Grades 5-8 Offerings

Week 1: June 15-18 | Engineering Nature's Logic

Jen Carden, MaryClair Wright, Dr. Chris Brown, and Priscilla Krause

Discover how nature encodes, builds, and evolves complex systems through hands-on exploration across science, engineering, and technology. You'll model and investigate DNA to see how genetic information is stored, design and build solutions inspired by biological and environmental systems using natural materials, and explore how patterns appear in both nature and technology. Through immersive challenges, collaborative storytelling, unplugged design activities, physical modeling, and creative problem-solving that connect biology, engineering, and computational thinking, you'll see how the same principles of information, structure, and design appear across all STEM disciplines.

• Instructors: This camp will be led by an interdisciplinary teaching team: two National Board Certified teachers with extensive backgrounds in financial services and biomedical research respectively, each bringing over 10 years of experience designing outreach labs and professional development; a PhD astrophysicist who worked in government research and brings a unique perspective on complex systems and problem-solving; and a veteran drama teacher who will guide students through collaborative storytelling and immersive challenges. Together, the team combines real-world STEM expertise with proven theatrical techniques and deep pedagogical knowledge to create an engaging, multidisciplinary learning experience.

Week 2: June 22-26 | Intelligence, Encryption & Digital Systems

MaryClair Wright, Daniel Robbins, and Priscilla Krause 

This 5-day program introduces students to AI and cybersecurity through hands-on investigations and creative exploration. They explore hidden communication techniques and network analysis, learning how information moves and hides in digital environments. The week culminates in a narrative-driven investigation that brings together all their skills using network analysis, code-breaking, and AI pattern recognition. Throughout the week, theatre sessions provide opportunities for creative character work and storytelling that reinforce technical concepts, while STEAM activities offer hands-on, screen-free breaks.

• Instructors: This camp will be led by a dynamic teaching team: an ASCTE graduate and program assistant for AI curriculum development who will be pursuing cybersecurity studies and brings a near-peer mentorship perspective; a former EMT and cybersecurity operative for governmental agencies who now serves as a cyber range architect; a veteran drama teacher who will guide students through creative character work and storytelling; and a National Board Certified teacher with two master's degrees who worked in the financial industry before transitioning to education, bringing over 10 years of cybersecurity and computer science instruction experience. Together, they combine real-world security expertise, theatrical techniques, educational experience, and relatable student mentorship to make complex technical concepts accessible and exciting for Middle School learners.

Week 1: June 15-18 | AI Security Lab: Attack & Defense

MaryClair Wright and Peter Speak 

This intensive 4-day program guides Upper School students through hands-on exploration of cybersecurity and AI concepts, including image data manipulation, system analysis, forensic investigation, and adversarial machine learning. Students explore steganography techniques and develop their own digit recognition systems using template matching and preprocessing. They learn terminal commands, explore system monitoring tools, and use AI to detect anomalies in log files. Students develop forensics tools, including timeline analyzers and file recovery systems, then apply these skills to investigate crime scene scenarios. The program concludes with an examination of adversarial approaches to QR codes, exploring error correction limits and vulnerabilities in visual data encoding. Throughout the week, students write working code and engage with real security tools, with ethics discussions integrated into each day's technical work.

• Instructors: This camp will be led by two experienced educators: a National Board Certified teacher with two master's degrees who worked in the financial industry before transitioning to education, bringing over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity and computer science instruction; and a cybersecurity industry expert with extensive software engineering experience who has taken projects from initial concept through public launch. Together, they combine real-world security expertise and entrepreneurial thinking with proven pedagogical approaches to make complex technical concepts accessible and engaging.

Week 2: June 22–26 | Nature's Blueprint

Dr. Gabe Wilfong, MaryClair Wright, and Jen Carden

Discover how nature encodes, builds, and evolves complex systems through hands-on exploration across science, engineering, and technology. The first two days, you'll work alongside an engineer tackling a real-world civil engineering challenge — exploring how environmental problems are solved through design, analysis, and the mathematical principles that make solutions work. You'll then investigate how biological systems manage, compress, and conceal information — from genetic codes to communication signals. Through engineering challenges with design and mathematical analysis, you'll explore how natural materials provide sustainable building solutions. Using unplugged design challenges, physical modeling, and creative problem-solving that connect biology, engineering, and computational thinking, you'll see how the same principles of information, structure, and optimization appear across all STEM disciplines.

• Instructors: This camp will be led by three experienced educators: a PhD engineer who centers his teaching on authentic industry experience, bringing the perspective and problem-solving approaches of a practicing engineer; and two National Board Certified teachers with extensive backgrounds in financial services and biomedical research, respectively. The teaching team combines real-world expertise with deep pedagogical knowledge, with both teachers bringing 10+ years of experience designing outreach labs and professional development for educators.

If you have any questions, we’d be happy to answer them. We can’t wait to welcome students to an unforgettable summer of innovation, creativity, and discovery.

Very best,
Agata Medic | Director of After-School, Preschool-Grade 12 & Summer Camps

Lesa Wang | Head of Design and Global Spark Programs Director

Dylan Bunnell | ACCEL Director

MaryClair Wright | Cyber Instructor/Curriculum Design