Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.

Do they work alone or in teams?

Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Engineering Summer Camp in Nevada County, CA

Nevada County is one of 58 counties in California. Engineering Summer Camp works the same way here as anywhere: give a child a problem too hard to guess at, then refuse to hand them the answer.

Ages 7-14 · For families · California · West

Engineering Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Nevada County, CA

What the week actually is

Engineering week is constraints week. A bridge that must hold a weight, with a fixed pile of materials and a deadline. Children who have never been told no by a problem before meet one here, and learn that the answer is a redesign, not a tantrum.

Day by day

Constraints and a materials budget
First build, first collapse
Redesign from what failed
Load test to destruction, record the number
Showcase: defend the design choice

Nevada County, CA — what applies locally

Nevada County is one of 58 counties in California.
Every public school district inside Nevada County is eligible for the district licensing terms.
State: California · Region: West

Questions we get from Nevada County, CA

What do they build?: Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.
Is it messy?: Yes. That is not incidental.
Do they work alone or in teams?: Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Other camp themes in Nevada County

STEM Summer CampAges 5-14 Robotics CampAges 8-14 Coding CampAges 7-14 Science CampAges 5-14 Math CampAges 5-14 Space CampAges 7-14 Drone CampAges 9-14 Game Design CampAges 8-14 AI CampAges 10-14 Electronics CampAges 8-14 Chemistry CampAges 9-14 Nature Science CampAges 5-13 3D Printing CampAges 9-14 Minecraft STEM CampAges 7-12 Girls STEM CampAges 7-14 Neurodivergent STEM CampAges 6-14 Preschool STEM CampAges 3-5 Elementary STEM CampAges 5-10 Middle School STEM CampAges 11-14 High School STEM CampAges 14-18 Half-Day STEM CampAges 5-12 Week-Long STEM CampAges 6-14 Affordable STEM CampAges 5-14 Virtual STEM CampAges 7-14 Curriculum LicensingAges K-8 Church Youth STEMAges 5-14 After-School LicensingAges 5-14 District Summer STEMAges K-8 Parks & Rec STEM CampAges 5-13 Homeschool Co-op STEMAges 5-14 YMCA STEM CurriculumAges 5-14 Daycare Summer STEMAges 3-6 Start a STEM CampAges K-8

Engineering Camp elsewhere in California

Alameda County, CACounty Alpine County, CACounty Amador County, CACounty Butte County, CACounty Calaveras County, CACounty Colusa County, CACounty Contra Costa County, CACounty Del Norte County, CACounty

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