SPI Camps 2026
SPI will offer fun summer day camp options for kids enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade in the current school year (2025/2026). Descriptions and dates for these are outlined below. Registration is online only, beginning March 23 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 at their convenience until sessions are full. Tabs on that page will outline 2026 camp policies, scholarship information, our refund policy and other details.
JUNE 8 - JUNE 12
Minions Mischief
(students completing grades k-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Get ready for a silly, action-packed week inspired by the mischievous world of the Minions and the summer release of the latest movie, Minions and Monsters! Join Bob, Kevin, Stuart, and Otto for games, inventions, and secret lab fun—complete with new missions and “upgrades.”
Campers will play freeze ray tag, invent their own Minionese language, and build a security system to defend their secret lab—while imagining new gadgets and abilities to help their Minion crew succeed!
250 Years in Motion: Robotics Camp – Session 1
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, campers will explore how innovations have shaped everyday life over time—from early industry and transportation systems to today’s automated technologies—and imagine how these ideas might continue to evolve in the future.
Campers will construct and program mechanisms that can move, carry, lift, or interact, drawing connections to real-world systems like delivery vehicles, assembly lines, and smart devices. The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and creative problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.
This camp occurs mostly indoors, with some outdoor breaks built into the agenda. Our kid engineers will be asked to sit for periods of time in order to build at tables, follow pictorial instructions (similar to LEGO-style builds), and test their designs. Campers will work in pairs or small groups, share materials, and collaborate on ideas. Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering for this hands-on robotics experience.
Parents should register their child for either Session 1 or Session 2, not both.
JUNE 15- JUNE 19
Full STEAM Ahead – Session 1
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and . Our summer staff of educators 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/or math.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Full STEAM Ahead in 2025.
250 Years in Motion: Robotics Camp – Session 2
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, campers will explore how innovations have shaped everyday life over time—from early industry and transportation systems to today’s automated technologies—and imagine how these ideas might continue to evolve in the future.
Campers will construct and program mechanisms that can move, carry, lift, or interact, drawing connections to real-world systems like delivery vehicles, assembly lines, and smart devices. The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and creative problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.
This camp occurs mostly indoors, with some outdoor breaks built into the agenda. Our kid engineers will be asked to sit for periods of time in order to build at tables, follow pictorial instructions (similar to LEGO-style builds), and test their designs. Campers will work in pairs or small groups, share materials, and collaborate on ideas. Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering for this hands-on robotics experience.
Parents should register their child for either Session 1 or Session 2, not both.
JUNE 22- JUNE 25
Full STEAM Ahead – Session 2
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and . Our summer staff of educators 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/or math.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Full STEAM Ahead in 2025.
Flight Crew
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school 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! Camp is not open to students who participated in a prior year.
JULY 13 - JULY 17
Animals All Around Us
(students completing grades k-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
What can we learn from animals? How can we take care of them and how do they take care of us? This camp is dedicated to catering a hands-on experience in which campers have meet-ups or observations with a variety of animals, gain expert advice from professionals and have informative and fun sessions on how to care for a variety of species. Kids will leave the camp with new knowledge and fond memories of time with new friends.
Blow Off STEAM – Session 1
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy summer with games, challenges, and new friends who are just as curious, creative, and energetic as you! Campers will spend time outdoors playing, building, and exploring, with a mix of active games and hands-on STEAM activities throughout the week.
Each day will include at least one structured exploration involving science, technology, engineering, art, and/or math—along with plenty of time for movement, creativity, and a little bit of organized chaos. This camp is perfect for kids who enjoy trying new things, being active, and having fun in a relaxed, social environment.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering again if they participated in Blow off STEAM in 2025.
AUGUST 3 - AUGUST 7
Around the World
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Grab your passport and get ready for an adventure! Each day, campers will “travel” to a new country or continent, exploring cultures through art, games, customs, and cuisine. This camp brings the world to life in fun, hands-on ways.
Blow Off STEAM – Session 2
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy summer with games, challenges, and new friends who are just as curious, creative, and energetic as you! Campers will spend time outdoors playing, building, and exploring, with a mix of active games and hands-on STEAM activities throughout the week.
Each day will include at least one structured exploration involving science, technology, engineering, art, and/or math—along with plenty of time for movement, creativity, and a little bit of organized chaos. This camp is perfect for kids who enjoy trying new things, being active, and having fun in a relaxed, social environment.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Blow off STEAM in 2025.
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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 or pre-service 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 $70 for the entire week of each camp session. We offer need-based Access Tuition level to families who qualify thanks to support from the Knox County Foundation. We also offer some need-based Supported Tuition level to families not qualifying for Access Tuition but who are experiencing economic hardship and can share details with staff.
SPI will offer fun summer day camp options for kids enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade in the current school year (2025/2026). Descriptions and dates for these are outlined below. Registration is online only, beginning March 23 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 at their convenience until sessions are full. Tabs on that page will outline 2026 camp policies, scholarship information, our refund policy and other details.
JUNE 8 - JUNE 12
Minions Mischief
(students completing grades k-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Get ready for a silly, action-packed week inspired by the mischievous world of the Minions and the summer release of the latest movie, Minions and Monsters! Join Bob, Kevin, Stuart, and Otto for games, inventions, and secret lab fun—complete with new missions and “upgrades.”
Campers will play freeze ray tag, invent their own Minionese language, and build a security system to defend their secret lab—while imagining new gadgets and abilities to help their Minion crew succeed!
250 Years in Motion: Robotics Camp – Session 1
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, campers will explore how innovations have shaped everyday life over time—from early industry and transportation systems to today’s automated technologies—and imagine how these ideas might continue to evolve in the future.
Campers will construct and program mechanisms that can move, carry, lift, or interact, drawing connections to real-world systems like delivery vehicles, assembly lines, and smart devices. The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and creative problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.
This camp occurs mostly indoors, with some outdoor breaks built into the agenda. Our kid engineers will be asked to sit for periods of time in order to build at tables, follow pictorial instructions (similar to LEGO-style builds), and test their designs. Campers will work in pairs or small groups, share materials, and collaborate on ideas. Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering for this hands-on robotics experience.
Parents should register their child for either Session 1 or Session 2, not both.
JUNE 15- JUNE 19
Full STEAM Ahead – Session 1
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and . Our summer staff of educators 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/or math.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Full STEAM Ahead in 2025.
250 Years in Motion: Robotics Camp – Session 2
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, campers will explore how innovations have shaped everyday life over time—from early industry and transportation systems to today’s automated technologies—and imagine how these ideas might continue to evolve in the future.
Campers will construct and program mechanisms that can move, carry, lift, or interact, drawing connections to real-world systems like delivery vehicles, assembly lines, and smart devices. The process will involve engineering, a bit of drag-and-drop coding, and creative problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.
This camp occurs mostly indoors, with some outdoor breaks built into the agenda. Our kid engineers will be asked to sit for periods of time in order to build at tables, follow pictorial instructions (similar to LEGO-style builds), and test their designs. Campers will work in pairs or small groups, share materials, and collaborate on ideas. Please consider your child’s ability to manage these expectations before registering for this hands-on robotics experience.
Parents should register their child for either Session 1 or Session 2, not both.
JUNE 22- JUNE 25
Full STEAM Ahead – Session 2
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let’s play outside and make new friends! Enjoy classic camp games, crafts, and . Our summer staff of educators 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/or math.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Full STEAM Ahead in 2025.
Flight Crew
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school 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! Camp is not open to students who participated in a prior year.
JULY 13 - JULY 17
Animals All Around Us
(students completing grades k-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
What can we learn from animals? How can we take care of them and how do they take care of us? This camp is dedicated to catering a hands-on experience in which campers have meet-ups or observations with a variety of animals, gain expert advice from professionals and have informative and fun sessions on how to care for a variety of species. Kids will leave the camp with new knowledge and fond memories of time with new friends.
Blow Off STEAM – Session 1
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy summer with games, challenges, and new friends who are just as curious, creative, and energetic as you! Campers will spend time outdoors playing, building, and exploring, with a mix of active games and hands-on STEAM activities throughout the week.
Each day will include at least one structured exploration involving science, technology, engineering, art, and/or math—along with plenty of time for movement, creativity, and a little bit of organized chaos. This camp is perfect for kids who enjoy trying new things, being active, and having fun in a relaxed, social environment.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering again if they participated in Blow off STEAM in 2025.
AUGUST 3 - AUGUST 7
Around the World
(students completing grades K-2 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Grab your passport and get ready for an adventure! Each day, campers will “travel” to a new country or continent, exploring cultures through art, games, customs, and cuisine. This camp brings the world to life in fun, hands-on ways.
Blow Off STEAM – Session 2
(students completing grades 3–5 in the current 2025/2026 school year)
9 a.m. to noon
Let loose and enjoy summer with games, challenges, and new friends who are just as curious, creative, and energetic as you! Campers will spend time outdoors playing, building, and exploring, with a mix of active games and hands-on STEAM activities throughout the week.
Each day will include at least one structured exploration involving science, technology, engineering, art, and/or math—along with plenty of time for movement, creativity, and a little bit of organized chaos. This camp is perfect for kids who enjoy trying new things, being active, and having fun in a relaxed, social environment.
Parents should register their kids for either session 1 or session 2 of this year’s offering. Note that activities in this camp theme change annually, so there is no problem registering if they participated in Blow off STEAM in 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 or pre-service 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 $70 for the entire week of each camp session. We offer need-based Access Tuition level to families who qualify thanks to support from the Knox County Foundation. We also offer some need-based Supported Tuition level to families not qualifying for Access Tuition but who are experiencing economic hardship and can share details with staff.
Refund policy for 2026: 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 any qualifying tuition fees be refunded at the specified percentage 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.
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.
