Summer Activities for Kids in our area

Below you will find some of our many summer offerings. For more info and a full list of offerings please contact us by phone (860) 899-7733, email kidscornerct@yahoo.com or visit our site at www.kidscornerct.com

Kids Corner brings fun activities to you, on the days and times you like!Camps each week this summer all Barter-able. $150 per week - 2nd child $120

Crafts/Jewelry Making:Our enthusiastic staff love teaching the art of jewelry making to children in a fun, engaging and age appropriate way. We begin with basic beading crafts on day one. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and ornamental pins will follow. Our classes focus on using yourCreative talents to create beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry that will impress your friends and family. All levels welcome.   An arrayof beautiful beads and stones to work with are included in the course price.  Parents who'd like to see their children create pieces withmore expensive gems may bring them separately, or have us procure them in advance.   We look forward helping your child create beautiful handmade crafts and jewelry.

Lego – Oh!:Build things, over-and-over!   Lego has become much more sophisticated over the last 20 years, and for many children, even more fun.    Children learn about volume, support, and aesthetics.  For aspiring young architects, crafts-persons, engineers, Lego sets are the building blocks (literally) to scientific success. Children collaborate on one large standing project, while working on their own individual creations.  Carries an extra charge for parents wanting elaborate take-home projects.
 
Fun Science:This is a survey of what makes science interesting. It emphasizes the practical - how science can affect every child's life. Each day wehave a brief survey of at least two of the following areas: asteroids, chemical reactions, dinosaurs, earthquakes, oceans, physics,pollution, rivers, solar eclipses and volcanoes.  Each day your child will have some collaborative project to work on.  The final day will include a take-home creation.

Robotics:This introduces the gadgetry that powers our household devices. In our fifteen hours we will be making devices, at first collaboratively,then individually. Participant s can opt to build a robot that will clean anyone's bedroom on command. We use the LEGO MindstormsRCX Robotics Invention System. Learn mechanical design, construction, programming & teamwork skills. In pairs, students builddifferent robots & program them with a computer to move, react & make sounds to solve challenges.  Carries an extra charge for parents wanting a take-home project.

Astronomy:To the moon and beyond!    We take students beyond the moon, to all our planets and even outside the solar system.   We'll learn about galaxies, nebulas, "dead stars" and black holes.  We explore two of the great questions in life:  Where did we come from? And where are we going?  Planetarium trip included where locales and timing and legalities permit.

Guitar (beginning):  Learn to play the world’s most versatile instrument.    Guitar is used in almost every music genre, and brings an “audience” whether in a large group, a duet, or playing solo.  Learn chords, learn technique, and learn the basics of reading a score.  This class arms the beginner to have musical knowledge and have fun.  At least one day is devoted to collaboration and harmony, letting a second student fills, while student A harmonizes.

Ultimate Frisbee:Frisbee has made a revival on college campuses for good reason – teamwork without coaches; competitiveness with few rules, and athletic achievement without the need to be tall or strong.  Our week is for the non-athlete who just wants to have fun.  We include basic skills, then move up to base-running Frisbee,  Frisbee Golf, and Ultimate Frisbee competition.  Parents are welcome in the final hour each day.

Chess: (beginning)Welcome to the wonderful game of chess. This class is for beginners.  On our first day we introduce all moves and give students basic offensive strategy.  On day two we include counter-moves, defense and thinking three and four steps ahead.   By the end of our second day all children will be playing their first games!  On day three we give each student a series of "what if" situations, introduce playing with a clock and playing new people via computer chess.  Days 4 and 5 consist of almost all game-playing, with a handicapped tournament at the end of each day.  Stronger students will have to work within tighter time limits, so the games can be competitive

Gymnastics:Does your child want to learn a forward roll, cart wheel or want to be able roll over the uneven bars?  If you and your child are looking for a fun, non-competitive class, then this class if for them!  This is a fun basic gymnastics class focusing on core gymnastics skills, coordination and flexibility.  This class will have to be held at a school/gym in order to run, call for details. 

“Mathetarium”:This is for students who do not like math but need to be more proficient.  We attempt to help students “discover” interesting parts of math, as if it were part of a Planetarium.  We cover exponential growth, Fibonacci numbers, Pythagorean theorem, and neat things that make at least some elements of math interesting.    This class extends itself into the late summer and fall: our “Mathemagicians” send all students and parents one interesting math problem each weekend to help keep their interest throughout the year.

Speed Reading:Get through your reading faster, with equal or BETTER comprehension!   We help students develop good habits so they are notbogged down with work. We make use of the "Breakthrough!" curriculum, using age-appropriate novels and non-fiction. Studentsshould EXPECT to double their reading speed, and know that emerging three times faster, with equal or even BETTER understanding is a realistic result.  Most students will read a full (short) book in their final 3-hour session.

Write On!Teachers appreciate clear expression more than any other elements in any essay. Yet many students are daunted by what to write, how to compile ideas, and how to edit.  Our course focuses on using conventional English and expressing oneself with clarity and succinctness. Students will learn to write short essays as well as craft longer essays.  Our work product each day will be a complete short essay, and a portion of one long piece, which can be a previously assigned summer report or research paper.

Pool & PicnicThis is our favorite summer afternoon combination for children ages 6 - 12.  Moms leave their children in the care of two or more Kids Corner Staffers (at least one with life-guarding experience) for up to four hours each day.  Lunch is fruit and pizza or sandwiches provided by Kids Corner each day, but parents may bring a bag lunch for any child with specific dietary needs.  After lunch - it's outdoor play, and eventually pool time.  We do at least one collaborative activity each day, including Lego, digital photography, and art.  Sessions take place at town recreation areas with public swimming pools and extra recreation space.  Kids Corner uses an indoor locale is given in case of rainy afternoons.