STEM Summer Camps
Please click here for registration form and tuition and return completed form to andrew@poly-ed.com.
Please note that, in anticipation of a wide range of ages and programming experience levels this year, 2 differentiated programming classes will be instructed when appropriate.
Math and Algorithms in Scratch and Python
June 15-19
We focus on computers as what they truly are – tools for
computation. Topics have included search algorithms, prime-finding algorithms, and the generation of fractals. Student will use Scratch or Python depending on their level, with advanced students often using Scratch as a prototyping tool.
BattleBots with Lego, Vex and Arduino Robotics
June 22-26
Welcome back to the world of robotic pugilism! During this intense week of robotics, students will create and customize robots from either the Lego Spike Prime, Vex, or Arduino platforms as appropriate for their level, building to a Friday fight in our classroom! The atmosphere is intense and the creativity is needed to prevail!
AI and Learning Algorithms in Python
June 29-July 3
Get with the times! This year, for the first time, we will delve into transformer neural networks (the background of GPT). Specifically, students will be learning with PyTorch. Students will create their own, original projects. Past projects have included a perceptron for binary classification of data, a tic-tac-toe learning AI, and a Go AI.
Handheld Video Game Design – NEW!
July 13-17
This year’s video game week will focus homebrew games in C++ for Nintendo’s 3DS console. We will go through the step-by-step process of installing the homebrew operating system on the console and developing games using the 3DS graphics libraries. This week is open to advanced programmers only.
Hacking and Cracking
July 20-24
Hacking returns! Past topics have included SMTP headers, SQL injection, RSA encryption, cryptography, and use of Linux network tools. We have also hacked games and had an extensive discussion of memory structure and addressing. We promise that this week is white hat only!
Weather Balloon Telemetry – aka Leaving the Ground Behind
July 27-31
Returning for a seventh time and coming off our most successful recovering! We will spend the week designing and programming a payload for a weather balloon, equipped with GPS, altimeter, camera, comms, etc. We will then venture out, launch the payload, and attempt a recovery with tracking. A substantial challenge for a young engineer! This week is suitable for new students and students who have undertaken this project previously. The continuity is helping the Poly Ed space program grow over time. Our week concludes with a Friday launch. Take a look at our history of launch photos, videos, and flight paths on the blog.
Board Game Design Week
August 3-7
This is our unplugged week where we focus on designing and playing board games. We often conduct interviews with published game designers. On Friday, we will showcase and play the games we have designed over the course of the week. Additionally, we try to learn 2 new boardgames every day of the week.
We are currently building a fantastic schedule of trips in and around NYC that mesh closely with our curriculum. Details will be finalized closer to the start of camp. Our destinations will include museums that align with our STEM themes.
As always, our enrollment ages/grades are flexible, so if you believe your student belongs in a different age group, please let us know.