2025 STEAM Summer Week 1

2025 LakeStreet Youth Labs STEAM Summer kicked off on July 28th! A total of 55 campers showed up for Week 1, from grades 1-3 (Explorers) to grades 4-8 (Investigators). We hired former Bilingual Guide Juan Davila as a Youth Program Coordinator, as well as two new Youth Program Managers, four new Camp Guides, and three teen Apprentice Guides (two who participated in our first Leadership & Career Cohort). Here’s an overview of what we did for the first week of camp, with pictures and quotes!

Week 1’s theme was Community Creators

For our first week’s theme of “Community Creators” we learned all about respect & community building through art & creativity. We got to know new and old friends through icebreaker games like Human Bingo and Web of Connections. Curiosity Studio spent time with us every day this week, facilitating activities with both the Explorers and Investigators.

Explorers building a web during an icebreaker game

Investigators getting to know each other through bingo

The Investigators and Explorers both did a mirroring art activity with paint dot markers. They got into pairs and had to mirror each other’s drawings, working on their teamwork, patience, communication, and creative collaboration. Curiosity Studio helped establish respectful behavior for the camp, such as cleaning up after yourselves, no bullying, taking care of the materials, and listening. With the Investigators, they did a four corners activity, where each student could choose whether something was respectful or not. For example, they were asked if playing pranks is respectful, and were able to choose between “Never”, “Always”, “Sometimes”, or “Often” and discuss why they picked their answer. Investigators also tested their knowledge of Minnesota trivia on Kahoot!

Students doing the art mirroring activity with Curiosity Studio

Explorers read a story about ecosystems and created their own ecosystem pieces, first with drawings and then with foil & tape sculptures. Their sculptures included trees, flowers, animals, and insects! During free time, Explorers rotated through different stations with board games, books, building blocks, coloring, chalk, and Hot Wheels race tracks.

Explorers drawing and sculpting their ecosystems

“I love this school!” – Explorer to their parent during pickup

For the rest of the week, Investigators created their own stories, sets, characters, and props with Curiosity Studio. They started by learning about story structure and storyboarding, and then used materials like cardboard, tape, styrofoam, paint, and more to make their stories come to life. On Thursday, they presented their creations and stories to the class.

Investigators working on and presenting their stories & sets/props/characters

Both groups got plenty of exercise during the week, going to the playground and swimming at Powderhorn Park. The air quality was unfortunately bad at the end of the week, so to stay safe we converted the cafeteria into a gym for a relay race/obstacle course with jump ropes, hula hoops, corn hole, and egg carrying and followed Pokémon workout videos.

Students outside at Powderhorn Park

Explorers did their first art session with GMCC staff member Len Sanqui. They drew self-portraits that folded open to reveal what was inside their brains. Some students decided to use the same template to create Pokéballs that opened up to reveal their favorite Pokémon. The Investigators did art with Len as well, playing Gartic Phone, an online version of telephone with drawing.

Explorer with her self-portrait

On Friday, we continued to stay safe indoors by taking our first field trip to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Students had a lot of fun exploring the different floors, especially enjoying racing in the Sportsology exhibit and climbing around the interactive maze at the Butterfly Odyssey exhibit. We also got to watch a screening of Blue Whales at the Omnitheater!