Summer at SEM Explorations with the YMCA

Pricing per Week
Full Day $400
Half Day $225

ENTERING KINDERGARTEN:

Master Chef Jr. (Allyse Filipowich): Our young chefs will explore how science, math, and creativity come together in every recipe. Each day, students will mix, measure, experiment, and taste their way through fun, hands-on cooking challenges.

STEM Discovery (Allyse Filipowich): Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! This hands-on, engaging program introduces young learners to the basics of STEM through fun experiments and creative building challenges.

Little Dough Masters (Robin Tinsley): Our Little Dough Masters class is the perfect place for kids to mix, measure, and make delicious treats from scratch! Young bakers will learn basic kitchen skills while creating cookies, cupcakes, and other sweet goodies in a fun, hands-on environment. Along the way, they’ll build confidence, creativity, and a love for baking—plus take home their tasty creations to share (or not 😉).

Sport-A-Day Junior (Allyse Filipowich): An introduction to sports for young athletes! Each day, campers will explore a new sport, learning the basics in a fun-filled environment. With an emphasis on teamwork, skill-building, and active play, kids will make new friends while moving all week long. No prior experience is needed—just bring your energy and enthusiasm!

ENTERING GRADES 1-2:

Coding and Crafts (Sue Barnes): Coding & Crafts Camp offers the perfect balance of technology and creativity! Campers will spend part of their day learning the basics of coding through engaging, beginner-friendly activities that build problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Then, we’ll “unplug” and shift into hands-on craft projects that allow students to express their creativity and have fun in a relaxed, social environment. This camp is designed to keep young minds active while providing a healthy mix of screen time and creative play — making learning both exciting and well-rounded.

Basketball (Doug Miller): Our basketball program is designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of basketball in a fun, supportive, and non-competitive environment. This program focuses on developing essential basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense, while also promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and fitness. Through a combination of engaging drills, games, and activities, students will learn the basics of the sport, build their physical fitness, and develop confidence, all while having fun with their peers.

Master Chef Jr. (Allyse Filipowich): Our young chefs will explore how science, math, and creativity come together in every recipe. Each day, students will mix, measure, experiment, and taste their way through fun, hands-on cooking challenges.

People in My Neighborhood (Kristy Dadurka): Explore the “People in your Neighborhood” and learn more about our local first responders and officials. Each day a new visitor to our class will share their experiences and let our students see live demonstrations of fire trucks, police cars, DPW Garbage trucks and more! We will also take a field trip to the Forty Fort Borough Building and see where local lawmakers hold meetings and make decisions about our town. Students will create a scrapbook keepsake to remember this fun week!

Camping in your Classroom (Kristy Dadurka): FULL Let us take your children camping…without leaving the classroom! Building Pop-up tents, crafting campfires and reading by flashlight in a “nightsky” room await as we create a cozy camp setting complete with s’mores and camp stories around the “fire”. We will enjoy fun camp crafts such as creating firefly lanterns and spend a day taking a nature walk and competing in sleeping bag races. Please bring a sleeping bag if possible.

Animal Habitat (Kristy Dadurka): FULL Students will focus on hands on exploration of where animals live-rainforests, oceans, arctic and forests-through sensory play and nature walks. We will search for “micro-habitats and document insects and plants. Each student will choose an animal to “adopt” and research its needs (food, water, shelter) and create a clay model. 

Little Dough Masters (Robin Tinsley): Our Little Dough Masters class is the perfect place for kids to mix, measure, and make delicious treats from scratch! Young bakers will learn basic kitchen skills while creating cookies, cupcakes, and other sweet goodies in a fun, hands-on environment. Along the way, they’ll build confidence, creativity, and a love for baking—plus take home their tasty creations to share (or not 😉).

Soccer (Jason Minnick): This soccer program will immerse children in the fundamentals of the game while retaining a fun-first environment meant to build a love for the world’s game. Kids will be introduced to the most effective skill-building games and drills used at the professional level, grow tactical awareness and learn the most famous dribbling innovations made by the world’s most famous players.

STEM Discovery (Allyse Filipowich): Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! This hands-on, engaging program introduces young learners to the basics of STEM through fun experiments and creative building challenges.

Passport Around the World (Kristy Dadurka): Each day we will explore a new country and taste food, listen to music, and do related crafts… all while stamping our passports!

Artful Antics (Kristy Dadurka): Let’s create and have fun! We will do creative projects each day with different mediums; paint, clay, beads, and even creating a life-size portrait!

Backyard Olympics (Kristy Dadurka): Let’s play kickball, create obstacle courses, and play with sidewalk chalk; all culminating in a medal ceremony for the winners!

ENTERING GRADES 3-5:

Math Quest (Thomas Iskra): A week of exciting math challenges designed for curious minds! Every day, campers will dive into a new math topic through games, experiments, and hands-on activities. With a focus on teamwork, creativity, and real-world problem-solving, kids will grow their math confidence while having a blast all week. No experience is required. Just bring the energy and love of learning!

Lego Stop Motion (Jason Sherry): This course explores the exciting world of LEGO stop motion animation, teaching students how to bring their brick-built stories to life. Students will learn the fundamentals of stop motion, including frame rate, lighting, camera angles and movement techniques. Through hands-on projects, they will develop storytelling skills, scriptwriting, set design and editing using stop motion. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your animation skills, this course provides a fun and creative way to produce your own LEGO films.

Chemistry for Kids! (Lisa Iskra): Chemistry is everywhere, let’s mix it up! The Chemistry for Kids camp brings chemistry to life by exploring different chemistry topics through hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

Sport-A-Day (Thomas Iskra): An introduction to sports for young athletes! Each day, campers will explore a new sport, learning the basics in a fun-filled environment. With an emphasis on teamwork, skill-building, and active play, kids will make new friends while moving all week long. No prior experience is needed—just bring your energy and enthusiasm!

Basketball (Doug Miller): Our basketball program is designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of basketball in a fun, supportive, and non-competitive environment. This program focuses on developing essential basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense, while also promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and fitness. Through a combination of engaging drills, games, and activities, students will learn the basics of the sport, build their physical fitness, and develop confidence, all while having fun with their peers.

Kid-Lympics (Emily Sims): Come train like an Olympian at the Kid-Lympics! During the week, campers will compete in a wide variety of Olympic-inspired events including sprints, relay races and creative sports challenges. Our mini-Olympians will work as a team, cheer each other on and celebrate every victory. Along the way, we’ll learn about famous athletes, practice skills like coordination and teamwork and foster a love and appreciation for sports. At the end of the week, our young champions will earn their very own Olympic medal at our closing ceremony. Join us for an engaging, energizing, and fun-filled week!

STEM Discovery (Allyse Filipowich): Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! This hands-on, engaging program introduces young learners to the basics of STEM through fun experiments and creative building challenges.

Soccer (Emily Sims): This soccer program will immerse children in the fundamentals of the game while retaining a fun-first environment meant to build a love for the world’s game. Kids will be introduced to the most effective skill-building games and drills used at the professional level, grow tactical awareness and learn the most famous dribbling innovations made by the world’s most famous players.

Floor Hockey (Jason Minnick): Our floor hockey program emphasizes skill development, physical fitness, and sportsmanship. We will focus on building confidence, coordination, and communication through drills, small-sided games, and structured scrimmages.

SEM FBI (Emily Sims): Whodunnit? SEM FBI invites young detectives to step into the world of mystery, clues and thrilling investigations. This exciting camp will turn campers into junior agents as they solve puzzles, crack codes and uncover hidden secrets. Each day, they’ll use their critical thinking skills to work through mystery challenges, complete scavenger hunts and decode messages. With teamwork and problem-solving, campers will develop their detective skills while having a blast. Come join us to become a certified mystery solver!

Wilderness Survival (Kate Mercado): Calling all camping and hiking enthusiasts – let’s learn how to prepare for outdoor adventures!  We will hone our map skills and create orienteering activities while learning how to safely enjoy activities off the grid.  Campers will explore basic outdoor equipment and its use to demonstrate emergency preparedness, campsite selection and shelter construction. 

ENTERING GRADES 6-8:

Photography (Jamie Smith): Participants will learn how to use different camera settings (including exposure, shutter speed, and aperture) while experimenting with a variety of styles like portrait, landscape, and action photography. Through guided projects, photo walks, and creative assignments, students will develop their visual storytelling abilities and personal artistic voice. *Please note: this program is only offered as a full day option. Students will be off-site for many activities throughout the week.

C.S.I. (Lisa Iskra): Get ready for an adventure into the fascinating world of forensic science! Students entering grades 6-8 will explore topics like fingerprinting, hair analysis, blood typing, DNA fingerprinting, and chromatography. Each day will be packed with hands-on activities and demonstrations that bring these scientific techniques to life.

Everyday Chemistry (Lisa Iskra): Attention young chemists! Let’s explore the amazing world of chemistry that is around you. Learn about topics such as pH, the Periodic Table of Elements, and density in a fun and exciting way through games, hands-on lab activities, and demonstrations.

Clay Beadwork (Kate Mercado): Students will explore basic beadwork techniques and patterns in a variety of clay based mediums.  A new project and pattern will be introduced each day and students will have the opportunity to create beaded jewelry, sculpture and embroidery.  Class discussions will center on modern beadwork with an overview of contemporary artists.

Lego Stop Motion (Jason Sherry): This course explores the exciting world of LEGO stop motion animation, teaching students how to bring their brick-built stories to life. Students will learn the fundamentals of stop motion, including frame rate, lighting, camera angles and movement techniques. Through hands-on projects, they will develop storytelling skills, scriptwriting, set design and editing using stop motion. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your animation skills, this course provides a fun and creative way to produce your own LEGO films.

Lacrosse (Emily Sims): This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of lacrosse, including basic rules, equipment, techniques and gameplay strategies. Students will develop essential skills such as passing, catching, cradling, shooting and defensive positioning. The course will also cover teamwork, sportsmanship, and physical fitness. Whether you’re new to the sport or looking to refine your skills, this course offers a fun and engaging way to learn and enjoy the game of lacrosse.

Floor Hockey (Jason Minnick): Our floor hockey program emphasizes skill development, physical fitness, and sportsmanship. We will focus on building confidence, coordination, and communication through drills, small-sided games, and structured scrimmages.

Soccer (Emily Sims): This soccer program will immerse children in the fundamentals of the game while retaining a fun-first environment meant to build a love for the world’s game. Kids will be introduced to the most effective skill-building games and drills used at the professional level, grow tactical awareness and learn the most famous dribbling innovations made by the world’s most famous players.