Ignite Achievement Academy Summer Camps
A Summer of Exploration, Learning, and Fun!
At Ignite Achievement Academy, we have designed summer camps to allow your child to explore, learn, build essential skills, and most of all – have fun!
Each week features a unique theme that shapes the activities and learning focus, but no matter the theme, every camper will enjoy a well-rounded experience. Each week our programs include a variety of activities including cooking, hands-on experiments, physical challenges, crafts, music, and more! Beyond the fun, our camps also emphasize personal growth by incorporating social skills development, teamwork, and executive functioning activities into the daily schedule. This approach ensures that campers leave each session with new skills, lasting memories, and friendships that extend beyond the summer.
Nature Explorers
Music & Art
Science & Discovery
Culinary & STEM
Super Hero & Role models
Together, let’s build confidence, independence, gain new skills, make friends, and have FUN this summer!
All camps run
Monday – Friday, 9AM – 1PM.
Campers must bring their own lunch daily.
$425/camp.
South Campus Location:
6203 Carmel Rd. Charlotte, NC 28226
North Campus Location:
3835 W. W.T.Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28269
Typical Daily Schedule:
- 9:00 - 9:15 AM: Morning Welcome & Overview
- 9:15 - 10:15 AM: Activity Block 1
- 10:15 - 10:30 AM: Snack Break
- 10:30 - 11:30 AM: Activity Block 2
- 11:30 - 12:00 PM: Lunch Block 1 or Exploration/Outdoor Free Play
- 12:00 - 12:30 PM: Lunch Block 2 or Exploration/Outdoor Free Play
- 12:30 - 1:00 PM: Reflection & Group ActivityCamp Overviews
|
DATES |
LOCATION |
THEME |
|
6/9 - 6/13 |
South |
Nature Explorers (K-8th) |
|
6/16 - 6/20 |
North |
Music & Art (K-8th) |
|
6/16 - 6/20 |
South |
Music & Art (K-8th) AND FLAME Camp (9th – 12th) |
|
6/23 - 6/27 |
North |
Science & Discovery (K-8th) |
|
6/23 - 6/27 |
South |
Science & Discovery (K-8th) FLAME Camp (9th – 12th) |
|
7/14 - 7/18 |
South |
Culinary & STEM (K-8th) |
|
7/21 - 7/25 |
North |
Culinary & STEM (K-8th) |
|
7/28 - 8/1 |
North |
Superhero & Role Models (K-8th) |
|
7/28 - 8/1 |
South |
Superhero & Role Models (K-8th) AND FLAME Camp (9th – 12th) |
Camp Overviews
Nature Explorers Weekly Camp Overview
Day 1: Garden Detectives
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Explore the garden with a scavenger hunt and plant mini herb gardens to learn about herbs and their care. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Map the garden by creating detailed drawings of plants and features and investigate the impact of native and invasive plants.
Day 2: Forest Adventures
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Create nature bracelets using collected forest materials and build bug hotels to provide habitats for beneficial insects. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Document forest ecosystems during a guided hike and build shelters using natural materials to learn survival skills. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Create personalized campfire trail mix to enjoy during outdoor exploration.
Day 3: Science in Nature
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Conduct a color-changing flower experiment to understand how plants absorb water and take a sensory walk to engage with nature using their senses. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Test soil quality and learn about its impact on plant growth, and design water filters using natural materials to explore filtration.
Day 4: Wild Chefs
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Make herb butter using fresh garden herbs and create fruit and veggie sculptures. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Cook using solar ovens and press collected leaves and flowers to create unique nature-inspired art pieces.
Day 5: Eco Heroes
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Participate in a recycled art project to transform materials into creative pieces and plant seeds or seedlings in the school garden. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Take part in the same recycled art and gardening activities, with added responsibilities like planning plant care schedules. - All Campers: Join in a nature scavenger hunt relay to promote teamwork and exploration while learning about environmental stewardship.
Music & Art Weekly Camp Overview
*FLAME Camp occurs simultaneously this week and will mimic the theme of each day, but at a level appropriate for high school students. Additionally, there will be a heavy focus on executive functioning and transition skills included throughout the week.
Day 1: Musical Discovery & Colorful Creations
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Create DIY musical instruments using everyday materials and explore watercolor techniques inspired by music. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Learn rhythm patterns in a percussion workshop and create acrylic paintings inspired by music and color theory.
Day 2: Sound & Movement
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Use music to tell stories with sound effects and sculpt with clay while listening to music. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Combine body percussion and dance moves in rhythm and movement exploration, and create mixed media collages blending images, paint, and texture.
Day 3: Visual Soundscapes
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Paint to different genres of music and design tambourines to play along with songs. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Compose digital music tracks using software and practice perspective drawing with a focus on musical themes.
Day 4: Collaborative Creations
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Work together to paint a large group mural and enjoy a dance party with freeze moments. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Form small bands to play music collaboratively and design 3D sculptures using recycled materials. - All Campers: Make no-bake energy bites to practice basic cooking and teamwork skills.
Day 5: Showcase Day
- All Campers: Rotate through an instrument exploration station, build fruit kabobs, and set up an art show to display the week’s creations. The day ends with music performances for peers and families, followed by a reflection circle to celebrate achievements.
Science & Discovery Weekly Camp Overview
*FLAME Camp occurs simultaneously this week and will mimic the theme of each day, but at a level appropriate for high school students. Additionally, there will be a heavy focus on executive functioning and transition skills included throughout the week.
Day 1: Chemistry Creations
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Explore fizzing color reactions and the magic of surface tension with the magic milk experiment. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Create DIY lava lamps to learn about liquid densities and experience the fun of rapid reactions with elephant toothpaste. - Cooking Activity: All campers make edible rock candy crystals to observe sugar crystal formation over time.
Day 2: Physics & Forces
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Learn about propulsion with balloon rockets and explore motion and gravity by designing marble runs. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Build and test structural engineering concepts with bridges and explore levers and force through catapult launches. - All Campers: Participate in a marshmallow engineering challenge to build stable structures.
- Cooking Activity: Create a balloon-powered popcorn machine to explore air pressure and heat transfer.
Day 3: Space & Astronomy
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Create galaxy jars and simulate meteor impacts by designing moon craters. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Build scale solar system models and make constellation viewers to explore star patterns. - Cooking Activity: Design galaxy popcorn with colorful chocolate drizzles and edible glitter.
Day 4: Environmental Science
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Race to sort recyclables in a recycling relay and create beautiful nature collages using natural materials. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Build functional water filters to understand water purification and design self-sustaining ecosystem jars. - Cooking Activity: Create edible dirt cups to represent soil layers and discuss their importance.
Day 5: Biology Bonanza
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Learn about plant life cycles by making seed bombs and explore insect habitats on a bug hunt. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Dissect flowers to study plant anatomy and create edible DNA models to understand genetic structure. - Cooking Activity: All campers make edible DNA models using licorice and marshmallows.
Culinary & STEM Weekly Camp Overview
Day 1: Kitchen Chemistry & Engineering Fun
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Create color-changing slime to explore chemical reactions and launch baking soda and vinegar rockets to learn about gas expansion. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Experiment with advanced chemical reactions by making elephant toothpaste and create art using acids and bases. - All Campers: Build marshmallow towers to test balance and stability.
- Cooking Activity: Assemble English muffin pizzas while learning basic cooking skills.
Day 2: Edible Science & Creative Construction
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Launch balloon rockets to learn about propulsion and build parachutes to explore air resistance. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Construct and test bridges for structural engineering, launch catapults, and build balloon-powered cars to study force and motion. - Cooking Activity: Bake simple sugar cookies to practice measuring and baking basics.
Day 3: Space Snacks & Rocket Science
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Create galaxy jars as artistic representations of space and simulate meteor impacts by designing moon craters. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Explore air pressure by launching straw rockets, build solar system models, and experiment with chemical propulsion using Alka-Seltzer film canister rockets. - Cooking Activities: Cook cheesy quesadillas and assemble rocket-shaped fruit kabobs for healthy snacks.
Day 4: Environmental Eats & Earth Science
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Learn water purification by building DIY water filters and create textured leaf rubbings as an art project. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Build advanced water filters and design structures with recycled materials in an engineering challenge. - Cooking Activity: Prepare veggie garden wraps while exploring healthy, colorful eating.
Day 5: Sweet Science & STEM Challenges
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Participate in the egg drop challenge to explore design and impact and experiment with Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Tackle advanced egg drop challenges and build the tallest free-standing STEM towers using spaghetti and marshmallows. - Cooking Activity: Decorate chocolate-dipped pretzels to practice dipping and decorating techniques.
Superhero & Role Models Weekly Camp Overview
*FLAME Camp occurs simultaneously this week and will mimic the theme of each day, but at a level appropriate for high school students. Additionally, there will be a heavy focus on executive functioning and transition skills included throughout the week.
Day 1: Discover Your Inner Hero
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Explore self-identity and creativity by designing superhero personas and creating personalized hero badges that symbolize their superpowers. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Engage in self-expression through superpower charades and develop superhero backstories by illustrating detailed storyboards. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Blend "Super Smoothies" with ingredients like yogurt, fruits, and spinach to learn about healthy eating and energy-building foods.
Day 2: Superhero Training Camp
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Build teamwork and physical skills by navigating an obstacle course and participating in a "Super Strength Relay." - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Enhance coordination and collaboration with a Target Toss Challenge and a Team Rescue Mission that requires strategic problem-solving. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Create "Superhero Fruit Salad" by mixing colorful fruits and optional yogurt to energize for training.
Day 3: Meet the Real-Life Heroes
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Meet local community helpers like firefighters or police officers and role-play their roles through costumes and fun scenarios. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Show gratitude by creating thank-you cards for visiting heroes and participating in a Q&A panel to learn about their roles. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Assemble "Hero Sandwiches," discussing how each ingredient represents aspects of a hero’s work and health.
Day 4: Superhero Craft Day
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Showcase creativity by designing capes and masks and building a cardboard "Superhero City." - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Express imagination through creating superhero-themed comic strips and crafting 3D sculptures of their superheroes. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Decorate "Super Shield Cookies" with icing, sprinkles, and edible markers for a tasty and artistic treat.
Day 5: Superhero Celebration & Role Model Recognition
- Younger Campers (Grades K-4):
Celebrate their achievements with a costume parade and receive personalized Hero Awards during a special ceremony. - Older Campers (Grades 5-8):
Work as a team to complete a final superhero mission and reflect on their growth in a closing circle. - Cooking Activity (All Campers): Enjoy "Power Pops," refreshing fruit and yogurt popsicles, during the end-of-camp celebration.