Browse Summer WonderCamp Sessions by Week
Jump to a week:
June 3 – 7 | June 10 – 14 | June 17 – 21 | June 24 – 28 | July 8 – 12 | July 15 – 19 | July 22 – 26
Members:
- Member registration begins Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
- Click the button in the session description to register.
- You will be directed to a purchase page.
- Sign-in using the sign-in link at the top right.
- Sessions will be available to purchase once you have logged in as a member.
- Please note: Your membership must be current in order to login.
- If you have a question about your membership contact Sophia Fatouros, Membership Manager at 812-337-1337 ext 231 or via email, sophia@wonderlab.org.
- Camps filled to capacity will be unavailable to purchase on the purchase page.
- Waitlists will be created as needed.
Non-members:
- Non-member registration begins Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
- Click the button in the session description to register.
- You will be directed to a purchase page.
- Camps filled to capacity will be unavailable to purchase on the purchase page.
- Waitlists will be created as needed.
Click here for the 2024 Summer WonderCamp calendar view (visual only).
June 3– 7
Eco-Explorers
Grades K – 1
Dates: June 3 – 7
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Explore different components and types of ecosystems, and learn how you and all people fit into them. Campers will look at both contemporary and past ecosystems. Activities include: a tour of Earth’s history and uncovering dinosaur fossils; learning about the food chain and water cycle; and exploring ecosystems – both large (the Earth) and small sizes (terrarium). Finally, campers will discover why it is so important to take care of our Earth by exploring the role of pollinators.
STEAMtastic
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: June 3 – 7
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for a week of fun! From hair raising science, to pendulum art, graphing and simple machines. Explore a wide variety of STEAM concepts to practice the scientific method, and invoke the scientist in them all. Campers will experiment with colorful chemical reactions, craft with interesting materials, and play games that build estimation, probability, and simple arithmetic skills.
Climate Kids
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: June 3 – 7
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Dig into climate change and learn the science behind what’s happening in our world. Discover how climate affects pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Campers will learn to identify trees and learn how scientists study trees to document how the climate is changing. Activities also include: identifying rocks and smashing geodes to examine what’s hidden inside. Campers will conduct an experiment on cloud albedo effect, brainstorm ideas on how they can help Mother Earth and build models showcasing their thoughts.
From Feathers to Flight
Grades 4 – 8
Dates: June 3 – 7
Location: Kent Farm Research Station
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
A week of intensive, hands-on bird study, co-hosted by biologists from the Environmental Resilience Institute and the Midwest Center for Birds and Biodiversity. Campers will catch wild birds in mist nets, record data points on each, and release them back into nature. Demonstrations and activities will aid in campers’ understanding of bird ecology, anatomy, migration, flight, and identification. Camp will take place rain or shine, so bring appropriate gear.
June 10 – 14
Down on the Farm
Grades K – 1
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Explore life on the farm. Campers will work with real-life famers to discover what products they make, and meet the animals they raise. Campers will have the opportunity to cook, and eat with ingredients straight from the farm. Not all farms are about food, so campers will be crafting with products from the farm like wool, learning how it goes from animal fur to a handcrafting product.
Things that Fly
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Come and discover what birds, bats, bubbles, bugs, and space shuttles all have in common. Explore their similarities, what makes each one unique, and experiment with many types of flight. Campers will observe different types of winged creatures, experiment with the physics of flight, and build and launch rockets.
Goats and Gardens
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
Connect with wild nature and farm life. Using a hands on, creative approach, campers will learn about where food comes from, the art that goes into animal care, wild and repurpose crafting, as well as exploring natural mysteries on the farm. Every day, campers will assist with the basic needs of the animals and have many invaluable interactions with the farm’s goat herds and chicken flock. We will also take daily hikes with the goats, have story time, taste wild snacks, and even do Goat Yoga!
Urban Gardening
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Plan, plant, and maintain your own small plot of vegetables, herbs, and flowers at Hilltop Gardens. Learn about, design, and build different types of gardens and water collection systems. Along with harvesting, and preparing meals from, fresh-grown food. Enjoy gardening, nutrient-dense food experiences, physical activity, and outdoor fun. The garden plot you establish during camp will be available for you to continue working in and harvesting from throughout the summer.
Animal MD
Grades 4 – 8
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Observe live animals, explore the outdoors and use real scientific tools to investigate the Animal Kingdom. Campers will learn what it takes to keep us animals healthy. Dissections are a part of this camp, however, campers may choose between virtual or physical dissection. Guest speakers from various animal backgrounds will join this camp. End the week with a field trip to a research lab to examine real case studies of animals’ and their medical histories so campers can hypothetically diagnose and treat the “patients.”
June 17 – 21
Discovering STEAM
Grades K – 1
Dates: June 17 – 21
Location: WonderLab
Combining the best of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) to make a week of fun! Campers will experiment with a wide variety of STEAM concepts, from chemistry and chromatography, to creative expression through art. Campers will also be introduced to games that build basic math skills.
Planting A Seed
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: June 17 – 21
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Plan, plant, and maintain your own small plot of vegetables, herbs, and flowers at Hilltop Gardens. Learn about and build different types of gardens, along with preparing meals from fresh-grown food. Enjoy gardening, nutrient-dense food experiences, physical activity, and outdoor fun. The garden plot you establish during camp will be available for you to continue working in and harvesting from throughout the summer.
Goataly Awesome
Grades 4 – 8
Dates: June 17 – 21
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 4 – 8
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
Connect with wild nature and farm life. Using a hands on, creative approach, campers will learn about where food comes from, the art that goes into animal care, wild and repurpose crafting, as well as exploring natural mysteries on the farm. Every day, campers will assist with the basic needs of the animals and have many invaluable interactions with the farm’s goat herds and chicken flock. We will also take daily hikes with the goats, have story time, taste wild snacks, and even do Goat Yoga! Campers will dig into farm/wild nature ecology, and develop a connection to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts that emphasize teamwork and community.
June 24 – 28
Science Sampler
Grades K – 1
Dates: June 24 – 28
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Science and play come together in the return of this popular Science Sampler camp. Campers will explore a new topic each day, including Colorful Chemistry, Awesome Agriculture, Spectacular Space, Neat Nature, and more. All you need is imagination and curiosity to explore the world of science and mathematics.
BUGS!!!!
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: June 24 – 28
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Explore the world of bugs. Campers will use dramatic and dynamic play, outdoor exploration and observation to study arthropods and our dependence on them. Campers will use scientific tools to safely and ethically identify, catch, observe and release arthropods. These skills will then be used to learn about Indiana native species and their importance to the Temperate Hardwood Forests of Monroe County.
STEAM
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: June 24 – 28
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for a week of fun! Campers will experiment with a wide variety of STEAM concepts to practice the scientific method and invoke their inner scientist. Exploration will consist of climate science, pendulum art, the chemistry of solutions and compounds, and simple machines.
July 8 – 12
Construction and Physics
Grades K – 1
Dates: July 8 – 12
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Design and build your own toys, games, and playscapes using a variety of surprising materials. Campers will test flying machines, and build shelters while exploring engineering and physics. Use creativity and collaboration to develop spatial reasoning and early math skills.
Inventions
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: July 8 – 12
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Be an inventor! Bring your curiosity, creativity, and ingenuity to explore scientific concepts through hands-on play. Learn about inventors and their inventions from Henry Ford and the car, to Grace Hopper and computer coding. Campers will have an opportunity to be inventive and resourceful developing their own creations from varied supply materials.
Habitats and Homes
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: July 8 – 12
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Take a closer look at local wildlife and discover habitats in our community. Learn about animal adaptations and their relationships with humans that help them thrive in the varying regions around the world. Use creativity, biology, and technology to design and build habitats that provide food, water, and protection for insects, mammals or birds. Move toward living more gently alongside nature.
Construction and Engineering
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: July 8 – 12
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Get ready for a fun filled week of engineering and STEAM. Campers will put their skills to the test as they create their own marble roller coaster, design a puppet, build bridges, and so much more. They will even be working throughout the week to create the perfect egg drop apparatus! Activities this week will all involve the use of the campers creativity and resourcefulness as we use various recycled materials and make the greatest creations WonderCamp has seen to this day!
From Feathers to Flight
Grades 4 – 8
Dates: July 8 – 12
Location: Kent Farm Research Station
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
A week of intensive, hands-on bird study, co-hosted by biologists from the Environmental Resilience Institute and the Midwest Center for Birds and Biodiversity. Campers will catch wild birds in mist nets, record data points on each, and release them back into nature. Demonstrations and activities will aid in campers’ understanding of bird ecology, anatomy, migration, flight, and identification. Camp will take place rain or shine, so bring appropriate gear.
July 15 – 19
Kitchen Chemistry
Grades K – 1
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Mixing and Measuring! A week of open ended scientific exploration. Hands-on experimenting allows campers to observe scientific concepts in action using common household ingredients. Discover physical and chemical reactions. Observe density and buoyancy. Transform states of matter. Yes…there will be slime, but so much more.
Playing with Potions
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
You say potion we say solution; it’s not magic it is Science! Investigate different solutions that have special scientific properties to ascertain pH, density, and more. Explore properties of common fluids like milk and water. Campers will discover how we see colors, non-Newtonian substances, and luminescence.
Goats and Gardens
Grades 2 – 3
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 2 – 3
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
Connect with wild nature and farm life. Using a hands on, creative approach, campers will learn about where food comes from, the art that goes into animal care, wild and repurpose crafting, as well as exploring natural mysteries on the farm. Every day, campers will assist with the basic needs of the animals and have many invaluable interactions with the farm’s goat herds and chicken flock. We will also take daily hikes with the goats, have story time, taste wild snacks, and even do Goat Yoga!
Chemical Reactions
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Embark on an engaging hands-on science journey. Witness the magic of the iodine “clock reaction” and the mesmerizing world of color-changing chemical transformations. Dive into the excitement of creating slime and growing crystals, unveiling the significance of ratio solutions. Experience the enchanting realm of rocks with a visit to the IU Geological Survey, and delve into the chemistry of the Earth. Campers will connect theory to practice with an Indigo dye lab. This dynamic class fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love for science!
Petals and Palettes
Grades 4 – 6
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Combine the natural beauty in the garden with science and you make beautiful art. Creativity is essential to a scientist! Campers will dissect flowers and then smash them for their dye; explore the Hilltop gardens as inspiration for painting; and harvest herbs and wild edibles while learning how to preserve them. We will gather mushrooms for spore prints, find natural patterns for crafts, and design our own plankton. There will also be a field trip to T.C. Steele Historic Site to learn about and get inspired by local artists and habitats.
July 22 – 26
Goataly Awesome
Grades 4 – 8
Dates: July 22 – 26
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option when you fill out the waiver.
Connect with wild nature and farm life. Using a hands on, creative approach, campers will learn about where food comes from, the art that goes into animal care, wild and repurpose crafting, as well as exploring natural mysteries on the farm. Every day, campers will assist with the basic needs of the animals and have many invaluable interactions with the farm’s goat herds and chicken flock. We will also take daily hikes with the goats, have story time, taste wild snacks, and even do Goat Yoga! Campers will dig into farm/wild nature ecology, and develop a connection to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts that emphasize teamwork and community.
