocabulary and strengthening your English vocabulary. The course will be project and activity based.

  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 1 (incoming 5th-8th graders)

   

• Phonics Parade

  Let’s get ready to celebrate the fun of phonics!  This camp, led by Berkeley LD teachers Mrs. Keller and Mrs. McDonough, is designed to help students learn and review the building blocks of reading.  Through differentiated instruction, learning games, and centers, campers will become more confident readers while developing fundamental literacy skills.

   

  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 (ages 5-7)

• Fine Motor Fun

  The goal of this camp is to aid children with handwriting instruction and the strengthening of fine/gross motor skills through exciting hands-on art projects, letter games, sensory experiences, and other occupational therapy techniques.
  
  Your child can work this summer with a licensed occupational therapist and a Berkeley first grade teacher to solidify their handwriting foundation and strengthen their fine motor skills. Campers will rotate in groups divided by age/ability levels through learning centers that reinforce correct letter and number formation in fun and exciting ways!  We will work to correct reversals while at the same time practice correct pencil grip. The children will also perform specific activities to improve bilateral coordination, hand dominance, and finger strengthening. The children will then rotate through fun art projects to reinforce these skills. Finally, the campers will play to strengthen their core, arms, and legs through movement, games, and outdoor play. 
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 (ages 4-7)
  
  

  About the instructors:  

  Erica Bellegarrigue has been practicing occupational therapy for over 15 years, graduating from the University of Florida Occupational Therapy program. She has extensive training in sensory integration, handwriting without tears, and neurodevelopmental techniques. She has helped children with a variety of diagnoses including sensory processing disorders, developmental delays; orthopedic, visual, neurological conditions, and more. She continues to touch the lives of many children through her fun-loving and collaborative technique.

   

  Monica Salgado has been a Berkeley educator for 10 years and currently teaches first grade. She has a passion for early childhood with extensive experience in Pre-K through first grade teaching, as well as fine arts instruction.

• Effective Communication Through Writing with Mrs. Estes

  Writing still remains an essential way to communicate. In this course led by Berkeley Middle Division English instructor and Assistant Middle Director Mrs. Stephanie Estes, curiosity and choice will drive student writing. Students will discover and analyze ways to infuse their writing with style and will experiment with word choice. Instruction will include fundamentals of the writing process such as brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing, as well as a healthy dose of practical grammar and usage applications.
  
  This is a two-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 5-6 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

   

• Middle Division Creative Writing

  Flex your creative muscles in this fun writing workshop! In this course you will learn the craft of poetic and fictional writing. All students will produce an original written and illustrated short story as well as a portfolio of individual poems.
  
  This is a two-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 5-6 (incoming 6th-8th graders)

   

• Mid–Summer Warm-up for Incoming 6th Graders

  This is a fun course designed for students to familiarize themselves with the middle division. Students will complete team-building activities, goal setting, and will work on sharpening English skills with Mrs. Estes (including reading a mystery novel together!) and/or math skills with Mr. Fisher.  In addition to this, students will take a tour of the campus and be introduced to Mr. Beckwith, Sixth Grade Academic Dean.
  
  This is a two-week session.  Choose English skills, math skills, or both.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 3-4 (incoming 6th graders)

   

• SAT/ACT Bootcamp

  Math will meet from 8-11; English will meet from 11:30-2:30.  Class will cover practice tests 1-4.  Students will practice test-specific strategies in a focused, intensive environment in order to maximize their scores on the SAT and ACT.  Class will be taught by Berkeley English teacher Tom Brandt and Berkeley Math teacher Danny Fisher.
  
  This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  

  Week 2 (incoming 11th-12th graders)

• Introduction to High School Writing

  Get a jumpstart on your high school writing career with this course! This writing workshop will acquaint you with the Six Traits of Writing and prepare you for the rigor of an upper-level English class. The course is divided into two instructional units that address a number of writing skills, from creative voice and personal reflection to persuasive writing and literary analysis.
  
  This is a two-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Weeks 5-6 (incoming 9th and 10th graders)

  
  

• High School Success Skills

  Technology is an integral part of our Berkeley lives. Whether you’re checking your school email, typing a report, downloading a document, or creating an audio file, you will need some basic computer skills to succeed as a Berkeley student. You will also need basic organizational skills in order to manage, manipulate and store all the information that you will receive and send on a daily basis.  This class will cover topics such as the use of Edline (our school’s information portal), the basics of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook  and OneNote; tips for navigating the Windows operating system, how to back up files and how to organize your Berkeley life.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 7 (incoming 9th-12th graders)

• Reading, Research, Organization, & Keyboarding: High School Study Skills

  Begin your school year a step ahead with this foundational course! During our two-week session students will read excerpts from, and discuss chapters 1 through 3 of Sean Covey’s landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens while focusing on general study and organizational skills such as, planning and prioritizing, organization of study space, and reading and taking notes from textbooks and during class. Additionally, all students will complete an Executive Function Skills Questionnaire and Learning Styles Inventory to help students further evaluate and identify their individual learning strengths and challenge areas. Students will also practice keyboarding skills using touch-typing techniques to reinforce proper finger placement, typing speed, and accuracy. This class will provide students with intensive instruction on key skills needed to be successful in the Upper Division.
  
  This is a two-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

  
  Weeks 5-6 (incoming 9th-10th graders)

• Historical Writing, Test Taking, and Time Management Skills for Middle School Students

  This enrichment course is designed to help students with their historical writing, test taking, and time-management skills. Historical writing is unique and unlike other forms of academic writing. It is a skill many students struggle with, but it is an essential one for students to have as they move through higher education. This includes evidence and analysis writing for essays, assignments, and assessments. Thesis statement writing will also be covered. The earlier students start practicing, the better! This course will also cover various studying and test-taking techniques for all learning styles, students with anxiety, ADHD and processing disorders. Additionally, time management will be covered in terms of planning for assessments, balancing homework and extra-curricular activities, and how to properly plan for long-term projects. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop or iPad, but it is not required.  The instructor will be Berkeley history teacher Mr. Robert Franz.
  
  This is a one-week session.  A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.
  
  Week 7 (incoming 6th-8th graders)
  

• Type to Learn – Keyboarding, Digital Citizenship, & Note-taking Skills

  Berkeley Learning Specialists Dr. Ceni Tavarez and Kristy Ackerman are offering keyboarding, digital citizenship, and note-taking sessions that highlight technique, ergonomics, key location and note-taking software and strategies. Give your child the opportunity to become familiar with keyboarding, note-taking skills, and ways to keep their computers organized. This is a bring your own laptop or iPad (with keyboard) workshop! Laptops and/or keyboards will not be provided.  An AM session and a PM session are offered.
  
  

  This is a one-week session.
  
  

  Week 1 (incoming 5th-8th graders)

• Reading Strategies for 4th-8th Grade Students

  Berkeley Learning Specialists Kristy Ackerman and Dr. Ceni Tavarez are offering reading support sessions this summer! If you are looking for an engaging learning environment in which your child can complete a summer required grade-level reading assignment while strengthening reading strategies for both fiction and non-fiction text, register ASAP! Sessions are individualized, encompassing motivational and supportive academic coaching strategies that help readers succeed and strengthen reading skills!
  
  This is a one-week session.
  
  Week 2 (incoming 4th-8th graders)

• Emotional IQ

  Berkeley Middle Division Counselor Sarah Purkey is offering sessions to support emotional development.  Five key elements will be explored:  self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.  Identifying, understanding, and managing emotions in positive ways relieves stress and supports overall wellness.  In a fast-paced world, middle school children need this course!
  
  This is a one-week session.
  
  

  Week 1 (incoming 5th-8th graders)

• Build Math Skills Online

  Using a variety of online programs, games and resources, we’ll build your child’s math skills and keep them strong throughout the summer. This camp led by Berkeley instructor Mrs. Henderson includes three personal one-on-one sessions, to be scheduled, and bi-weekly virtual check-ins with your student to check progress.
  
  Weeks 1-3 (incoming 2nd-5th graders)