Summer at the Lakes provides middle school students with a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun. They will build leadership skills and strengthen academic foundations. Students can also stay active with sports and games, express their creativity through digital art, multimedia, and theater, and deepen their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). There’s something for every interest and passion!
*Unless otherwise noted, these camps are for rising 5th – 8th Graders
The following camps are listed in alphabetical order. Please refer to the “At a Glance” document for the weekly breakdown and pricing.
Full Day
Week 5, Week 6
5th–8th Grade campers will explore creativity and self-expression while strengthening their auditioning and improv skills. They will also work on scenes and/or musical performances from renowned Broadway shows, culminating in a showcase for family and friends. Family & Friends Showcase: Friday, July 3 at 2:30pm
AM
Week 2
Explore the world of environmental science! Campers will get their hands dirty while learning about pollution, sustainability, soil science, and planting seeds. Activities include seed germination experiments, exploring the effects of salinity, and investigating ocean, air, and land pollution—all while discovering how they can make a positive impact on the planet.
PM
Week 4
Middle School campers will expand their artistic skills while exploring projects inspired by different regions, including African kente paper weaving, Japanese cherry blossom art, Australian dot painting, and more. Activities are designed to be fun, informative, and culturally respectful. Campers will grow their confidence, curiosity, and joy in creating during this week-long artistic journey.
AM
Week 5
Experienced coaching, engaging drills, and fun competitive games will help you master your moves on the court. Join peers and coaches to strengthen teamwork and sportsmanship, improve physical conditioning, and expand your overall understanding of the great game of basketball!
AM
Week 5
Experienced coaching, engaging drills, and fun competitive games will help you master your moves on the court. Join peers and coaches to strengthen teamwork and sportsmanship, improve physical conditioning, and expand your overall understanding of the great game of basketball!
PM
Week 3
¡Viva la fiesta! Campers will explore and celebrate diverse Latin cultures through dance, games, and crafts, all while learning foundational Spanish vocabulary and phrases. Camp Fiesta is a fun and dynamic introduction to the world of Español!
AM
Week 4
Through expert coaching, engaging activities, and fun team challenges, you’ll take your cheer skills to the next level. Join Academy’s Head Cheerleading Coach and Upper Division Cheerleaders to learn popular cheers, simple stunts, and short pom-pom routines. Build confidence, teamwork, and physical fitness while celebrating school spirit and having a blast with your peers!
AM
Week 8
Chess Camp is perfect for beginners and younger players looking to build skills. Through fun, interactive activities, campers will develop problem-solving and critical thinking, strengthen memory and focus, learn sportsmanship and patience, and make new friends. Chess is introduced step by step using modified games and challenges that make learning engaging and exciting for all skill levels.
AM
Week 3, Week 5
Calling all inventors, makers, and designers! This camp is perfect for campers eager to bring their creative ideas to life. Throughout the week, they’ll explore ideation, design, and prototyping, applying their learning through a variety of engaging projects. Campers will have the chance to turn ideas into reality while building valuable problem-solving and innovation skills.
AM
Week 7, Week 8
En garde! Step into the thrilling world of fencing. Campers will learn the fundamentals in a fun and supportive environment. Led by a world-class athlete and coach, participants will practice techniques, footwork, balance, body control, resilience, strategic thinking, and mental focus. All activities are conducted safely with age-appropriate equipment and attentive supervision. Campers will also master fencing terminology, rules, and strategies while building confidence and enjoying the sport.
PM
Week 6
Get active, make smart choices, and take charge of your health! This high-energy camp uses science-based activities to help campers understand the benefits of regular exercise, good nutrition, proper hydration, and smart snacking. Through hands-on experiments, creative challenges, and interactive lessons, participants will build healthy habits, strengthen their knowledge, and learn practical ways to make better choices every day.
AM
Week 4, Week 6
Join us for Flag Football this summer! Coach Munn will guide campers through advanced offensive and defensive skills and game concepts. Participants will put their abilities to the test in modified games and scrimmages, sharpening strategy, teamwork, and confidence on the field. It’s the perfect opportunity for players looking to push their skills further, have fun, and build confidence!
Full Day
Week 1, Week 2
This camp is all about things that fly! Campers will spend the week building, experimenting, and exploring the world of flight. They’ll construct mini-drones and put their skills to the test on a thrilling drone obstacle course. Participants will also assemble, customize, and launch their very own model rockets. Don’t miss this action-packed week of learning and high-flying fun!
PM
Week 2
Campers will explore the art of collage by blending images, printed materials, and found objects to create eye-catching, one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Throughout the week, they’ll work with materials like paper, fabric, and wood to design unique montages that spark creativity and imagination. Don’t forget to bring an oversized paint shirt for all the fun!
PM
Week 8
Summer assignments stressing you out? We’ve got you covered! At Academy, expert teachers guide campers in completing their summer work, helping them maintain skills and stay on track. It’s a productive week for kids—and a huge relief for parents.
PM
Week 1
Celebrate the earth while unleashing your creativity! Campers will craft two- and three-dimensional artworks through building, sculpting, painting, and repurposing recycled materials. Each participant will design a unique “recycled art” piece and collaborate on an eco-friendly group project. Don’t forget to bring an oversized paint shirt for all the fun!
AM
Week 1
Through fun drills, lead-up activities, modified games, and scrimmages, campers will strengthen their fundamental skills and deepen their understanding of the beautiful game. Our coaches will help every player grow as a dribbler, passer, shooter, and teammate.
PM
Week 3
Move over, Siri! Fun coding challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore AI and Python. Campers will build their own voice-activated assistant that listens to commands, tells jokes, and launches apps. No massive supercomputers required—just clever logic and standard coding libraries. By the end of the week, they’ll have a working digital sidekick of their very own!
PM
Week 5
Ready to code like a pro? Fun coding challenges, problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Python and text-based programming. Campers will build retro arcade-style games, crack codes, solve puzzles, and create playable projects from scratch. This fast-paced camp introduces real-world programming while sparking creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for tech.
PM
Week 4, Week 7
Love games like Blox Fruits and Anime Adventures? Fun coding challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Lua and game design. Campers will script superpowers, custom swords, and leveling systems, and design combat arenas where players battle for XP and loot. They won’t just build a world—they’ll code the magic, health bars, and enemy AI. Don’t just play the hero—code the power that makes them legendary!
PM
Week 1
Transform from Roblox player to Roblox developer! Fun coding challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Roblox Studio and 3D game design. Campers will build their own Obby (obstacle course), design lava pits, moving platforms, and speed runs, and use scripting tricks to bring their world to life. They’ll customize avatars, sculpt terrain, and launch a game that could top the leaderboards. The world awaits their creation!
PM
Week 2
Dream of creating the next Bloxburg? Fun coding challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Lua and Roblox game design. Campers will build their own Tycoon or adventure game, master scripting, design skins, sell game passes, and even earn Robux. They’ll publish their game to the world and watch players roll in!
PM
Week 6
Become a VR star! Fun tech challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Roblox VR and video creation. Campers will play and record VR adventures, edit footage, add sound effects, and create viral-worthy videos. They’ll also build custom VR obbys (obstacle courses) to challenge their friends. It’s playing, creating, and streaming—all in one!
PM
Week 8
Want to build a game that feels like Fall Guys? Fun coding challenges, creative problem-solving, and interactive projects will help your camper explore Unity and 3D game design. Campers will create a thrilling obstacle course with spinning hammers, slippery slopes, and physics-based traps. They’ll learn real tools pros use to control gravity and collisions—and by the end of the week, they’ll have a fully playable speed-run level to challenge their friends. Fast, fun, and 100% real game design!
Full Day
Week 1, Week 3, Week 5, Week 7
Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! Fun adventures, skill-building challenges, and team activities will help your camper explore nature and the great outdoors. Campers will fish, grill hot dogs, make s’mores, practice archery, and master essential survival skills. The week wraps up with an exciting trip to the Academy at the Lakes McManus campus, where they’ll put their skills to the test in the wild!
Full Day
Week 3, Week 4
Lights, camera, action! Fun creative challenges, collaborative projects, and hands-on activities will help your camper explore stop-motion animation and live show production. Campers will write scripts, film interviews, anchor segments, direct scenes, and edit their own exciting movie trailers. By the end of the week, they’ll take home a copy of their broadcast—a keepsake of their creative journey!
*Weekly Camp Themes will be incorporated throughout the day
