SPI Camps 2025
SPI will offer fun summer day camp options for kids enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade in the current school year (2024/2025). Descriptions and dates for these are outlined below. Registration is online only, beginning March 9 at 5 p.m. Before enrolling kids in camps, parents/legal guardians will need to create an account at https://spi.jumbula.com/Login and can afterward visit the site at https://spi.jumbula.com/ to register their convenience until sessions are full. Tabs on that page outline camp policies, scholarship information and other details. Our refund policy is also viewable here at the bottom of this page.
JUNE 2 - JUNE 6
BotMasters Session 1 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Campers will design interactive tabletop games, using robotics components. From spinning spinners to moving game pieces, they’ll code and construct robotic mechanisms which bring their games to life! The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and a lot of creativity to make the game compelling for users. This camp takes place primarily indoors, with some scheduled outdoor brain breaks. Campers will work in pairs or groups, must share materials and will be expected to consider and incorporate the ideas of peers. Kid engineers in this session will need to sit at a table for extended periods while building out elements according to pictorial instructions (similar to what you'd find with LEGO). Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering them for this hands-on game-making endeavor! Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of BotMasters, not both.
JUNE 9 - JUNE 13
Legends & Lore (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
In time for the release of the live action version of How to Train Your Dragon, we'll have fun considering mythical creatures and cryptic archetypes. You have heard of dragons, of course - our muse for this session - but what about dugongs? Your kids will be able to give you the low-down on them and other quirky beasts over the course of the week. This will also be an opportunity to let imaginations run wild. We may even introduce campers to a starter version of the role playing dice-based game Dungeons and Dragons.
BotMasters Session 2 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year)
1 to 4 p.m.
Campers will design interactive tabletop games, using robotics components. From spinning spinners to moving game pieces, they’ll code and construct robotic mechanisms which bring their games to life! The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and a lot of creativity to make the game compelling for users. This camp takes place primarily indoors, with some scheduled outdoor brain breaks. Campers will work in pairs or groups, must share materials and will be tasked with incorporating the ideas of peers. Kid engineers in this session will need to sit at a table for extended periods while building out elements according to pictorial instructions (similar to what you'd find with LEGO). Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations as they embark on this hands-on game-making endeavor! Parents should register their kids for either session 1 of BotMasters or session 2, not both.
JUNE 16 - JUNE 20
Camp Cretaceous (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Step back in time and embark on a prehistoric adventure! Young explorers will dig into the world of dinosaurs and ancient life, uncovering the secrets of the past through hands-on activities, games, and creative projects. We'll have a roaring good time learning about incredible creatures that once roamed the Earth.
JUNE 23 - JUNE 27
Flight Crew (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Take pride in aviation's Ohio roots, while reaching for the sky with us. Gliding, floating, flapping—these are just a few of the ways both animals and machines achieve flight. At camp, we'll consider these, follow the path of a local woman who made history flying around the world, talk with pilots, get hands-on with some building and payload tasks, and check out a variety of airplanes up close. The week will culminate with a flight in a small engine aircraft! This camp session has many recurring activities and experiences and is not open to repeat campers from past years' seasons. Locations for drop off and/or pick up will vary on certain days this camp week to enable activities at local airports, but the distances are within a short range of downtown Mount Vernon. Participation in this camp is a prerequisite for kids who will (as middle schoolers) may later wish to continue with us on the aviation theme through our new SPI-lot Training program.
Champ Camp (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Inspired by protagonists in children's literature, campers will complete a variety of service projects and challenges in different categories to earn the SPIrit of SPI award. They may be tasked with anything from community cleanup, to caring for animals, to contributing to scientific research, to stretching outside their comfort zone in athletic or artistic endeavors. They’ll also have the opportunity to engage with fellow citizens whose backgrounds and abilities may differ from their own but whose achievements make them champs too! Locations for drop off and/or pick up may vary on certain days this week to enable certain projects or outings, but we will work to keep the distance within close proximity to central Mount Vernon.
JULY 14 - JULY 18
AgVentures (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
In Knox County you often drive by -- or live near -- a farm, but do you know what it takes to run one? See animals up-close, try your hand at a chore or two, and learn a bit about the science and technology that helps feed the world. Solve soil puzzles with the help of experts from our community. Your campers will have the agricultural acumen they need to be more informed fair-goers after this week!
JULY 28 - AUGUST 1
Full STEAM Ahead, session 1 (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and silly songs. Our staff will lead at least one structured - and often messy - exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
Blow Off STEAM, session 1 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy being outside with kids who are just as silly, curious, and smart as you! There will be time for both active play and at least one structured exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Blow Off STEAM, not both.
AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 8
Full STEAM Ahead, session 2 (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and silly songs. Our staff will lead at least one structured - and often messy - exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
Blow Off STEAM, session 2 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy being outside with kids who are just as silly, curious, and smart as you! There will be time for both active play and at least one structured exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
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What to expect if this is your first year registering for SPI camps: Our weeklong, half-day camp sessions occur at various outdoor partner venues in our community. These include the Brown Family Environmental Center (Gambier), Ariel-Foundation Park (Mount Vernon), Columbia Elementary (Mount Vernon City Schools), and the Knox County Airport. Some sessions may involve field trips. Camps are led by certified k-12 teachers, assisted by our teenage STEAM Team volunteers and/or SPI staff. As each session approaches, caregivers will get confirmation of the particular details related to the camp(s) for which their child is registered. Families should expect that SPI campers will be outdoors for the duration of camp (with few exceptions, like robotics -focused programs). Kid with phones or tablets will be asked to leave them at home or to keep them in a backpack.
The program fee is $65 for the entire week for MOST camps. Families who are already registered with the Ohio ACES program can submit their 2025 camp registration receipts and claims for reimbursement for SPI camps fees, up to that program's allowable limits! We also offer need-based partial scholarships to families who qualify (and can arrange for an installment plan for those families ONLY).
SPI will offer fun summer day camp options for kids enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade in the current school year (2024/2025). Descriptions and dates for these are outlined below. Registration is online only, beginning March 9 at 5 p.m. Before enrolling kids in camps, parents/legal guardians will need to create an account at https://spi.jumbula.com/Login and can afterward visit the site at https://spi.jumbula.com/ to register their convenience until sessions are full. Tabs on that page outline camp policies, scholarship information and other details. Our refund policy is also viewable here at the bottom of this page.
JUNE 2 - JUNE 6
BotMasters Session 1 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Campers will design interactive tabletop games, using robotics components. From spinning spinners to moving game pieces, they’ll code and construct robotic mechanisms which bring their games to life! The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and a lot of creativity to make the game compelling for users. This camp takes place primarily indoors, with some scheduled outdoor brain breaks. Campers will work in pairs or groups, must share materials and will be expected to consider and incorporate the ideas of peers. Kid engineers in this session will need to sit at a table for extended periods while building out elements according to pictorial instructions (similar to what you'd find with LEGO). Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering them for this hands-on game-making endeavor! Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of BotMasters, not both.
JUNE 9 - JUNE 13
Legends & Lore (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
In time for the release of the live action version of How to Train Your Dragon, we'll have fun considering mythical creatures and cryptic archetypes. You have heard of dragons, of course - our muse for this session - but what about dugongs? Your kids will be able to give you the low-down on them and other quirky beasts over the course of the week. This will also be an opportunity to let imaginations run wild. We may even introduce campers to a starter version of the role playing dice-based game Dungeons and Dragons.
BotMasters Session 2 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year)
1 to 4 p.m.
Campers will design interactive tabletop games, using robotics components. From spinning spinners to moving game pieces, they’ll code and construct robotic mechanisms which bring their games to life! The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and a lot of creativity to make the game compelling for users. This camp takes place primarily indoors, with some scheduled outdoor brain breaks. Campers will work in pairs or groups, must share materials and will be tasked with incorporating the ideas of peers. Kid engineers in this session will need to sit at a table for extended periods while building out elements according to pictorial instructions (similar to what you'd find with LEGO). Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations as they embark on this hands-on game-making endeavor! Parents should register their kids for either session 1 of BotMasters or session 2, not both.
JUNE 16 - JUNE 20
Camp Cretaceous (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Step back in time and embark on a prehistoric adventure! Young explorers will dig into the world of dinosaurs and ancient life, uncovering the secrets of the past through hands-on activities, games, and creative projects. We'll have a roaring good time learning about incredible creatures that once roamed the Earth.
JUNE 23 - JUNE 27
Flight Crew (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Take pride in aviation's Ohio roots, while reaching for the sky with us. Gliding, floating, flapping—these are just a few of the ways both animals and machines achieve flight. At camp, we'll consider these, follow the path of a local woman who made history flying around the world, talk with pilots, get hands-on with some building and payload tasks, and check out a variety of airplanes up close. The week will culminate with a flight in a small engine aircraft! This camp session has many recurring activities and experiences and is not open to repeat campers from past years' seasons. Locations for drop off and/or pick up will vary on certain days this camp week to enable activities at local airports, but the distances are within a short range of downtown Mount Vernon. Participation in this camp is a prerequisite for kids who will (as middle schoolers) may later wish to continue with us on the aviation theme through our new SPI-lot Training program.
Champ Camp (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Inspired by protagonists in children's literature, campers will complete a variety of service projects and challenges in different categories to earn the SPIrit of SPI award. They may be tasked with anything from community cleanup, to caring for animals, to contributing to scientific research, to stretching outside their comfort zone in athletic or artistic endeavors. They’ll also have the opportunity to engage with fellow citizens whose backgrounds and abilities may differ from their own but whose achievements make them champs too! Locations for drop off and/or pick up may vary on certain days this week to enable certain projects or outings, but we will work to keep the distance within close proximity to central Mount Vernon.
JULY 14 - JULY 18
AgVentures (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
In Knox County you often drive by -- or live near -- a farm, but do you know what it takes to run one? See animals up-close, try your hand at a chore or two, and learn a bit about the science and technology that helps feed the world. Solve soil puzzles with the help of experts from our community. Your campers will have the agricultural acumen they need to be more informed fair-goers after this week!
JULY 28 - AUGUST 1
Full STEAM Ahead, session 1 (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and silly songs. Our staff will lead at least one structured - and often messy - exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
Blow Off STEAM, session 1 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy being outside with kids who are just as silly, curious, and smart as you! There will be time for both active play and at least one structured exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Blow Off STEAM, not both.
AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 8
Full STEAM Ahead, session 2 (completing grades k-2 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 1-3 next year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and silly songs. Our staff will lead at least one structured - and often messy - exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
Blow Off STEAM, session 2 (completing grades 3-5 in the current 2024/2025 school year, rising into grades 4-6 next year )
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy being outside with kids who are just as silly, curious, and smart as you! There will be time for both active play and at least one structured exploration each day focusing on the components that make up the acronym STEAM:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of Full STEAM Ahead, not both.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What to expect if this is your first year registering for SPI camps: Our weeklong, half-day camp sessions occur at various outdoor partner venues in our community. These include the Brown Family Environmental Center (Gambier), Ariel-Foundation Park (Mount Vernon), Columbia Elementary (Mount Vernon City Schools), and the Knox County Airport. Some sessions may involve field trips. Camps are led by certified k-12 teachers, assisted by our teenage STEAM Team volunteers and/or SPI staff. As each session approaches, caregivers will get confirmation of the particular details related to the camp(s) for which their child is registered. Families should expect that SPI campers will be outdoors for the duration of camp (with few exceptions, like robotics -focused programs). Kid with phones or tablets will be asked to leave them at home or to keep them in a backpack.
The program fee is $65 for the entire week for MOST camps. Families who are already registered with the Ohio ACES program can submit their 2025 camp registration receipts and claims for reimbursement for SPI camps fees, up to that program's allowable limits! We also offer need-based partial scholarships to families who qualify (and can arrange for an installment plan for those families ONLY).
Refund policy for 2025: If you need to cancel your child's registration due to unexpected circumstances, we will offer a partial refund of camp registration fees if we receive email notification by email to [email protected] which includes your child's name, the session(s) they will not be attending, and a note about whether you would you would a. prefer a partial refund or b. prefer to donate fees paid in support of SPI camp scholarships for other kids. Partial refund amounts as follows:
- If you are able to communicate cancellation four or more full weeks prior to the start of the camp session start date, you may request a 40% refund of fees paid.
- With three or more full weeks email notice prior to camp session start date, you may at request a refund of 30% of fees paid.
- With two or more FULL weeks email notice prior to camp session start date, you may at request a refund of 20% of fees paid.
- No refunds with two or fewer FULL weeks notification.
- If you are able to communicate cancellation four or more full weeks prior to the start of the camp session start date, you may request a 40% refund of fees paid.
- With three or more full weeks email notice prior to camp session start date, you may at request a refund of 30% of fees paid.
- With two or more FULL weeks email notice prior to camp session start date, you may at request a refund of 20% of fees paid.
- No refunds with two or fewer FULL weeks notification.
