Camp a la Carte

• For campers entering 1st through 6th grades
• Campers are placed in co-ed groups of 10 to 15
• Mix and match classes to create a unique camp experience
• Check out the new offerings, too!

Select from our fabulous menu and design your own camp experience in Camp à la Carte. During these two-week courses you have the opportunity to explore your specific interests. Classes are intended to be mixed and matched with other offerings at Breck Summer Programs to create your ideal camp experience.

Morning Classes: Grades 1-3

An Actor’s Imagination (CAC-101a)

Explore everything about stage acting: improvisation exercises, voice and movement techniques, character creation and using your imagination. Use folk tales from around the world as inspiration to create short plays that will be performed for an invited audience at the end of the session. Play theater games, visit a professional theater, build characters and stories together, and explore your imagination! Taught by professional theater artist and accredited drama teacher Jeannine Coulombe.

Robotics Engineering (CAC-101b / CAC-301a)

Be introduced to the exciting and emerging field of robotics! In this hands-on course you will learn to design, build and program robots using the LEGO Mindstorms System®. With gears, pulleys, beams, axles and other building elements, learn to create mechanical masterpieces. Join Breck physics teacher Brian Wright for robotic fun.

Kids in the Kitchen (CAC-201a)

Put some sizzle in your summer! Join educator Katherine Schneider to cook up some sensational summer snacks and treats . . . and eat them, too! You will take a couple of field trips to farmer’s markets and specialty grocery stores. By the end of this class, you will have all of the basic cooking skills to help out in the kitchen and your own cookbook filled with original kid-friendly recipes.

NEW! The Art of Music (CAC-201b)

Explore the connections between the visual and musical art of a culture. Compare the works of famous artists and composers from a sampling of music from the middle ages, United States and Africa. Create art that reflects the music you hear and put together an art and music presentation to represent types of music and art that we discover. Taught by piano instructor Sharon LaCour.

Celebrating Girls (CAC-301b)

If you LOVE American Girl® dolls, or any dolls for that matter, then this is the class for you! Join Katherine Schneider to create miniatures and accessories for dolls, enjoy stories and learn from historical American Girl® dolls. There will be crafting, some cooking and even off-campus adventures. Let’s celebrate friendship and being a girl! Don’t forget to bring your doll!

 

Morning Classes: Grades 4-6

NEW! Crazy about Horses (CAC-101c)

Learn about horses from the ground up! Some days we’ll go out to River Bend Stables and work with instructor Laura Rolfing on basic skills of riding and horse care. On the days we stay at camp, we’ll explore horse literature, art, breeds, have a visit from a vet and any other “horsey” thing we can think of, under the guidance of Breck teacher Kim Schafer.

Kids Cook (CAC-101d)

Put some sizzle in your summer! Join educator Katherine Schneider to cook up some sensational summer snacks and treats . . . and eat them, too! Take field trips to farmer’s markets and specialty grocery stores and learn enough basic cooking skills to help out in the kitchen and your own cookbook filled with original kid-friendly recipes.

Robotics Engineering (CAC-201c)

Be introduced to the exciting and emerging field of robotics! In this hands-on course you will learn to design, build and program robots using the LEGO Mindstorms System®. With gears, pulleys, beams, axles and many other building elements, learn to create mechanical masterpieces. Join Breck physics teacher Brian Wright for robotic fun.

NEW! Adventures in Camping (CAC-201d)

Summer’s the perfect time to pitch a tent, build a fire, create delicious camping meals and tell interesting campfire stories? Spend mornings learning these skills on-campus at Breck before using newly-acquired knowledge to participate in four off-campus adventures to local camping sites. Breck faculty Lisa  Lokke will serve as leader, bringing with her a lifetime of camping experiences.

NEW! Go Green with Gardening (CAC-301c)

If you want to REALLY learn how to care for our environment, this class is for you. You will help maintain Breck’s "Secret Garden," and do some gardening at nearby nursing homes. You will also pot plants and seedlings that can be taken home. Along the way you will do other fun activities related to recycling, re-using and reducing our use of the earth's resources. Led by Nan Zosel, Breck’s Lower School chaplain and avid gardener.

NEW! Project Recycling: Jr. Edition (CAC-301d)

Calling all princesses, dragons, robots and pirates: Dream up one or more characters and create costumes out of recycled and unusual materials. You will  design masks, outfits, cloaks, tails, wings . . . whatever is needed! At the end of the session we will put on a short runway show to model our creations. You’ll need a mountain of old clothing or fabric, newspaper, grocery bags, and cardboard tubes—so start saving! Breck art teacher Carol Grams teaches this  course.

 

Afternoon Classes: Grades 1-3

Extraordinary Experiments (CAC-103a / CAC-203a)

Have you ever wondered how to make crystals, rockets or slimy goo? Do you want to know why certain chemical reactions happen? Well, this class is for  you. Join educator Mackenzie Oakes as you journey through the wonderful world of science. We’ll conduct a different scientific experiment each day. By the end of the class, you will be able to fascinate your friends and family with your knowledge of amazing science experiments.

NEW! Junkyard Creations (CAC-103b)

Do you see something useful and amazing in what others call garbage? Do you like to create something out of "nothing?" Find materials to creatively and  actively design our own projects out of nearly anything you can find. At the end of the two weeks, the hope is for the group to design a large-scale interactive idea to share with the rest of the camp. You must be willing and able to stretch your mind, perhaps get messy and take some creative risks.  Taught by Ty Thayer, Breck faculty.

NEW! Krafty Kids (CAC-203b)

Do you love to make stuff out of popsicle sticks? Take your skills to the next level. Come and learn to knit scarves, bead necklaces and bedazzle clothes. Breck teacher Tara Van De Wynkel will share her love of all things "crafty" as you learn to make candles and soap. You’ll create a project for everyday of the week that you will be proud to bring home!

NEW! Let’s Scrap (CAC-303a)

If you enjoy photos, learn to preserve and display them in a creative way. Join Breck teacher Marie Murphy and get the basics of scrapbooking. We will create an album, practice taking photos and experiment with different scrapbooking tools. You are invited to bring your favorite pictures to class!

Chess Camp (CAC-303b)

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced chess player, Chess Camp will provide you with hours of fun as we explore strategy and tactics, chess history, rules of the game, and much more! Led by professional chess instructor Igor Rybakov, Chess Camp offers the opportunity to learn and compete, develop friendships and master a game that will provide hours of enjoyment—and intellectual stimulation—throughout your lifetime.

 

Afternoon Classes: Grades 4-6

NEW! Creative Construction (CAC-103c)

Using traditional and non-traditional materials, you will be encouraged to create and build a range of projects like mazes, bridges, machines, buildings of the future, vehicles . . . perhaps even a better mouse trap! Taught by Kim Schafer, Breck faculty.

NEW! Movie Magic (CAC-103d)

In this course you’ll be exposed to different movie-making genres, you’ll learn the basic techniques and technological knowledge necessary to create your  own movie. You’ll plan, shoot, promote and, in the end, screen your movie for the world to see. Taught by Matthew Mendes, Breck faculty.

NEW! Digital Photography (CAC-203c)

No matter how experienced you are, you’ll benefit from daily opportunities to explore. You will take candid, action, macro, still life, staged, and nature shots on campus and in our community. You will design a digital portfolio, create an album, and enlarge your best shot. Technique will be our primary focus, but we will explore software that can assist us, too. Taught by Ty Thayer, Breck faculty.

NEW! Boys of Summer (CAC-203d)

Does the possibility of participating in a spitting distance competition pique your interest? Are you a lover of baseball? How about football, soccer, high-dives, mud, video games, loud music, action movies, fort-building, mosquito bites, capture-the-flag, Risk, water-balloon fights, any game that resembles dodgeball, basketball, camping, boot hockey, tug-of-war, go-carts, 500, real-life Survivor, and any activity designed to teach you how to behave like a real gentleman? If any of these activities tickle your fancy, this is the experience for you. Led by Matthew Mendes, Breck faculty.

Creating Comics (CAC-303c)

Come create your own graphic novel using comic books as literature and art! In this interactive course you can bring in your own examples and create an  original story. You will use storyboards to make your own characters and adventures, then the computer program Comic Life® to create an original story to  publish that you’ll take home at the end of this two-week course led by Breck teacher Ty Thayer.

Girl Power (CAC-303d)

During this two-week course we’ll focus on building self-esteem for girls. This class hopes to answer questions about body image, boys and anything  challenging girls at this age. While you get in touch with your growing minds, you will also challenge your body as you climb the rock wall, have a dance  party, and do yoga. Tara Van De Wynkel, Breck fourth-grade teacher, will be your fearless leader.