Spring Break Camps at The Works Museum
We wish we could engineer with you in person, but we’re making the best of it with virtual camps that are packed with hands-on engineering.
Camps are open to ages 5-12 (5-year-olds must be currently in Kindergarten. Some ages require an occasional helper.).
“The Works’ virtual camp has really been the PERFECT solution for us during these uncharted times. We are very grateful that you all have thought outside the box to create something to keep the children learning and having fun!”
–Virtual camp parent
March 29 – April 1
4 Day Camp | M–TH
A.M. Camp (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Design a House
Make your own model house. Furnish the house with furniture and accessories that you construct, then wire in lighting.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
March 30, 2021
TUESDAY
P.M. Camp (1-4 p.m.)
Board Game Design
Dive in to ludology – the science of games! Find out how games and sports use engineering to balance skill and chance. Build your own cup-and-ball game. Design a board game with a light-up electronic game piece.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 1, 2021
THURSDAY
P.M. Camp (1-4 p.m.)
Simple Machine Marble Challenge
Learn about simple machines and put them to the test in a series of challenges! Explore levers, pulleys, wheels, and axels, and inclined planes, then create your own machines that move marbles through a track that you design.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 2, 2021
FRIDAY
A.M. Camp (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Catapult Basketball
Explore kinetic energy, cardboard construction, and game design concepts. Build catapults that launch mini basketballs, and combine your elements to create a one-of-a-kind game that you can play with again and again.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 5, 2021
MONDAY
A.M. Camp (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Board Game Design
Dive in to ludology – the science of games! Find out how games and sports use engineering to balance skill and chance. Build your own cup-and-ball game. Design a board game with a light-up electronic game piece.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 6, 2021
TUESDAY
P.M. Camp (1-4 p.m.)
Mechanical Theater
Design and create a whimsical world and moving creatures to inhabit it. Engineer using cams, wheels, and circuitry to create a moving mechanical masterpiece.
Note: This camp contains elements of our Electric Automota STEM Day class.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 7, 2021
WEDNESDAY
A.M. Camp (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Simple Machine Marble Challenge
Learn about simple machines and put them to the test in a series of challenges! Explore levers, pulleys, wheels, and axels, and inclined planes, then create your own machines that move marbles through a track that you design.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
April 8, 2021
THURSDAY
P.M. Camp (1-4 p.m.)
Catapult Basketball
Explore kinetic energy, cardboard construction, and game design concepts. Build catapults that launch mini basketballs, and combine your elements to create a one-of-a-kind game that you can play with again and again.
Independent: Ages 8-12
Needs Helper: Ages 5-7
Pricing:
1 Day Camp – $65 | 4 Day Camp – $185
Special offer: Register for any four 1-day camps for $185 with code SPRINGBREAK for non-members & SPRINGBREAKMEMBER for members.*
What you need to know:
- What is a virtual camp? It’s the same camp and educators you know and love (or as close as we can make it!) but delivered to your home via Zoom. For each registered camper, you’ll do a curbside pick-up for a pre-packaged set of all the materials your camper will need. At the time of your camp, whether that’s 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., your child will join our virtual camp room on Zoom. Our STEM educators will facilitate activities for the duration of your camp, with the exception of one or two short “go get the wiggles out” breaks during the camp window. We’ll keep your child busy with projects for the 3-hour window of your camp.
- What will I need to provide? Campers will need access to a computer or tablet, a desk or table space to work on projects, and a few common household items such as scissors, a writing utensil, or a ruler. A list of household items will be sent to you ahead of your camp.
- What is curbside pick-up? Camp materials will be pre-packed for your family and available for curbside pickup the week before camp at our temporary office space in Bloomington. When it’s camp time, you’ll open the box and we’ll take it from there!
- Spring Break Camp Curbside Pickup Times
- Thursday, March 25th, 5-6pm
- Friday, March 26th, 12-1pm
- Monday, March 29th, 12-1pm
- Wednesday, March 31st, 12-1pm
- Thursday, April 1st, 5-6pm
- Friday, April 2nd, 12-1pm
- Monday, April 5th, 12-1pm
- Tuesday, April 6th 12-1pm
- Wednesday, April 7th, 12-1pm
- Thursday, April 8th, 5-6pm
- Friday, April 9th, 12-1pm
More logistics:
- To make our camps suitable for a variety of ages, we’ve indicated the level of help that each age child may need. Please pay attention to these categories when registering, as they are not the same for all camps.
- Independent: Campers in this age group should be able to participate without any additional assistance from home.
- Needs helper: Campers in this age group should have someone nearby to provide occasional assistance. They will not need to be on the Zoom session with the camper, but they will want to be within hearing distance if the child asks for assistance. The helper could be a parent, grandparent, nanny, or babysitter.
- Each participating child must be registered separately.
- All camp registrations will close at 10 a.m. on the day it closes.
Design a house (3/29), and Board Game Design (4/5) will close the Friday before the camp is held. All other camps will close the day before it’s offered.
- The Works Museum makes the safety and enjoyment of all campers a top priority. We recognize that virtual camps create a different environment than in-person camps, and have adjusted our behavior policy accordingly.
- The Works Museum reserves the right to cancel camps in the event of low enrollment, illness, etc. In the unlikely event that a camp is canceled, parents will be notified and will be given the option to switch to another camp.
Camp Cancellation Policy
Scheduling snafus happen. If you need to cancel, we ask that you do it as early as possible. We’ll work with you to figure out another camp option whenever we can. If you need to cancel, the following policies apply:
- 15+ days before the camp, you will receive your choice of a refund or voucher for a future program, minus a 10% processing fee
(see below if you purchased the 4 for $185 camp package). - 7-14 days before the camp, you will receive a voucher to be used on a future program, minus a 10% processing fee.
- 1-6 days before the camp, we will not offer any refunds or vouchers.
If you purchased the 4 for $185 package, the following refunds apply, minus a 10% processing fee.
- For cancellations 15+ days ahead of time:
- Canceling 1 camp – no refunds
- Cancelling 2 camps – $65 refund
- Cancelling 3 camps – $120 refund.
- 7-14 days before the camp, you will receive a voucher to be used on a future program, minus a 10% processing fee.
- 1-6 days before the camp, we will not offer any refunds or vouchers.