Gifted Summer Camp

2026 GIFTED SUMMER CAMPS

JOIN US for 2 weeks of summer learning and FUN during our GIFTED SUMMER CAMPS (June 1 - 12)!  Gifted Summer Camp is designed to engage gifted and talented learners 2 unique themes -- CRUISING INTO SUMMER and PASSPORT TO THE PARKS! 

CAMP HIGHLIGHTS:

• We welcome incoming 1st thru 8th grade students!
• Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided at NO COST.
• Campers receive a FREE t-shirt.
• Students engage in problem/ project-based learning with likeminded peers.
• Gifted Summer Camps are available to Deer Valley students as well as those living in the surrounding areas.

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GIFTED CAMP: CRUISING INTO SUMMER (June 1-5)

Date:  June 1-5, 2026

Time:  8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:  Union Park Elementary School 

✅ $195

COURSES OFFERED:

STEAM SHIP: CREATIVE PORT OF DISCOVERY! (Grades 1-3)  All aboard the STEAM Ship! Set sail on a creative journey around the world as we dock at a new port each day and explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering, art, and math through hands-on projects and imaginative adventures. From crafting coral reefs in Australia to building rain sticks in Kenya, students will blend scientific discovery with artistic expression—learning about global environments and cultures in fun, memorable ways.

ISLAND ORIGAMI: THE ISLAND IN MY POCKET! (Grades 1-3)  Pack your bags for a journey of the mind! This week, our young explorers will engineer an entire tropical world out of a single stack of paper. Using the art of 3D pop-up engineering, students will map uncharted territories, design sun-shading shelters, and crack secret "Message in a Bottle" ciphers. It’s a high-level logic course that proves you don’t need a suitcase full of supplies to have a world-class summer adventure!

ARTISTIC WATERWAYS! (Grades 1-3)  Exploring with Art. In this visual arts based course, students will use multiple media to examine the relationships between waterways and the people who rely on them. They will study a variety of universal artistic themes including symbolism, identity, storytelling, and more throughout the week.

CALM SEAS, FOCUSED MIND! (Grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-8)  Calm Seas, Focused Minds is a summer camp class that supports the affective needs of gifted students. Like the ocean, gifted learners can experience powerful waves of sensitivity, perfectionism, and deep thinking. This class helps students learn how to navigate those waters through a gentle blend of mindfulness practices, movement (yoga) and quiet focus activities. In an ocean-inspired environment, students will learn to recognize emotional “tides,” steady their bodies, and reset their minds.

SEASIDE STUDIO VOYAGE! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)   All aboard for creativity and fun! In our Cruising into Summer Camp: Games & Crafts Adventure, campers will set sail on an exciting journey packed with hands-on projects, team challenges, and high-energy games. Each day is a new “port of call,” where students explore imaginative crafts, cooperative games, and creative problem-solving activities designed to spark joy and build friendships.   

SEA-NANIGANS & SIGHTSEEING! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Throughout the session, campers “travel” to different global regions, studying water science, ecology, sustainability, geography, and cultural traditions—all while engaging in fine arts and performance-based projects. Students will discover how land, water, people, and wildlife are deeply connected, building curiosity and environmental responsibility through creative, hands-on learning.

CRUISING INTO CODING! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)   Set sail on the S.S. Intelligence! Using the latest Code.org curriculum, campers navigate the high seas of computer science. Chart a course from block-based to text-based coding while mastering algorithms and AI. Through hands-on challenges, sailors strengthen problem-solving and logic, discovering digital horizons. Anchors aweigh!       

BOTS AHOY! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  For this class we'll be using Legos, Sphero experiments, and 6th grade robots to create ocean scenes.    

LYRIC JOURNEY (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Students will go on a voyage where inspiration can be found at every port! Each day of camp will represent a different "docking city" where students will learn and practice a new kind of poetic technique. One day, they'll sight-see around "Haiku-ville" and learn about the rich history of this form, while trying their hand at it themselves. Another day, they'll arrive at a "Lights-Out City" and learn to make black-out poems. With many hands-on activities, like "Walking Poems" and "Word Scavenger Hunt," learning about poetry will be, quite literally, an active practice! Students will walk away with many self-authored poems and a fresh perspective of the world of poetry all around us.      

CAPTAIN CALCULATE! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Set Sail on a Math-Adventure! Ready to discover your own high-seas journey? This summer, climb aboard as we design the ultimate interactive cruise vacation! Over five days, you’ll use math and tech to build a multimedia masterpiece. From navigating your path through the oceans to planning shipboard fun, create your dream voyage and present it to your investors!    

RECLAIMED REEF ART STUDIO: SAVE OUR SEAS! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Let's set sail for an immersive, interdisciplinary course where gifted learners explore ocean ecosystems, human impact, and environmental advocacy through collaborative art. Students investigate real-world ocean challenges, then transform recycled materials into powerful 3D sea creature sculptures and a large-scale collaborative mural. Throughout the week, campers think like artists, scientists, and advocates—using creativity, symbolism, and teamwork to educate others and inspire action to protect marine environments. The course culminates in a museum-style gallery exhibit where students present their work and environmental messages to an authentic audience.

MYTHICAL SEAS & LEGENDARY CREATURES! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)   Embark on a legendary voyage across the world’s oceans—both real and imagined. In this interdisciplinary course, students explore myths, folklore, and historical tales of sea monsters, mermaids, water dragons, and heroic explorers from diverse cultures. By examining why these stories were created and what they reveal about human fears, hopes, and discoveries, campers gain insight into both storytelling traditions and the natural world. Students will then channel their creativity to design original creatures, myths, and artifacts inspired by global legends.

EXTREME OCEAN SCIENCE: SURVIVING EARTH'S MOST DANGEROUS WATERS! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  During this class, we'll look into physics and Earth science of the ocean’s most extreme environments. Students would investigate deep-sea pressure, rogue waves, polar ice, and ocean storms through research and engineering challenges, discovering how life and technology survive in the planet’s harshest waters.

EVEN MORE EXCITEMENT IS ON DECK!  STAY TUNED......

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GIFTED CAMP: PASSPORT TO THE PARKS (June 8-12)

Date:  June 8-12, 2026

Time:  8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:  Union Park Elementary School 

✅ $195/ FREE for Deer Valley students attending a Title 1 School

COURSES OFFERED:

POSTERS FROM THE PARKS! (Grades 1-3) Step back in time to the golden age of travel! In this immersive art and ecology lab, campers become National Park illustrators. Following the iconic WPA style of the 1930s, students will dive into the geography, flora, and fauna of America’s most beautiful landscapes, and create their own vintage travel posters.

MINI IMAGINEERS: DESIGN-A-RIDE LAB! (Grades 1-3)  Step into the role of a theme park imagineer! Students will design and build their own model rides while exploring motion, force, and creative storytelling. From roller coasters to spinning adventures, campers will combine engineering and imagination to create attractions that thrill guests and solve fun design challenges.

TRAILBLAZERS: PARKS EDITION! (Grades 1-3)  Grab your passport and get ready to explore! In this fun-filled camp, students will “travel” to amazing parks through creative crafts and exciting games. Each day features park-inspired art projects, team challenges, and outdoor-themed activities that build teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.                                   

PARADE DESIGN EXPERIENCE (Grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-8)  Step into the magic behind theme park parades! Campers explore the history of parades—especially in theme parks—and discover how storytelling, design, animation, and engineering bring them to life. Students research iconic parades, then design and create their own float or parade attraction, ending the week with a spectacular showcase of imagination and creativity.

PASSPORT STOP: CHINA! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Travel to China without leaving camp! In this exciting adventure, campers will explore traditional Chinese games and activities: test your skills with the Chopstick Challenge, master the Chinese Yo-Yo (Diabolo), and try your footwork with Shuttlecock Kicking. Fun, laughter, and friendly competition await as you earn your stamp on this leg of your ‘Passport to the Parks’ journey!

BUILD YOUR OWN THEME PARK! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Spend a week designing the theme park of your dreams—centered on your interests, stories, and the things that make you unique. Students plan themed lands, sketch ride concepts, and create a scaled model of their park using recycled and craft materials. Along the way they apply basic physics (forces, simple machines, motion) to test ride ideas, learn about safety and accessibility, and use map‑reading and budgeting skills to make practical design choices. Daily hands‑on challenges include concept art, a ride prototype test, and a marketing mini‑campaign. On the final day campers present their scale model and a park brochure that explains the theme, key attractions, and how their park keeps guests safe and having fun.

ART IN THE THEME PARK! (Grades 4-6, 7-8) Through the practice of design and creation, students will examine the importance of the visual realm in theme parks. They will explore numerous visual elements including ride design, food presentation, characters, and more.

DIY LIVE SHOW! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Students are tasked to create a live show and put it on for a specifically themed park. Students can choose their own groups and will complete research to find what a strong show idea would be (think Disney-style), work in small groups to create scripts, and rehearse. 

RIDE-TO-REEL CHALLENGE (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  You’ll create your own fictional theme park, design an original attraction, and invent a signature mascot guests will love. Then, you’ll produce a 30–60 second animated commercial trailer that builds excitement and sells the magic.  The week ends with our Theme Park Premiere Showcase, where you’ll pitch your park like a real creative entrepreneur.
It’s Shark Tank meets Pixar meets Imagineering — and your imagination runs the park.

HIDDEN STORIES FROM THE AMUSEMENT PARK! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Step into the role of environmental storytellers. In world-class theme parks, every detail — buildings, colors, music, pathways, props, even trash cans — helps tell a story. In this design-focused course, students explore how physical spaces communicate meaning without using words. Campers analyze how environments guide emotions, create immersion, and influence guest behavior, then design their own fully themed space from the ground up.  This course blends art, architecture, psychology, storytelling, and design thinking, making it ideal for gifted learners who enjoy big-picture creativity and attention to detail.

BUILD-A-BOT THEME PARK! (Grades 4-6, 7-8)  Get ready to combine creativity and robotics!  Using LEGOs and 6th grade robots, campers will construct an entire amusement park full of rides, games, and excitement.

THE ADVENTURE DOESN'T STOP HERE - MORE TO COME.....