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Summer 2026
Session Dates
Session 1: Friday, June 12 – Friday, June 26 (no classes on Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth)
Session 2: Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 17
Session 3: Monday, July 27 – Friday, August 7
Early Bird Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Final Application Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026
Tuition Assistance Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026
Summer 2026 IN-PERSON COURSES
Click a course block for details!
SESSION 1
Course Description:
Both new and returning Sphero robot programmers are welcome to join this course! Students will use block-based coding to drive their Sphero Mini robots and tackle a variety of new challenges. Students who have taken Get Rolling once before, or have other prior experience with coding, will have the opportunity to hone their skills and move onto text coding with their Sphero Minis, if they’re ready to level up! Whether new or experienced, everyone will use complex thinking, cooperation, and problem-solving to complete fun challenges with varying levels of difficulty.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $55 materials fee is required for the purchase of a Sphero Mini robot that students will take home at the end of the course. If students use their own Sphero Mini from a previous course, the materials fee will be waived.
Course Description:
Junior astronomers prepare to blast off into a deep exploration of all things outer space! This hands-on course will have students act as experimenters, scholars, and theorizers as each lesson takes them deeper into the field of astronomy. From the Ancient Greeks to modern day, students will investigate how astronomers have come to understand the scientific principles that govern our universe. Topics will include The Big Bang, stars and constellations, black holes, the solar system, the structure and evolution of galaxies, and more!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
Did you know that the link between math and architecture goes back to ancient times, when the two disciplines were virtually indistinguishable? Pyramids and temples were some of the earliest examples of mathematical principles at work. Today, math continues to feature prominently in building design, from the Kunsthaus Graz in Austria to Seattle’s Central Library, to LA’s Disney Concert Hall. Through hands-on projects, students will advance their application of geometry concepts such as dimensions and conversions, area and volume, shapes and angles, 2- and 3- dimensional pictures, rays, lines, segments, and more! Mastery will be demonstrated by students’ ability to independently construct and create structures, building on their intuition that Math + Design = Awesome.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
Humans have always been fascinated by nature and science. This course offers a unique approach to science experiments through creative, art-based activities. It’s a great fit for children who are both scientifically minded and creatively inclined.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
In this course, students will explore the fundamental question, “What happens when…?” as they delve into a variety of scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, and biology. Each week, participants will formulate hypotheses and apply the scientific method to conduct hands-on experiments. By systematically gathering and analyzing data, students will not only enhance their practical laboratory skills but also develop a nuanced comprehension of the underlying principles governing the diverse phenomena they investigate. This course fosters a learning environment that encourages critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
Since the beginning of time humans have told each other stories. Whether to teach a lesson, signal a warning, or explain the unexplainable, different societies across the earth and throughout history have told these stories. Students in this course will be introduced to a wide variety of myths and legends, pantheons and cryptids which will then be transformed into art like posters and dioramas. By the end of this course they will be able to pass these stories on to others and come up with their own myths and legends.
Course Description:
From Yemen’s towering ancient skyscraper cities to Spain’s intricate water mazes and the monumental Ziggurat of Ur in Iraq, certain feats of ancient engineering continue to inspire awe today. This course delves into the ingenuity of past civilizations worldwide, examining how they created enduring structures that have withstood earthquakes, floods, military conflicts, and the passage of time. In each class meeting, students will explore a different ancient engineering achievement and apply principles of architecture, physics, engineering, mathematics, and sustainability to design their own innovative masterpieces inspired by these engineering phenomena of the past.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
In this hands-on design studio, students become world builders, creating detailed miniature environments from cardboard, natural materials, and found objects.
Projects range from houses and villages to Jurassic landscapes, fantasy realms, and game-inspired worlds. Students design structures, craft tiny details, and develop the story behind their world—all while practicing planning, spatial reasoning, and creative problem-solving.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $35 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
This course will answer the all-too-common question, “When will I use algebra in real life?” Students will enrich their current math knowledge and look ahead to future algebra curriculum via hands-on methods with a focus on real-life application. This course will allow students to apply their strengthened understanding of linear relationships to analyze trends, predict results, and answer scientific questions. Mastery will be demonstrated through the use of algebra to answer a relevant question of how two choices compare with one another over time.
Course Description:
Coming soon!
Course Description:
What’s the verdict: are you ready to fill the roles of prosecution, defense, judge, and jury all in one course? Students will have the opportunity to simulate trials in order to experience the United States’ justice system, organize facts to draw conclusions, learn about trial strategies, and develop the persuasive argumentation skills of a good lawyer. Students will demonstrate knowledge through strong questioning and deliberation skills as well as a comprehensive understanding of the court system structure.
Course Description:
In this course, students will be engaged with the laws of physics through hands-on projects and experiments building a conceptual foundation through observation, pattern recognition, and hands-on experimentation. Physics is the fundamental science studying what is matter, energy, space, and how it relates to time so we can understand how the universe behaves, from the atomic structure to galaxies. It relies on mathematical models and experimental testing to formulate laws that universally show by repeated experimentation motion, forces, and interactions. Physics has several branches that include Newton and classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Materials fee coming soon.
Course Description
There are many versions of lawn games and games to play in your home, but did you know mastery of these games involves math and physics? In this course, students will explore the science behind common lawn games such as bags, bocce ball, ladder ball, and more. Through the fun of playing the games, students will learn why some techniques work better than others, how physics applies to what is happening in the game, and explore ways to improve the games. After this course, no one will look at “playing” the same again!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description:
Dive into the world of optical illusions, explore how artists use line, shape, and color to trick the eye and create the illusion of motion and depth. Experiment with new techniques—such as tessellation, perspective distortion, and contrasting color patterns—to build your own collection of optical artworks. Transform your designs into an interactive puzzle room exhibit, where each illusion hides a clue to solve. This class blends art, math, and creative problem-solving for a mind-bending experience.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
In this course, students will dive into the spooky and strange subatomic, non-Newtonian world where the understood laws of classical physics are thrown out the window. They will engage with the classic experiments that gave us a look at how a particle can be in a superposition at three different places at once; how a photon can be a wave, oscillate, and be a particle at the same time while not experiencing time or distance; and other spooky-actions of quarks and other subatomic particles that are inside of a proton. Students will look at classical versus quantum physics and how wave functions changed the accepted norms. From Aristotle and Newton to the 21st century, it is all about spacetime, multiverses, conservation of energy, quantum entanglement, string theory, and how Schrödinger, who was seeking to disprove quantum theory, proved it and gave us his famous experiment and equation.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Materials fee coming soon.
Course Description
So you want to build a rover to explore your favorite planet or satellite surface? Join us as we explore the engineering world and construct our own. We look into the design of rovers and consider what is feasible with the materials on hand. We take a look at the challenges that engineers face in ensuring that rovers can function in their environment and can do the tasks assigned to them.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Materials fee coming soon.
SESSION 2
Course Description
In this course, students will delve into the works of a different author each week, discovering the unique styles of Keven Henkes, David Shannon, Mo Willems, Chris Van Dusen, and more! As they read and learn about each author, they will compare and contrast the stories, gaining a deep understanding of each writer’s approach before channeling their insights into a creative project. Students will apply critical thinking and collaboration skills with projects like designing their own car, writing in the author’s style, completing an art piece, and much more!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $10 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Pop it up, fling it far, light it up, and make it climb. Use circuits, stored energy, friction, and mechanical motion to make your creations MOVE! Each class meeting will introduce students to a simple mechanism that will allow their creations to come to life. Throughout the course, students will be given challenges with specific criteria and constraints. We will work through the design process (Explore –>Plan –>Create –>Test –>Refine) to solve these challenges.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Fire up your brain cells and get ready to explore a fascinating microscopic world! Though cells are tiny, they are complex machines with moving parts and unique jobs to do based on their structure. Students will become cell experts through hands-on activities, discussion, and using a microscope to see living cells in action. This class will investigate single-celled organisms such as amoebas and bacteria, animal and plant cells, cellular processes, and even how some of our own uniquely structured cells work together to keep our bodies healthy.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Learn about fractions through edible math in this integrated (reading, writing, math, cooking) unit. Students explore fractions and food to learn concepts like equivalent fractions, mixed numbers and improper fractions. Through authentic problem solving with popular, kid-friendly recipes, students learn to multiply and divide fractions and work with ratios. Students will scale recipes to a large amount and an individual portion to create a class e-cookbook with “Monster Recipes” and “Dinner for One” recipes. Of course, we will cook the monster version of a recipe too!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Coming soon!
Course Description
In this course, students will explore the intricacies of human anatomy and physiology, examining the structure and function of bodily systems such as the respiratory, circulatory, skeletal, digestive, muscular, and nervous systems. Through interactive simulations and modeling activities, students will not only gain a better understanding of each of these systems, but also their harmonious coordination that regulates the human body.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Tired of someone else making the rules? Think you could organize a better way of living? Have you always wanted to be a king or queen, or a dictator? Here’s your chance! In this class students will create their own countries. They will choose where their country will be and what it will be called. Big cities? Small towns? You get to decide! Students will study different countries and apply this knowledge to creating their own, step by step. They will map out their country, design the flag, choose their laws, and write a constitution. The course will culminate with all countries coming together for a global summit. Will alliances be created? Will governments crumble? You decide!
Course Description
In this course, students will explore the indespensible machines that built the pyramids and Stonehenge. Students will do hands-on activities on each of the simple machines, axle, inclined plane, lever, wedge, screw, and pulley. A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. Students will explore mechanical advantage and how such devices change the direction or magnitude of a force to make work easier. Students will explore how simple machines are the fundamental building blocks for more complex machines such as automobiles and building a skyscraper.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Materials fee coming soon.
Course Description
Coming soon!
Course Description
In this course, students will take Rube Goldberg machines to a whole other level. They will become modern-day Rube Goldbergs as they design and build machines named after the American cartoonist and inventor. We’ll first explore the man behind the machine (and some of his international counterparts) and the mechanics and physics behind these creations. Each week, students will incorporate new knowledge and skills to create their own complex, chain-reaction driven contraptions. This design-driven course combines engineering, science, math, and art that will lead to designs bigger and more complicated than ever before!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Dive into the core elements of storytelling through the lens of stop-motion animation! Students will engage in a series of hands-on exercises, allowing them to craft narratives and bring ideas to life through the creation of their own animated shorts. Participants will undergo the process of storyboarding while developing characters and scenery, ultimately leading to the production of their personalized animation. Join us in this creative journey to become 21st-century storytellers!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $40 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Have you learned how to program a robot using block code? Do you want to learn how to take a robot to the next level? This class will quickly review the process of creating a basic LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot, and then students will create robots largely independently to meet a variety of accuracy, speed and strategy challenges. For example, they will design and program their robot to solve a maze as quickly and accurately as possible. There will be both friendly competitions with pre-defined tasks and rules, and time for students to create something following their own interests. Note that this is not a make-and-take class; students will need to stick to the materials in their in-class kits for their creations, and take it all apart at the end for the next student to enjoy.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Experiencing sensations such smell, sight, touch, pain, as well as memories associated with experiences are brought to you by the amazing 3-pound organ in your skull– the brain! Working with associated nervous system components, the brain performs an amazing number of functions in our bodies and in this course, students will learn about the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Through hands-on activities and discussions, we’ll study the structure of the brain and nervous system from the overall anatomy to tissues, cells, and molecules that make up this fascinating organ. We will learn about phenomena that play out in single cells all the way to behaviors that rely on the integration of information across major cognitive systems.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Geography skills could save us from a zombie apocalypse! In Zombie-Based Geography, students learn and then apply their geography skills in a series of scenarios based on surviving a zombie attack. From finding and obtaining resources to analyzing zombie migration patterns and learning about zombie and human impacts on the environment, long-term survival depends on starting over somewhere safer, and that requires geographic planning. Let’s go forth to forge a new and better culture!
Course Description
Creating something on a 3D printer requires a 3D computer model. These are made with CAD (computer-aided design) software programs. OpenSCAD is a free, open source CAD program that uses computer code in a language somewhat like C, Python or Java to define models. It is particularly good for creating models of mathematical concepts. In this course we will introduce OpenSCAD from both a coding and a fabrication design point of view. We will deconstruct models from the instructors’ books, and have students move from examples from the instructor to designs of their own, along the way learning good design practices for 3D printing.
Prerequisite: Good keyboarding skills, adequate to be able to type computer code at better than two-finger speeds (not drag-and-drop). Previous experience with C, Python or Java would be helpful.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.
Course Description
In this engineering course, students will take on challenges inspired by NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon. From designing lunar landers and building space habitats to testing astronaut gear and planning rover missions, every session explores the exciting work that goes into space exploration. Budding engineers will think like NASA scientists as they brainstorm, build, test, and improve their own creations. Are you ready to help humanity return to the Moon—and go farther than ever before?
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
SESSION 3
Course Description
Why do cultures develop mythology? What were the roles of gods and goddesses in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds? This class will explore these questions and more. Students will learn about Greek and Roman mythology, specifically the need for gods and goddesses, their roles, their characteristics and how they were worshipped. We’ll learn about the various deities in both cultures, comparing and contrasting them. Students will do research and crafts and will invent a god or goddess, designing, naming and making a representation of it.
Course Description
The animal kingdom is buzzing with amazing architects of structures and systems! City-like beehives, earthworm tunnels, termite mounds, weaver bird nests, and beaver dams are examples of spectacular structures designed and built by animals. This class will look not only at animals’ impressive structures, but also how some species help keep nature in balance through pollination, decomposition, and more! Students will learn from, and about, animal builders, demonstrating their mastery by building a product inspired by an animal architect.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Have you ever read a book and wished you could walk around in the world it created? From Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, a great fantasy or sci-fi series can change even how we look at the real world around us. In this class, we’ll look at these series, figure out what makes them so engaging, and use those tools in our writing. We’ll write our own parodies and spin-offs of our favorite stories, and work on developing our own fantastic worlds. Through learning writers’ secrets, we’ll find out how to banish writer’s-block, support our fellow authors, and bring people into our stories the same way the best fantasy authors do.
Course Description
Have you ever wondered how much water it takes to produce a pound of beef, what the most ecofriendly straw is made of, or why bugs are so important to our food systems? Now more than ever, it’s important to think about the state of the planet for future generations. In this class, students will learn about the biological processes that sustain the earth, the ways in which they are being disrupted, and what we can do to set things right. Using a hands-on, inquiry-based approach, students will learn about environmentally restorative initiatives as well as create inventive solutions of their own. Some of the topics covered will include biodiversity, farming, water, and natural resources.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
What if you could invent something that helps people all over the world before you even finish middle school? A young Gitanjali Rao did just that – she created a device to detect lead in drinking water and help keep families safe. In this class, learners will discover they do not have to wait until they are grown up to make a real difference in their communities or even globally. We will explore the stories of real young change makers who made a big difference in the world through creativity, curiosity, courage, and determination. By the end of this session, learners will feel inspired by young trailblazers to identify a problem they care about and explore how they might use their own creative ideas and talents to make a positive difference.
Course Description
This class will focus on the history of woodcut from its pre-origins in Mesopotamia and Egypt, to its origins and development in Asia, through to its use and popularity in Europe. Students will study and discuss the works of woodcut artists and engravers, such as Hokusai, Campagnola, Dürer, Doré, Beardsley, and Escher. Woodcut and printmaking techniques will be presented, and students will be carving linoleum and EZ-Cut blocks, using linoleum cutters, for printing on textiles and paper. Through replication of various artistic movements throughout history, students will have the opportunity to hone their printmaking skills. Students will express their knowledge and creativity through exploration and development of their own personal styles and themes.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $20 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Welcome to the fascinating world of speculative evolution! Armed with information about a planet (or system of planets), students will create creatures that would evolve to thrive in that alien environment and come up with a web of life/food chain for these creatures. Each class meeting in this course will represent the passage of 500 million years and students will speculate how their ecosystem of imaginary creatures would change and evolve during these spans of time. As the course unfolds, students will bring their creatures to life, creating original artistic renderings (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.). In the final weeks, the timeline will accelerate involving the evolution of intelligence, technology, civilization, and culture, and the course will culminate with an art exhibit of all the creatures and entities that the students created. Join us on this exciting adventure, where the only limitation is the vastness of the cosmos itself!
Course Description
Are you ready to become an advocate for our planet? Join the “Renewable Energy Challenge,” where students explore exciting ways to harness clean energy and combat climate change! With wildfires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other climate-related disasters impacting our world, now is the perfect time to learn how renewable energy can make a difference. In this hands-on online class, students will discover how to create energy from everyday resources like sunlight, wind, and even water. They’ll work on engaging projects such as building solar-powered gadgets, constructing wind turbines, and designing water wheels. Collaborating with fellow young inventors, they’ll tackle real-world challenges and brainstorm innovative solutions. By the end of the course, students will not only be empowered with knowledge but also ready to share their ideas for a greener future. Let’s spark change together and help create a sustainable world!
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
This course explores what modern science knows about human evolution and how we know it. Students will meet Earth during the Cambrian explosion 538.8 million years ago and leave the course at the end of the Neolithic. They will examine ancient stone tools and modern discoveries like Ötzi the Iceman. By the end of the course, students will be able to distinguish between different early hominins and be able to describe the complexity of pre-historic life.
Course Description
Students in this course will role-play a group of space colonists as they create a settlement on a planet of their choice. They will form a new system of government after navigating the logistics of space travel, establishing a new colony on a foreign planet, and examining the complexities of extraterrestrial daily life. Through a storytelling approach, students will create a constitution and outline the framework for their space colony government.
Course Description
Everyone loves a puzzle! Many math concepts can be used to create a physical puzzle that can be approached at a variety of levels. We will use a mix of classic puzzles and ones from the instructors’ books to challenge the students. In some cases, students will solve existing puzzles, and in others they will create their own to illustrate a principle. Some puzzles may be of the pencil-and-paper variety, too. We will also embark on some “math experiments” to try and visualize (or build) a physical model of a concept. In all cases we will spend some time deconstructing the math behind the puzzle and encourage students to build on it. Fabrication will be partly with craft materials but will also involve Tinkercad for 3D printing as well as some guided exercises in more-sophisticated math modeling software like OpenSCAD.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
Course Description
Coming soon!
Course Description
This course is for students who desire to express themselves effectively and confidently in any situation, socially or academically. Throughout the course, students will develop and improve their critical-thinking, public speaking, and argumentative skills through participation in speeches and debates. They will explore and research a variety of formats, including educational and persuasive speeches, Lincoln-Douglas debate, cross-examination, and academic debate. In addition, students will develop their ability to critique, analyze, and question speeches and debates delivered by others. They will learn about the different fallacies that occur in debate and arguments. They will apply this knowledge to develop and present an independent speech and participate in group debates. Topic matter for speeches and debates throughout the course will be selected by students.
Course Description
When did the Big Bang occur? What first sparked life in the universe? How did man go from barely surviving in caves to building advanced societies? These are some of the questions we will be addressing as we explore the established understanding of the universe, life, and nearly everything else around us with Bill Bryson’s bestseller A Short History of Nearly Everything. Employing Bryson’s interdisciplinary approach, students will learn about the history and foundational concepts of anthropology, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and astronomy. Through storytelling, discussion, and experimentation, we will trace the footsteps of the great thinkers of our past and discover the what, when, where, and why’s that make our reality possible.
Course Description
Characters are the foundation of our most impactful stories, and strong character design can determine whether a narrative succeeds or falls flat. In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of character design and explore how to create memorable, dynamic characters using a fusion design method. By the end of the course, students will have developed an iconic ensemble of characters inspired by diverse elements from life.
Course Description
Do you want to be a rocket scientist? Students will create and test 3D printed models of classic wings and analyze them. Then they will start from this base and create and test their own wings for different applications. We also leave the atmosphere to develop models of orbits, gravity wells and gravitational waves, and learn how some simple rules determine how planets and spacecraft fly around our solar system. We even will move out into the galaxy a little farther and find out how scientists know that there are planets around other stars. Students will demonstrate mastery by creating and being able to explain various kinds of physical and software models. Coding experience is helpful but not essential.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.
To download a PDF version of the Summer Academy schedule, click below.
General Session Dates
Academy is offered year-round. Here is an overview of when sessions run and how often classes meet:
- Classes meet once per week for 12 weeks.
- Courses are available Monday through Saturday.
The schedule is usually available in late July.
- Classes meet once per week for 12 weeks.
- Courses are available Monday through Saturday.
The schedule is usually available toward the end of October.
- Classes meet daily, Monday through Friday, for two weeks, with multiple course options offered throughout the day.
- Each of the three summer sessions offers a different schedule of courses.
The schedule is usually available in early March.
To be notified when information about new Academy sessions becomes available, please sign up for our email list and indicate an interest in Academy.
Spring 2026 Session Dates
Session Dates: January 26-April 27
(No classes Monday, February 16 for Presidents’ Day, and March 30-April 4 for spring break)