Specialty Camp Offerings
All specialty camps are two-weeks long throughout the summer and campers must sign up for the full two-week session. Families can choose to do just one session, or multiple sessions for a lengthier and more diverse camp experience.
Below are the camp offerings for the 2021 season. Please reference each camp's description for details about age group and dates. For the purpose of camp, we consider a child's grade the one they will enter in the fall of 2021.
Children participate in swim, arts and crafts, and outdoor play, in addition to the activities specific to their camp. The following sample schedules illustrate what a typical day might look like for children participating in a Berkeley Carroll specialty camp.
Specialty Camp Sample Schedule 1
Specialty Camp Sample Schedule 2
Specialty Camp Offerings By Session
(Click on the dropdown menus to view our offerings for each session.)
Session 1: July 6 - 16
Puppetry (Grades K-1)
In this camp, campers will design their very own mini puppet stage complete with backdrop and stick puppets. We will learn about how to make a simple story, setting and characters. Campers will learn about different styles of puppetry and will discuss the reasons and uses for different designs by looking at the work of outstanding examples of puppetry. Students will experiment with making a rod puppet and will learn some basics of TV puppetry.
Rhythm of the World (Grades K-1)
In this camp, campers will focus on different countries exploring their instruments/music and how their music plays into their culture. Moving around the globe, campers will touch every continent, listen to and enjoy music from all over the world. This camp would also include some simple music fundamentals, musical lingo, and focus on creating rhythms of their own to create their own music.
Cardboard City (Grades K-2)
Jump into the world of building to design and create a cardboard city around you! We will work together to design, build, paint, and decorate recycled cardboard boxes to create a city of houses, skyscrapers, apartment buildings, schools, and more! What types of buildings are in our community? How do we decorate a building? Our campers will become architects, engineers, painters, and designers to bring our unique city to life
Inventor’s Lab (Grades K-2)
In this course campers will explore do-it-yourself projects, engineering, experimenting, crafting and other discovery projects. Students will learn how to use a variety of tools to create unique items based on their imagination. These creations will be made using various different mediums. Throughout this program students will gain experience with the design thinking process. They will also strengthen their problem solving skills with daily challenges.
Child’s Play NY: Wizarding Worlds (Grades K-2)
Join us as we use the “magic” of theater to explore wizarding worlds. Students will get to hone their writing and improv skills as they create plays based on enchantment, mythical beasts and epic quests! We’ll play games of Quidditch, make spell books and compete for the House Cup. Improvisation, games, dance and scripted scenes are filmed throughout the session. On the last day, we’ll watch a screening of our very own Wizarding movie, and leave with a copy for friends and family to enjoy as well! This camp is run in partnership with Child's Play NY.
Jewelry Making (Grades 1-2)
Design, sculpt, & fabricate your own jewelry pieces in this project-based camp. Through a project-based exploration, campers will imagine & design their own pieces after learning about the historical context and cultural significance of different types of jewelry. Campers will cover three different units: Masks + Crowns, Pendant + Necklaces, Rings + Bracelets.
Papier-Mache (Grades 2-4)
In this project-based camp, children will design and make their own papier-mache creations! Campers will learn the centuries-old technique of transforming paper strips into a sculpture. They will work collaboratively and individually to make a variety of three-dimensional objects, such as animals and masks.
Geometric Art: Kaleidoscope & Tangram Art (Grades 2-4)
Geometric Art is a project-based learning camp in which students will explore the beautiful, symbiotic relationship between art and math. Campers will use their artistic and mathematical skills to create pieces of abstract, geometric art using various mediums. In this session, campers will study the colorful masterpieces of abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky, explore the fine art of Tangram puzzles, plus create one-of-a-kind abstract, Tangram, and Kaleidoscope art!
Sculpture Mania! (Grades 3-4)
In this camp, campers will explore the art of sculpture by creating various different projects in order to create their own city or dream home. Campers will learn about what makes up our environment and will learn to think critically about the places we frequent. Projects campers create will be 3D sculptures using various mediums; Projects will include individual sculptures and a group project.
Graphic Design (Grades 3-4)
This camp teaches students to create and edit images using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn how colors, shapes, words, and photos combine to make beautiful designs that express ideas. We'll share our designs with each other and talk about why we like them. We'll explore how digital images are used in the real world, on t-shirts, posters, websites, and more, and at the end, we'll display our creations in print or online.
This camp is taught by Zak Greene, and independent designer, web developer, and teacher. He started learning how to use Photoshop and other tools when he was a kid, and his interest led him to the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied Graphic Design.
Session 2: July 19 - 30
Rhythm of the World (Grades K-1)
In this camp, campers will focus on different countries exploring their instruments/music and how their music plays into their culture. Moving around the globe, campers will touch every continent, listen to and enjoy music from all over the world. This camp would also include some simple music fundamentals, musical lingo, and focus on creating rhythms of their own to create their own music.
Inventor’s Lab (Grades K-2)
In this course campers will explore do-it-yourself projects, engineering, experimenting, crafting and other discovery projects. Students will learn how to use a variety of tools to create unique items based on their imagination. These creations will be made using various different mediums. Throughout this program students will gain experience with the design thinking process. They will also strengthen their problem solving skills with daily challenges.
Cardboard City (Grades K-2)
Jump into the world of building to design and create a cardboard city around you! We will work together to design, build, paint, and decorate recycled cardboard boxes to create a city of houses, skyscrapers, apartment buildings, schools, and more! What types of buildings are in our community? How do we decorate a building? Our campers will become architects, engineers, painters, and designers to bring our unique city to life
Child’s Play NY: Mythology Magic (Grades K-2)
Strap wings to your shoes and come soar up to Mt. Olympus and beyond! Invent your own language for Cerberus and Bastet, tame Medusa’s snakes and ride a Pegasus. Become a mythology expert as you act out classic stories, invent your own characters and embark on quests. Improvisation, games, dance and scripted scenes are filmed throughout the session. On the last day, we’ll watch a screening of our very own Mythology movie, and leave with a copy for friends and family to enjoy as well! This camp is run in partnership with Child's Play NY.
Sculpture Mania! (Grades 1-2)
In this camp, campers will explore the art of sculpture by creating various different projects in order to create their own city or dream home. Campers will learn about what makes up our environment and will learn to think critically about the places we frequent. Projects campers create will be 3D sculptures using various mediums; Projects will include individual sculptures and a group project.
Geometric Art: Never-ending Patterns (Grades 2-4)
Geometric Art is a project-based learning camp in which students will explore the beautiful, symbiotic relationship between art and math. Campers will use their artistic and mathematical skills to create pieces of abstract, geometric art through various mediums. In this session, campers will learn all about fractals, the never-ending patterns all around us (our circulatory systems, tree branches, lightning, broccoli, and so much more!). After exploring various pattern phenomena at the intersection of art and math, students will also create colorful fractal trees, Sierpinski triangles and carpets, and Flowers of Life! In addition, budding artistic mathematicians will investigate tessellations all around us (in nature, fine art, and in everyday life) and design their own works of tessellation art inspired by renowned artist and mathematician M.C. Escher.
Papier-Mache (Grades 2-4)
In this project-based camp, children will design and make their own papier-mache creations! Campers will learn the centuries-old technique of transforming paper strips into a sculpture. They will work collaboratively and individually to make a variety of three-dimensional objects, such as animals and masks.
Jewelry Making (Grades 3-4)
Design, sculpt, & fabricate your own jewelry pieces in this project-based camp. Through a project-based exploration, campers will imagine & design their own pieces after learning about the historical context and cultural significance of different types of jewelry. Campers will cover three different units: Masks + Crowns, Pendant + Necklaces, Rings + Bracelets.
Theatrical Storytelling (Grades 3-4)
Have you ever wondered why the Three Little Pigs needed to build their own houses? Or why do all fairy tale characters seem to live right next to the woods? In this camp, we will explore the back stories of known fairy tales and create our own versions of them using creative language, movement and recorded music. The camp will consist of ensemble building, warm ups, voice and movement work, classic storytelling techniques, as well as some elements of costume and prop design. All work will be recorded in a final performance to share with families at the end of the camp.
Printmaking & Drawing With The Sun (Grades 3-4)
Campers will learn different printmaking techniques including cyanotype, stenciling, silkscreen, and mono-printing. We will draw inspiration from artist projects like David Hammons' basketball bouncing prints, Andy Warhol's repetition silkscreens, and Anna Atkins' botanical cyanotypes sun drawings. The final project is a collaborative print design that is then printed enough times for each camper to take one home.
Session 3: August 2 - 13
Animal Art (Grades K-1)
In this camp, campers will have fun creating pieces of art under the theme of animals. Campers will explore famous artwork and read stories of animals in order to get their creative juices flowing. Using different mediums, campers will create their own animal art, whether it be a real animal or imaginary, to add to the animal kingdom.
Bookmaking (Grades K-1)
In this camp, students will explore a range of bookmaking techniques. Campers will get inspired by their favorite picture books, accordion books and bound books, and children will experiment with a range of art supplies and materials to create their own stories.
Creative Builders (Grades K-1)
Do you like to build with different materials? In Creative Builders camp, campers will be presented with fun building challenges. They will make their own designs and build towers, forts, houses, boats, and more. Our builders will experiment with cardboard, straws, pipe cleaners, marshmallows, and recycled materials. Campers will work through the creative process, collaborate, take risks, and strengthen their problem solving skills.
Child’s Play NY: Alice in Wonderland (Grades K-2)
Join us as we venture down rabbit holes and through the looking glass. The Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat and Jabberwocky are just some of the extraordinary characters who inspire our own adventures based on Lewis Carroll classic tale. Come for Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and stay for Queen’s croquet! Improvisation, games, dance and scripted scenes are filmed throughout the session. On the last day, we’ll watch a screening of our very own Wonderland movie, and leave with a copy for friends and family to enjoy as well! This camp is run in partnership with Child's Play NY.
Nature Science (Grades 1-3)
This exciting camp is devoted to exploring the science of the great outdoors! Utilizing neighborhood nature walks and Prospect Park as outdoor classrooms, children will participate in hands-on investigations of local plants and animals while exploring their local environment. Nature Science participants will also take home daily projects with an art-in-nature focus.
Toy Making (Grades 2-4)
Stuffed animals, toy cars, dolls, and puppets... everyday kids all over the world play with these toys—now you can make your very own! We will explore and build different types of toys we play with, like soft stuffed animals and bendy wire dolls, moving marionette puppets and sturdy clay figures. Campers will think like toy makers and use wood, beads, clay, fabric, wire, and more to design toys from their imagination.
Visual Storyboard: Comic Books and Graphic Novels (Grades 2-4)
Create original comic books or graphic novels by hand. Campers will imagine, sketch, and draw their own original comic books. We will explore different techniques and styles through various mediums. At the end of camp, campers will share their work with fellow campers, and everyone will take home a copy of their original creation to share with friends and family.
Geometric Art: 3-Dimensional Art (Grades 2-4)
Geometric Art is a project-based learning camp in which students will explore the beautiful, symbiotic relationship between art and math. Campers will use their artistic and mathematical skills to create pieces of 3-Dimensional art, such as stellated dodecahedrons! Children will explore and learn about how geometric shapes come together to create dazzling works of art!
Musical Technology (Grades 2-4)
In this camp, campers will use different software to formulate and compose their own music. Campers will also focus on the basics of recording, sound manipulation, and digital effects to get to know some simple musical technology. Each session will focus on a different aspect of music tech and by the end, campers will have created a personalized composition to show off to their friends!
Theatrical Storytelling (Grades 3-4)
Have you ever wondered why the Three Little Pigs needed to build their own houses? Or why do all fairy tale characters seem to live right next to the woods? In this camp, we will explore the back stories of known fairy tales and create our own versions of them using creative language, movement and recorded music. The camp will consist of ensemble building, warm ups, voice and movement work, classic storytelling techniques, as well as some elements of costume and prop design. All work will be recorded in a final performance to share with families at the end of the camp.