Summer Camp workshops are educational and complement areas of study during the school year. No homework is given and classes maintain a relaxed but focused atmosphere. Campers are held accountable for their own involvement and, although no actual grades are given, reports of accomplishment are mailed to each family at the end of each camp session. Campers enroll in three different workshops organized by age and skill level. Small class sizes foster a supportive learning environment and individual attention.
Workshops include:
Acting
This workshop will focus on the skills needed by an aspiring actor or actress in speech, physical movement and personal projection. Students will take part in a variety of developmental processes including improvisation, mime and forensics. Students will collaborate on skits and one-act plays to present to the camp community.
Beginning Guitar
Campers study the basic concepts required to learn to play guitar in this course. Campers must provide their own guitars.
Ceramics
The ceramics workshop offers campers the opportunity to learn the basic techniques involved in working with clay. Skills taught include handbuilding, throwing, wheelwork and glazing.
Conversational Spanish
The traditional approach of vocabulary, grammar and formal structure is covered in this course. Using informal scenarios such as ordering food in a restaurant or seeking directions while traveling, students are introduced to the language of Spanish in a creative and fun setting.
Creative Writing
This course will focus on developing clear and cogent writing through a variety of styles including short stories, formal essays, poetry and articles. Basic rules of grammar, punctuation and usage will be reviewed. Students will compile a portfolio which may be a useful resource in their upcoming school year.
Dance
This workshop explores the many facets of dance, from motion and flexibility to choreographing a routine.
Film Making
Students will create and edit short movies using digital video cameras and filming and editing software.
Games of Strategy
This workshop teaches critical thinking and problem-solving by using a variety of non-computer strategy games, conventional board games and various creative activities. Participants will improve their ability to analyze and solve problems through the following steps: understanding the problem, formulating different approaches to tackle the problem and weighing the consequences of those approaches, learning to shift tactics as the situation warrants, and becoming proficient at reaching a desired conclusion in an efficient manner.
Interactive History of Sports
This class will begin at the history of the first sports of the Greek Olympics, and move along the timeline experiencing the Medieval Ages with the time of knights and the beginning of team sports, leaving us in the modern time. Each day will be focused on a new sport.
Journalism
By studying both the daily newspaper and weekly periodicals, students learn the mechanics of how articles are structured. The class’ primary objective is to produce the weekly camp newspaper. The course usually includes field trips to the local newspaper and a television station.
Knitting
Stevenson Summer Camp offers campers the chance to learn the craft of knitting. In this hands-on workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of knitting and will produce many projects by the end of camp.
Math for Enjoyment
Campers in this workshop participate in games, activities, and group projects that test their algebraic thinking and problem solving skills. The workshop is designed to challenge campers of all ages and gives them an opportunity to enhance their mathematical skills in a fun and relaxed setting.
Math Tutoring
This workshop provides campers with the opportunity to receive small group instruction in areas of mathematics where they have had difficulty. This course is designed to reinforce necessary math skills at each grade level and to give campers a look ahead at some of the math they will see in their next grade. Campers are separated in groups by grade level, and tutors are familiar with math from grades 4 through 10.
Marine Studies
Taking advantage of the abundant sea life living in the Monterey Bay, this workshop provides an overview of the flora and fauna found in and around the coastal Pacific Ocean waters. An activity-based approach provides students the opportunity to gain a hands-on appreciation of how interconnected life is in the sea. The group will go tide-pooling and visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Photography
An excellent workshop for the novice which involves operating a camera, taking good pictures, and developing black-and-white film. Opportunities for independent work are available to advanced students. Bring a 35mm camera if you are taking this class.
Physical Science
This class is a hands-on workshop that not only covers basic concepts of force, work, pressure, electricity and sound, but also includes multiple experiments each week demonstrating these concepts. Projects include such tasks as building bridges out of toothpicks, crafting ways to protect a falling egg, and building solar cars.
Preparatory English
This workshop is for students entering 9th or 10th grade at Stevenson or another high school. Its purpose is to introduce students to the material that will be covered during the first term of English I and to review writing, reading and study skills needed to give a student a head start on his or her high school English course.
Reading for Enjoyment
Campers will have the opportunity to read in a quiet and comfortable setting in this workshop. They may choose to work on summer reading assignments for school, or select books from the local libraries to read during this time.
Rock Band
This workshop is intended for the young musician who wants to rock out. If you have previous experience playing guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, brass, or rock vocals, please consider joining this workshop / project. The “band” will showcase their work at the camp talent show.
Studio Art
An introduction to the fundamentals of drawing, painting and print-making, this course is presented to meet the needs of both the beginning and the accomplished artist. The art studio is well-equipped and offers a wide range of opportunities for independent studio work under supervision.
Verbal Testing Skills
The purpose of this intensive workshop is to improve students' performance on the verbal section of standardized tests. The course will focus on developing reading comprehension: drawing inferences, finding the main ideas, and identifying tone; and building vocabulary by studying Latin and Greek word roots. For campers entering grades 7 and up.
Wilderness
Wilderness It is valuable for every young person to have skill in hiking and camping. Orienteering, camp cooking, first aid and survival techniques are some of the skills that will be taught; and an appreciation of the wilderness and the development of appropriate wilderness ethics are encouraged. The workshop also makes use of the school’s extensive ropes course.
Yearbook
Students will work to put together a digital yearbook in the form of a camp website that will chronicle the highlights of the summer.