Summer Fun and Learning 2023

List of 6 items.

• Weekly Lunch Bunch

  12-12:30 p.m.
  $50/week
  
  Bring your lunch and join our camp director between sessions for a 30-minute lunch bunch and playtime.

• June 19-23

  Kindergarten Rocks    
  Karen Chiaia & Allie Mascia   
  Kindergarten
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  In this camp students will learn all about rocks; art with rocks, and more! Each day will include hands-on learning, sharing from your rock collection, cool facts, and games!
  
  Country School PreKindergarten Teacher Karen Chiaia and PreK Teaching Assistant Allie Mascia team up for a week of fun learning adventures!
  
  

  Owlets Gold    
  Meryl Sullivan        
  PreSchool
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  These kids might be little, but they will have big fun at this camp. Each week will offer a new theme with lessons and activities. The counselors have created fun mini lessons, arts and crafts projects, along with songs and stories for the youngest kids on campus.
  
  Meryl  Sullivan, TCS ‘18 is a sophomore at Providence College and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Owlets Blue    
  Maggie Coyne        
  PreK-K
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Not quite ready for a big kid camp, but ready enough to spend the morning learning, crafting and playing! The counselors have been working on creative activities for these 4-5 year olds that follow a new theme each week. Your child will learn, create and foster new friendships at this camp.

  
  Maggie Coyne, TCS ‘18 is a sophomore at Villanova University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor. 
  
  Song Writing    
  Vicki Wepler        
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Have you ever listened to a song and wondered about the songwriting process? Do you enjoy writing your own music? Join Mrs. Wepler for a week-long exploration of the songwriting process, and learn about what it takes to create a song. Participants will engage in exercises related to different components of songwriting, and try creating a song together!
  
  Vicki Wepler is The Country School's Choral Music Director; General Music; Professional Development and Mentoring Coordinator
  
  Make it Take it   
  Tina Edwards       
  Grades 1-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $255 includes $20 Supply Fee
  Make a craft for yourself (or 2!) each day. Not only will you make a craft/jewelry to keep for yourself, you will make gifts that you can wrap and save for a birthday or holiday to tuck away. You will learn a variety of crafting techniques.  Each day you will make a jewelry piece and learn the skills needed to be an expert in the craft of beading,  card making, decoupage, painting, and other wonderful art media!  
  
  Tina Edwards is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and Paraprofessional with Madison Public Schools.
  
  Explorer Science     
  Becca Barnikow        
  Grades K-3
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  The summer is a great time to get your science on! In this camp we will make solar cookers, Alka Seltzer rockets, lava lamps and much more. We will experiment and build each day during this one week camp. Learning science and making new friends will be so much fun at this camp. There will be different activities each week that this camp is being offered. 

  
  

  Becca Barkikow is a substitute teacher and returning camp counselor at TCS.  She is an Education major at Southern Connecticut State University.

  
  Nature Camp Week 1    
  Lila Sullivan        
  Grades 2-4
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  The Country School's 23-acre campus, with multiple trail entries throughout the woods, make it the perfect spot to observe and learn about nature. In addition to our daily hikes and activities in the woods, we will use nature to create crafts.  We hope students leave camp with a new understanding of Earth and a great appreciation of our natural world! This camp is recommended for students entering grades 2-4.

  
  

  Lila Sullivan, TCS ‘18 is a sophomore at Fairfield University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor. 

  
  Come Have Fun with Math!    
  Deb Line       
  Grades 2-6
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Think math isn’t your thing? Or perhaps you’ve already figured out some of math’s secrets! Let’s explore the puzzles, patterns and codes that make math fun and exciting! Enjoy interactive games, participate in group projects, or design your own activities! Summer is the time to explore math like never before… join us!
  
  Deborah Line is a Country School Learning Specialist and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Choir Camp    
  Laurie Ongley       
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Campers will sing a variety of choral works, both original and simplified. The focus will be on vocal tone, pitch, music literacy, and ensemble. Choir Camp will develop students’ skills in singing, both individually and in ensembles. Choir Camp will bolster students’ self-confidence in artistic expression.
  
  Dr. Ongley is a Yale-educated musicologist and a lifelong instrumentalist and choral singer. She retired from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in 2022. 
  
  Space Camp    
  Maeve Sheehan       
  Grades 2-4
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure during the week-long space STEAM camp! New activities will be introduced each day to expand knowledge and hands-on learning opportunities. Campers will explore a galaxy of fun while developing friendships with one another through group learning and experiments.
  
  Maeve Sheehan is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and works with Country School students in our Owl's Nest program.
  
  Improv Comedy Troupe    
  Brett Merrill       
  Grades 5-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Worried about not wearing the right costume? There isn’t one! Nervous about not hitting your mark? There is no choreography!  Scared about not remembering your lines? There aren’t any!  Improvisational comedy is a theatrical art form where improvisers perform without a script. You and your new scene partners will hit the stage and take part in one of the oldest forms of theater dating back to 391 BC. Yes, it is that old! I haven’t even got to the best part: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just bring a positive attitude, an open mind, and maybe a banana peel (just kidding!). So…what are you waiting for? Come and join our improv comedy troupe this summer!

  
  Brett Merrill (co-director of the annual TCS musical and TCS math teacher with 12 years of teaching experience and 15 years of acting and directing experience) 
  
  Environmental Camp    
  Juliana Fleischer/Meredith Amerman       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235

  Great for kids who love to spend time outside having fun and exploring, campers will go on nature walks in the nearby woods and do hands-on activities, such as recycled crafts, while learning about sustainability, invasive species, and the natural world. The camp will foster friendships, creativity, and an interest in the environment!
  
  Meredith studies Sustainability at Muhlenberg College and Juliana studies Environmental Science at Wheaton College. They both have past camp counselor experience and are excited to work together as leaders at Summer Fun and Learning.
  
  

  Running Camp   
  John Fixx and Beth Coyne  
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Spend five days at the start of summer (and, if desired, then two days a week throughout the summer) learning about and practicing the greatest and oldest sport in the world—cross-country and distance running. Featuring elite coaches, individualized instruction and scenic runs that often end with a swim, you’ll walk away—no, you’ll run away!—with an unforgettable experience and fine-tuned skills, hungry for the fall season to start. Our hands-on approach and expertise make this camp unique, whether you are a good runner trying to become great or a novice runner just learning the sport. Our coaches possess deep skills, both in the sport of running and as educators working with children. Your child will leave our camp at the end of the week or end of the summer a better athlete and a more confident student. We teach the campers about running, discipline, and motivation.
  
  Running coaches and Head of School John Fixx and Assistant Head of School Beth Coyne return for another year with the fleet-footed camp sure to keep you moving!
  
  Create Your Own Storybook    
  Skylar Bartels    
  Grades 2-5
  12:30-3:30 p.m.    
  $235
  

  In this camp children will harness their imaginations, express their unique ideas, and practice collaborating with others as they write and illustrate their own story books. We will learn about the importance of storytelling and the roles it has historically played around the world. As we look at some of their own favorite bedtime stories together, children will learn about the elements that make stories timeless. Each student will write, illustrate, and bind their own story book as they watch their imaginations come to life. 
  
  Skylar Bartels is a Country School substitute teacher and a Skidmore College graduate.

• June 26-30

  Diving into Summer    
  Karen Chiaia and Allie Mascia   
  Kindergarten
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  In this camp students will learn some interesting facts all about water! Each day will be filled with stories, games, creative play, and of course water. 
  
  Country School PreKindergarten Teacher Karen Chiaia and PreK Teaching Assistant Allie Mascia team up for a week of fun learning adventures!
  
  Owlets Gold    
  Meryl Sullivan        
  PreSchool
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  These kids might be little, but they will have big fun at this camp. Each week will offer a new theme with lessons and activities. The counselors have created fun mini lessons, arts and crafts projects, along with songs and stories for the youngest kids on campus.
  
  Meryl Sullivan '18 is a sophomore at Providence College and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor. 
  
  Owlets Blue    
  Maggie Coyne        
  PreK-K
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Not quite ready for a big kid camp, but ready enough to spend the morning learning, crafting and playing! The counselors have been working on creative activities for these 4-5 year olds that follow a new theme each week. Your child will learn, create and foster new friendships at this camp.
  
  Maggie Coyne '18 is a sophomore at Villanova University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor. 

  
  A Capella    
  Vicki Wepler         
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Calling all fans of Pentatonix and Pitch Perfect! This week-long camp is designed to introduce singers to the wonder that is a cappella! Using only our voices, we will learn to sing songs together using vocal harmonies, syllables, rhythmic patterns, and even some basic beatboxing too!
  
  Vicki Wepler is Country School Choral Music Director; General Music; Professional Development and Mentoring Coordinator
  
  Cool-ology Science Field Trip Camp    
  Claudia Esposito/Shari Lariviere       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $250, includes supply fee
  Each day participants will explore fun, educational sites in and around our community! Campers will investigate the plants, animals, and topography at each location. Field trip locations will include Chatfield Hollow State Park, Hammonasset State Park, Bauer Park, Blinnshed Ridge Trail (behind the Country School), and Circle Beach/Grass Island. Trips take place rain or shine and transportation will be provided from The Country School.
  
  Claudia Esposito and Shari Lariviere are an invincible duo and Country School STEAM experts.
  
  Chamber Music Camp    
  Laurie Ongley        
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235

  Chamber Music Camp will develop students’ skills in playing music individually and in small ensembles. Campers will play a variety of chamber works, both original and simplified. The focus will be on

  instrumental technique, rhythm, music literacy, and ensemble. Chamber Music Camp will bolster students’ self-confidence in artistic expression. Open to string players, woodwind players, pianists, and singers entering grades 4 through 8.
  
  Dr. Ongley is a Yale-educated musicologist and a lifelong instrumentalist and choral singer. She retired from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in 2022. 
  
  

  Young Actors' Workshop    
  Emily Hope Webster    
  Grades 3-6
  12:30-3:30 p.m.
  $235    
  Young Actor’s Workshop is a staple for the TCS Summer experience. Theater skills are Life skills. In this workshop we will be working on scenes and monologues with a focus on crafting characters and telling stories. The week will culminate in a performance to be shared with friends and family. Students will walk away with a renewed sense of self confidence that they will carry with them on and off the stage. 
  
  Country School Theater instructor is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor who brings learning to life on stage!
  
  Sew Fabulous    
  Deb Line       
  Grades 3-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Ever dream of becoming a fashion designer or just showing your creativity through what you wear? Come learn some basic hand sewing tips and discover how, with a little ingenuity, you can make your own fashion statements. Working together in our creative environment we will make clothing and accessories that campers will be proud to wear and give as gifts. 
  
  Country School Learning Specialist Deb Line is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor.
  
  Nature Camp Week 2 
  Lila Sullivan       
  Grades K-3
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  The Country School's 23-acre campus, with multiple trail entries throughout the woods, make it the perfect spot to observe and learn about nature. In addition to our daily hikes and activities in the woods, we will use nature to create crafts.  We hope students leave camp with a new understanding of Earth and a great appreciation of our natural world! This camp is recommended for students entering grades 2-4.

  
  

  Lila Sullivan, TCS ‘18 is a sophomore at Fairfield University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor. 

  
  Fun With H2O    
  Becca Barnikow       
  Grades K-3
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Want to stay cool in the summer heat? Learning Fun with H2O is a great way to keep cool while learning all about water. We will do everything from learn about the water cycle, to running around under sprinklers. Be prepared for an action packed week, filled with water themed experiments and crafts. There is no better way to beat the heat than to learn all about what keeps you cool!

  
  

  Becca Barkikow is a substitute teacher and returning camp counselor at TCS.  She is an Education major at Southern Connecticut State University. 

  
  Shark Week    
  Maeve Sheehan       
  Grades 2-4
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Learn about the most misunderstood animal in the ocean. Campers will learn all about sharks, including teeth identification, and why we need them. Campers will walk away from the week-long experience with a respect for sharks and the ocean they live in. 
  
  Maeve Sheehan is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and works with Country School students in our Owl's Nest program.
  
  Art and Wonder Camp    
  Eden Keil       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Join Country School art teacher Eden Keil for a wonderful week of art exploration. Using paint, pastels, clay, mixed-media and more, we will make artwork inspired by famous artists, while growing our imagination and creativity. Participants will develop their understanding of composition and color through exploration of different materials while emphasizing the joy of discovery found in art making.
  
  Country School Art teacher Eden Keil is thrilled to bring her creativity to Summer Fun and Learning.
  
  Environmental Camp    
  Juliana Fleischer/Meredith Amerman       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Great for kids who love to spend time outside having fun and exploring, campers will go on nature walks in the nearby woods and do hands-on activities, such as recycled crafts, while learning about sustainability, invasive species, and the natural world. The camp will foster friendships, creativity, and an interest in the environment!
  
  Meredith studies Sustainability at Muhlenberg College and Juliana studies Environmental Science at Wheaton College. They both have past camp counselor experience and are excited to work together as leaders at Summer Fun and Learning.

  
  Creative Creatures    
  Skylar Bartels  
  Grades K-3  
  12:30-3:30 p.m.  
  $235
  In this camp children will use a variety of craft supplies to invent their very own imagined creature. Creative illustration will be sparked through a variety of exercises showcasing the power of thinking outside of the box. Each student will craft a booklet alongside their creature describing that creature’s interests, hobbies, lifestyle, and personality traits. Each child will awaken their imagination as unusual beings come to life.
  
  Skylar Bartels is a Country School substitute teacher, Summer Fun and Learning Director, and a Skidmore College graduate.

• July 10-14

  Owlets Gold    
  Meryl Sullivan        
  PreSchool
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  These kids might be little, but they will have big fun at this camp. Each week will offer a new theme with lessons and activities. The counselors have created fun mini lessons, arts and crafts projects, along with songs and stories for the youngest kids on campus.
  
  Meryl Sullivan '18 is a sophomore at Providence College and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Owlets Blue    
  Maggie Coyne        
  PreK-K
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Not quite ready for a big kid camp, but ready enough to spend the morning learning, crafting and playing! The counselors have been working on creative activities for these 4-5 year olds that follow a new theme each week. Your child will learn, create and foster new friendships at this camp.

  
  Maggie Coyne '18 is a sophomore at Villanova University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Cool-ology Science Camp    
  Claudia Esposito       
  Grades K-3            
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $255, includes supply fee
  

  Topics include: Cool Chemistry (including Ooo, Ahh, Pop: Bubbles), Fabulous Flight, Mini Roller Coaster Physics, Miraculous Magnets, Squishy Circuits, Candy Chemistry, and more! 

  This exciting camp opportunity introduces young children to the wonder of science through hands-on, inquiry based learning experiences sure to thrill and delight!  These STEAM based lessons are geared toward capturing your child’s natural curiosity while teaching important science concepts, critical thinking skills and the engineering design process in a safe, fun environment. 
  
  Country School STEAM Coordinator Claudia Esposito is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor who is full of adventurous learning ideas!

  
  Make it Take it    
  Tina Edwards       
  Grades 1-5    
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.       
  $255, includes supply fee
  Make a craft for yourself (or 2!) each day. Not only will you make a craft/jewelry to keep for yourself, you will make gifts that you can wrap and save for a birthday or holiday to tuck away. You will learn a variety of crafting techniques.  Each day you will make a jewelry piece and learn the skills needed to be an expert in the craft of beading,  card making, decoupage, painting, and other wonderful art media!  
  
  Tina Edwards is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and Paraprofessional with Madison Public Schools.
  
  Full STEAM Ahead    
  Lila Sullivan       
  Grades 3-5     
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Get ready for a week of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math! Each day we will be participating in new and intriguing activities for students of all ages. We are aiming to bring a positive light to these topics by playing fun games and outdoor activities. Each day will be a different letter from “STEAM”:
  Monday: Science
  Tuesday: Technology
  Wednesday: Engineering
  Thursday: Art
  Friday: Math      
  
  Lila Sullivan '18 is a sophomore at Fairfield University and a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Young Engineers    
  Becca Barnikow         
  Grades 2-4          
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.  
  $245, includes supply fee
  

  Calling all Young Engineers! At this camp Becca will engage the campers with a variety of STEAM activities to solve problems with creative innovations. 

  
  

  Becca Barkikow is a substitute teacher and returning camp counselor at TCS.  She is an Education major at Southern Connecticut State University.

  
  Chamber Music Camp    
  Laurie Ongley       
  Grades 4-8   
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Chamber Music Camp will develop students’ skills in playing music individually and in small ensembles. Campers will play a variety of chamber works, both original and simplified. The focus will be on

  instrumental technique, rhythm, music literacy, and ensemble. Chamber Music Camp will bolster students’ self-confidence in artistic expression. Open to string players, woodwind players, pianists, and singers entering grades 4 through 8.
  
  Dr. Ongley is a Yale-educated musicologist and a lifelong instrumentalist and choral singer. She retired from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in 2022. 

       
  Space Camp    
  Maeve Sheehan       
  Grades 2-4
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Get ready for an out of this world adventure during the week-long space STEAM camp! New activities will be introduced each day to expand knowledge and hands-on learning opportunities. Campers will explore a galaxy of fun while developing friendships with one another through group learning and experiments.
  
  Maeve Sheehan is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and works with Country School students in our Owl's Nest program.
  
  Nature Art Camp    
  Eden Keil       
  Grades 2-5    
  Art Room
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Explore the beauty and wonder of nature through this week-long art adventure camp with Country School art teacher Eden Keil. We will learn to observe our natural surroundings while we draw, paint, craft, and create. We will make art from natural materials, and use the landscape, plants and animals to inspire our imagination and creativity. 
  
  Country School Art teacher Eden Keil is thrilled to bring her creativity to Summer Fun and Learning.
  
  Photography Camp    
  Andrew Robertson       
  Grades 5-8       
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Go beyond the simple cell phone photograph in this week-long workshop with Country School librarian and technology teacher, Andrew Robertson. Students will practice using digital cameras to explore composition, depth of field, exposure, lighting, contrast and more. We will also learn how to use software to process and tweak our photos. With constructive criticism of each other's images and examination of master photographers’ work, students will begin to develop (pun intended) their own style and portfolio.  
  
  Country School Library-Media Specialist Andrew Lindgren is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Planting, Potting, and Digging, Oh My    
  Allie Mascia/Callan Mascia        
  Kindergarten          
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235   
  In this camp students will learn all about connecting with nature! Each day will be filled with hands-on learning, fun experiments, and the life cycle of a seed.
  
  Country School Kindergarten assistant teacher Allie Mascia '14 teams up with her sister Callan '18 for a week of fun learning adventures!
  
  Creative Writing Camp    
  Skylar Bartels    
  Grades 2-5 
  12:30-3:30 p.m.
  $235
  This camp will provide a fun and thoughtful way for students to explore their world and express themselves through the written word. We will dabble in poetry, food reviews, nature writing, and flash fiction with activities designed to hook beginning writers and stretch those with more experience. Kids will become comfortable sharing their work with a supportive, immediate audience and will benefit from collaboration and feedback from their peers. Far from being a static, in-your-seat experience, young writers should come prepared for outdoor exploration and observation, candy taste-tests, dance parties, yoga, and more! Come join Skylar to earn just how much fun playing with words can be!
  
  Skylar Bartels is a Country School substitute teacher, Summer Fun and Learning Director, and a Skidmore College graduate.
  
  Improv Comedy Troupe    
  Brett Merrill       
  Grades 5-8 
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235   
  

  Worried about not wearing the right costume? There isn’t one! Nervous about not hitting your mark? There is no choreography!  Scared about not remembering your lines? There aren’t any!  Improvisational comedy is a theatrical art form where improvisers perform without a script. You and your new scene partners will hit the stage and take part in one of the oldest forms of theater dating back to 391 BC. Yes, it is that old! I haven’t even got to the best part: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just bring a positive attitude, an open mind, and maybe a banana peel (just kidding!). So…what are you waiting for? Come and join our improv comedy troupe this summer!

  
  Brett Merrill (co-director of the annual TCS musical and TCS math teacher with 12 years of teaching experience and 15 years of acting and directing experience) 
  

• Juy 17-21

  Owlets Gold    
  Meryl Sullivan        
  PreSchool
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  These kids might be little, but they will have big fun at this camp. Each week will offer a new theme with lessons and activities. The counselors have created fun mini lessons, arts and crafts projects, along with songs and stories for the youngest kids on campus.
  
  Meryl Sullivan is a sophomore at Providence College and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Owlets Blue    
  Maggie Coyne        
  PreK-K
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Not quite ready for a big kid camp, but ready enough to spend the morning learning, crafting and playing! The counselors have been working on creative activities for these 4-5 year olds that follow a new theme each week. Your child will learn, create and foster new friendships at this camp.

  
  Maggie Coyne '18 is a sophomore at Villanova University  and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Big Kid DIY    
  Lila Sullivan       
  Grades 3-6
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  This hands-on camp will keep the children happily engaged, creating dream catchers, candles, soaps, bird feeders, and more. Each day campers will have a new project to tackle. They will learn the importance of following directions, collaborating, and exercising their creativity.
  
  Lila Sullivan '18 is a sophomore at Fairfield University and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Fun With Nature    
  Becca Barnikow       
  Grades K-3
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Our 23 acre campus offers a bevy of crafting supplies for our Nature Crafts camp. Each day the campers will create a different craft using all that nature has to offer. We will also play nature games like nature scavenger hunt and nature bingo. There will be different activities each week that this camp is offered. Come and enjoy our great outdoors and then craft with nature's bounty!
  
  

  Becca Barkikow is a substitute teacher and returning camp counselor at TCS.  She is an Education major at Southern Connecticut State University. 

  
  

  Cool-ology® Design It, Build It Engineering Camp

  Claudia Esposito

  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $255

  Participants will learn about and use the engineering design process to investigate structural and environmental engineering (LEGOS included), mini robots (Dash, Ozobot, Bee-Bot), materials science, biomimicry, and a whole lot more! This one-week camp introduces young children to the basics of engineering and robotics through hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences sure to thrill and delight! These STEM-based lessons are geared toward capturing your child’s natural curiosity while teaching the scientific and engineering design processes and critical thinking skills in a safe, fun environment. 
  
  Country School STEAM Coordinator Claudia Esposito is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor who is full of adventurous learning ideas!
  
  

  The Art of Clay    
  Deb Line       
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Join us throwing and hand building pottery in the Country School’s art room. Students will get their “zen” on learning to throw and shape clay into pieces of art using our potter’s wheel. They will also design and create hand built pieces using coil, slab and pinch techniques. Join Ms. Line to play with clay- where you’re supposed to get a bit messy!
  
  Deborah Line is a Country School Learning Specialist and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Choir Camp    
  Laurie Ongley       
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Campers will sing a variety of choral works, both original and simplified. The focus will be on vocal tone, pitch, music literacy, and ensemble. Choir Camp will develop students’ skills in singing, both individually and in ensembles. Choir Camp will bolster students’ self-confidence in artistic expression.
  
  Dr. Ongley is a Yale-educated musicologist and a lifelong instrumentalist and choral singer. She retired from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in 2022.

  
  Creating Puzzles    
  Maeve Sheehan       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Campers will be able to express their artistic ability in this week-long puzzle creating camp. Campers will develop puzzles using paintings they create. Puzzles are a great way to interact with art and they make fantastic gifts! This camp strengthens independence and confidence in art.
  
  Maeve Sheehan is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and works with Country School students in our Owl's Nest program.

  
  Environmental Camp    
  Juliana Fleischer/Meredith Amerman       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Great for kids who love to spend time outside having fun and exploring, campers will go on nature walks in the nearby woods and do hands-on activities, such as recycled crafts, while learning about sustainability, invasive species, and the natural world. The camp will foster friendships, creativity, and an interest in the environment!
  
  Meredith studies Sustainability at Muhlenberg College and Juliana studies Environmental Science at Wheaton College. They both have past camp counselor experience and are excited to work together as leaders at Summer Fun and Learning.

  
  Photography Camp    
  Andrew Robertson       
  Grades 5-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Go beyond the simple cell phone photograph in this week-long workshop with Country School librarian and technology teacher, Andrew Robertson. Students will practice using digital cameras to explore composition, depth of field, exposure, lighting, contrast and more. We will also learn how to use software to process and tweak our photos. With constructive criticism of each other's images and examination of master photographers’ work, students will begin to develop (pun intended) their own style and portfolio.
  
  Country School Library-Media Specialist Andrew Lindgren is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Construction Zone    
  Allie Mascia/Callan Mascia        
  Kindergarten
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  In this camp students will learn all about construction; building, engineering, and teamwork. Each day will include hands-on building activities, fun stories, and opportunities for collaboration.
  
  Country School Kindergarten assistant teacher Allie Mascia '14 teams up with her sister Callan '18 for a week of fun learning adventures!
  
  Mural Mystery    
  Skylar Bartels   
  Grades 1-4
  12:30-3:30 p.m.
  $235
  In this camp children will work together to create their own collective mystery story and make a large collaborative mural with hidden clues. With the intent of this mural being hung in a “historic museum,” the artists will paint in their own personal styles as much of the story as they would like to disclose, giving clues without revealing the full mystery. Campers will learn about creative storytelling, the history of muralism, and symbolism, while developing team collaboration in a fun and creative setting.
  
  Skylar Bartels is a Country School substitute teacher, Summer Fun and Learning Director, and a Skidmore College graduate.
  

• July 24-28

  Owlets Gold    
  Meryl Sullivan        
  PreSchool
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  These kids might be little, but they will have big fun at this camp. Each week will offer a new theme with lessons and activities. The counselors have created fun mini lessons, arts and crafts projects, along with songs and stories for the youngest kids on campus.
  
  Meryl Sullivan '18 is a sophomore at Providence College and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.
  
  Owlets Blue    
  Maggie Coyne        
  PreK-K
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Not quite ready for a big kid camp, but ready enough to spend the morning learning, crafting and playing! The counselors have been working on creative activities for these 4-5 year olds that follow a new theme each week. Your child will learn, create and foster new friendships at this camp.
  
  Maggie Coyne '18 is a sophomore at Villanova University and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.

  
  Jewelry Camp    
  Lila Sullivan         
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Let’s make jewelry! We are excited for a week of jewelry making and fun. From beading to friendship bracelets, to shrinky dink pendants, it is going to be a week full of fun and arts & crafts. Students can come with any type of jewelry in mind they want to create or we can come up with ideas all together. The options are endless. There is so much jewelry to make for any student. They can enjoy their jewelry themselves or use them as gifts. No experience is necessary.

  
  

  Lila Sullivan, TCS ‘18 is a sophomore at Fairfield University and returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor.

  
  Explorer Science    
  Becca Barnikow       
  Grades K-3
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235

  The summer is a great time to get your science on! In this camp we will make solar cookers, Alka Seltzer rockets, lava lamps and much more. We will experiment and build each day during this one week camp. Learning science and making new friends will be so much fun at this camp. There will be different activities each week that this camp is being offered. 

  
  

  Becca Barkikow is a substitute teacher and returning camp counselor at TCS.  She is an Education major at Southern Connecticut State University.

  
  Come Have Fun With Math    
  Deb Line       
  Grades 2-6
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  Think math isn’t your thing? Or perhaps you’ve already figured out some of math’s secrets! Let’s explore the puzzles, patterns and codes that make math fun and exciting! Enjoy interactive games, participate in group projects, or design your own activities! Summer is the time to explore math like never before… join us!
  
  Country School Learning Specialist, Deb Line is a returning Summer Fun and Learning counselor who makes math fun!
  
  Chamber Music Camp    
  Laurie Ongley       
  Grades 4-8
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Chamber Music Camp will develop students’ skills in playing music individually and in small ensembles. Campers will play a variety of chamber works, both original and simplified. The focus will be on

  instrumental technique, rhythm, music literacy, and ensemble. Chamber Music Camp will bolster students’ self-confidence in artistic expression. Open to string players, woodwind players, pianists, and singers entering grades 4 through 8.
  
  Dr. Ongley is a Yale-educated musicologist and a lifelong instrumentalist and choral singer. She retired from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in 2022. 

  
  Friendship Bracelet Camp    
  Maeve Sheehan       
  Grades 2-5
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  This week-long camp offers opportunities to make and strengthen friendships. Inside a classroom or out in the fresh air, campers will learn how to make friendship bracelets with unique patterns and charms. Walk away from this camp with meaningful friendships and colorful bracelets!
  
  Maeve Sheehan is a returning Summer Fun and Learning Counselor and works with Country School students in our Owl's Nest program.
  
  Environmental Camp    
  Juliana Fleischer/Meredith Amerman       
  Grades 2-6
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  

  Great for kids who love to spend time outside having fun and exploring, campers will go on nature walks in the nearby woods and do hands-on activities, such as recycled crafts, while learning about sustainability, invasive species, and the natural world. The camp will foster friendships, creativity, and an interest in the environment!
  
  Meredith studies Sustainability at Muhlenberg College and Juliana studies Environmental Science at Wheaton College. They both have past camp counselor experience and are excited to work together as leaders at Summer Fun and Learning.

  
  To a Galaxy Far, Far, Away    
  Allie Mascia/Callan Mascia        
  Kindergarten
  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  $235
  In this camp students will learn all about our solar system! Each day students will have the chance to explore our galaxy through stories, hands-on science activities, and creative play.
  
  Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Allie Mascia '14 teams up with her sister Callan '18 to provide out-of-this-world learning!
  
  Creative Creature Sewing    
  Skylar Bartels    
  Grades 1-4
  12:30-3:30 p.m.
  $235
  In this camp children will use a variety of fabrics and craft supplies to invent and sew their very own imagined creature. Creativity will be sparked through a variety of exercises showcasing the power of thinking outside of the box. Each student will craft a booklet alongside their creature describing that creature’s interests, hobbies, lifestyle, and personality traits. Each child will awaken their imagination as unusual 3-dimensional beings come to life. No sewing experience necessary!
  
  Skylar Bartels is a Country School substitute teacher, Summer Fun and Learning Director, and a Skidmore College graduate.