Build-It-Yourself offers playful workshops that inspire and empower students to invent. Each BIY project evolves from a storyline about a social issue and a challenge to use technology to explore the issue and problem-solve. Campers keep a PowerPoint lab book and present their solutions at the end of the week.
Join the CA Summer Camp / Build-It-Yourself crew during the school year. Think like an artist. Build like an engineer.
Scroll down for more information. Email us: camp@concordacademy.org or call (978) 402-2222.
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In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: July 7-11
Rising 3-8 graders
Cost: $940
Are you a hotshot gamer? How cool would it be to become a crackerjack game designer? If you think you’ve got the talent, let us show you the tools you need to get started.
Use PowerPoint to develop a storyline and design graphics for rocket ships, friendly dragons, superheroes, evildoers, and other wacky characters. Lay out fantasy scenes. Record and edit outrageous sound effects. Learn to use Scratch programming to put it all together. Then, test out your game with your friends and post it on the Web for the world to play.
In Scratch Game Development 102, take the game development skills you learned in 101 and multiply them. Learn how to storyboard a game and create dramatic animation sequences. Make music and cool sound effects. And then, use advanced programming techniques, including database design, to make your game come to life.
Dig deep . . . you may develop the next Minecraft. Mom and Dad will give you more time to play computer games!
Playing games, especially multi-player teamwork games, can help you develop valuable collaboration, critical thinking, and decision-making skills – skills you’ll need to be a “player” in today’s high-tech world.
This Mission includes: Art | Programming | Presentation | Teamwork | Thumbnastics
In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: July 14-18
Rising 3-8 graders
Cost: $940
Wanted: Minecraft Artists and Builders
Advanced civilizations have Sphinx-like monuments, Taj Mahal-like structures, and Google-like laboratories that inspire creative builders to invent amazing contraptions. You will build a state-of-the-art Minecraft laboratory where you can invent to your heart’s content.
Minecraft, one of the most popular computer video games today, enables builders to exercise their creativity in previously impossible ways. Building complex machines, designing logic systems, and creating imaginative structures are enabled in this 3D virtual world. Inventors will experience the thrill of building in a fun, artistic environment.
Advanced Minecraft builders may introduce Redstone contraptions into their designs.
Skills you will exercise: Minecraft construction techniques | architectural design | presentation skills | teamwork | defender of creative thinking
In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: July 21-25
Rising 3-8 grades
Cost: $940
Since the beginning of time, humans have dreamed about cruising the clouds like the birds and getting from one place to another faster than anyone else. A couple bros named Orville and Wilbur got us started around a century ago with one of the coolest contraptions ever, but there’s always room for improvement.
We’re recruiting a few smart cookies to join an advanced aerospace development team. You’ll start your training constructing state-of-the-art paper airplanes, then apply your new-found aerodynamics knowledge to the design of a supersonic glider. Then, it’s on to the next frontier, building and launching your own air-powered rocket in a 21st-century “space race.” Finally, let your imagination soar as you turn premium quality junk into your own vision of the quintessential spacecraft of the future.
Skills you will exercise: Art | Construction | Modeling | Presentation | The Wild Blue Yonder
In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: July 28 – August 1
Rising 3-8 graders
Cost: $940
Humans have created some major messes … foul pollution, nasty diseases, and mean wars. If we continue on this path, doom and gloom are sure to follow.
Your mission is to build a smart robot.
As robots get smarter, we humans must learn how to stay king of the mountain.
We will learn how to use Chat GPT, Siri, and Google AI tools to get smarter. We will create voice and pattern recognition programs. We will program a robot to compose the next Taylor Swift hit tune or create the next Andy Warhol million-dollar masterpiece.
Skills you will exercise: Using AI tools wisely | planning | programming | survival
In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: August 4-8
Rising 3-8 graders
Cost: $940
Humans have a nasty history of wanting what others have. Do you have what it takes to design and build the most formidable fort in the land to protect your treasures?
The Problem: The world is in chaos! Evil doers are stealing everyone’s candy.
The Correctocrats say, “Can’t we all just get along?”
The Mighticans say, “Survival of the fittest. We must must be strong!“
The Middletarians say, “Give me candy or give me death!”
The Mission: Build a mighty castle that can protect the Queen’s candy.
You must build a fort from cardboard boxes, plastic trash bags, scraps of wood and other premium quality junk!
You must defend your position from scurrilous scoundrels who want to take your candy. Be warned! They may be armed with wet projectiles, stink bombs, and slanderous insults.
In conjunction with Build-It-Yourself.
2025 Dates: August 11-15
Rising 3-8 graders
Cost: $940
Wanted: Hot Shot Catapult Designers …
How far do you think you could catapult an egg?
Could you build a catapult accurate enough to chuck a jelly bean into a friend’s mouth?
Ever think what fun you could have if you could launch a water balloon at evildoers?
We will study the evolution of catapults. Then, we will build the mother of all catapults and test the physics that control distance and accuracy.
Skills you will exercise: Projectile engineering | Structures | Teamwork | Dodging eggs and water balloons
166 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
camp@concordacademy.org
Phone: (978) 402-2222 Fax: (978) 402-2210