Our themes are designed to balance thematic learning with classic outdoor summer fun! Camp days are spent participating in theme-related activities as well as free time and organized games on our playgrounds and natural playscapes, soccer field, blacktop, gymnasium, greenhouse, garden, theater, and our neighboring Lockwood Park. 

• Themes are shared throughout the age groupings. 
• Each session theme will have different, age-appropriate activities for Adventurer, Explorer, and Voyager campers. 
• Adventurer campers do not travel off campus for field trips.
• Explorers and Voyagers will have one field trip each session.  
• All campers will visit the Webster Groves Pool for swimming twice per week.

Session One: 6/5 – 6/9
Theme: Garden and Schoolyard Ecosystem Exploration 

Our greenhouse and gardens provide wonderful opportunities to connect with nature as campers interact with native plants and fresh vegetables. In addition to exploring the spaces and engaging in plant and natural material related activities, campers will observe the insects and wildlife that play important roles in our schoolyard ecosystem. All campers will choose their own herb or vegetable to take home and grow this summer! 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: Shaw Nature Preserve

Session Two: 6/12 – 6/16
Theme: Outdoor Skills / Shelter Building / Forest Forts

Campers, bring your spirit for adventure as we explore our natural environment and learn how to build primitive shelters and forts, and use specific plants as cordage, connectors, and supports for these structures. Activities may include basic nature/environmental education such as plant identification and animal tracking/study, to age-appropriate survival skills and primitive shelter building. Campers will gain confidence and comfort  being outdoors, while having a great time and staying active. 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: The Jan Phillips Learning Center and LaBarque Campus

Session Three: 6/19 – 6/23
Theme: Climb On! 

Climb on! Climbing! Our campus rock climbing wall will challenge and strengthen campers as they learn the safety and climbing skills necessary to summit! Climbing is an important part of our curriculum and our equipment is designed to fit campers of all ages. Harness and helmet fitting, basic knot tying, and climbing techniques are some of the topics discussed during this fast paced week. In addition to climbing, our youngest campers will engage in a fun and interactive art project while learning about famous climbers and explorers.

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: Climb So ill Rock Climbing Gym

Session Four: 6/26 – 6/30
Theme: Adventure Engineering / Ultimate Ninjas 

Drawing inspiration from movies and games, this session will focus on building obstacle courses, problem solving, riddles, games, and improvisational engineering. We will utilize several indoor and outdoor spaces to design and create fun and exciting initiatives that foster creativity and movement.  Activities may include creating obstacle courses, improvisational engineering challenges, Among Us game initiatives, paper airplane / airplane design and contests, golf shot challenges, frisbee trick shots, scavenger hunts and orienteering. 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: Ultimate Ninjas STL

Session Five: 7/3 – 7/7 (off on July 4)
Theme: Red, White, And Blue Week / Backyard Games 

During this shortened, four-day week, campers will head to various locations on campus to play classic backyard and indoor party games. The field, gym, and, dining room, and theater, will all be utilized to play games like croquet, frisbee golf, badminton, bags, washers, hot foot, and ping pong, to name a few. Although there will be no off-campus field trip this week, campers will swim on Wednesday and Friday.

Session Six: 7/10 – 7/14
Theme: UpCycled Art and Design

Repurpose, redesign, reimagine! Using a variety of recyclable, old, unused or outdated items, campers will reimagine new lives for found objects. In addition to items campers wish to bring, TCS will supply plenty of fun, exciting, and useful leftover items from the school year. Items may include but are not limited to books, frames, electronics, small wooden furniture, instruments, containers, jewelry, clocks, home decor, etc. There is no telling what this crew will reimagine and create at the end of this week! 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips:  MADE at The Magic House on Delmar

Session Seven: 7/17 – 7/21
Theme: Archery (Voyagers) / Games and Sports (Adventurer and Explorers)

Join us for a week of archery, sports, games, and accuracy challenges! Voyager campers will learn the basics of the Genesis compound bow before heading to the range for practice. Explorers and Adventurers will engage in individual and cooperative games. Sports and games may include soccer, basketball, bowling, bocce, putt putt challenges, soft/magnetic darts, pool noodle tag, and more.  

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: Archery range and Swing Around Fun Town Putt Putt

Session Eight: 7/24 – 7/28
Theme: Take the Stage! 

Choose to be funny, silly, or dramatic, and show off your unique talents in this fun, upbeat, and supportive environment. Utilizing our theater and stage,  campers will have the opportunity to perform skits, engage in dramatic play, improvisation, dance, and comedy routines. Additionally, campers will record and edit their performances to share with family and friends. This is a challenge by choice activity and other opportunities will be available during stage time. 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: Live performance, TBD

Session Nine: 7/31 – 8/4
Theme: Water Play Games and Relays 

Wear your swimsuit all week to this final session! In addition to swimming, campers will engage in a variety of water play activities, experiments, relays, and games. Sponges, buckets, cups, bottles, balloons, and even shaving cream, will be used in fun and hilarious group games and activities as we stay cool and end our summer with some classic summer fun. 

Explorer and Voyager Field Trips: TBD

Ecology, Art, and High Adventure in the Driftless Region
Dates:  6/26 – 7/1
Ages: Incoming 6th – 8th graders
Six days / five nights
Price: $1250
For students entering 6th through 8th grades.

This week-long, place-based adventure explores the natural and cultural world of the Driftless region of southern Wisconsin.  Students will have a homestay at the Wyndfal Farm where they will explore this unique area that was left untouched by retreating glaciers thousands of years ago, creating a unique and fascinating geography.  The farm stay will include classes in sustainable agriculture, and how humans can be responsible stewards of the land for native plants, animals, and fish.  We will also explore the region’s watersheds and physical geography with field trips to Devil’s Lake State Park, the Wisconsin River, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, his masterwork of blending human activity with the environment around it. The accommodations during this trip will be fairly rustic.  We will be camping in tents and cooking most of our meals outdoors.  There will, however, be indoor bathroom facilities. Activities include:  rock climbing, paddling, creating art from natural materials, nature and architecture, archery, swimming, camp cooking, light farm chores, ecology and geology classes, and more!  

Leaders: Darrel Shelton and Sarah Hassing

Babysitter’s Training Camp (Ages 11 -14)
Limited to ten campers per session
Session One: 5/30 and 5/31
Session Two: 6/1 and 6/2
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Price: $225 

We are excited to bring back Babysitter’s Training Camp. TCS nurse, Jen Martin, will teach the skills necessary to be a successful and safe babysitter. This course offers hands-on training in skills needed to babysit such as: developmentally appropriate play, safe handling of infants and toddlers, feeding, diapering, and much more.  This course will also include the opportunity to earn American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Certification and infant CPR and first aid certification.  

Day one will dive head first into first aid and CPR.  Campers will have the opportunity to earn American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training with Infant CPR and First Aid certification. Students must successfully complete skills and an exam to become certified.

Day two will be all about the business of babysitting.  Campers will learn about developmental milestones and age-appropriate play, safe handling of infants and toddlers, feeding, and diapering.  Students will also learn about safety on the job, interviewing, setting prices, and building a resume/babysitting portfolio.

*CPR certification is not guaranteed.  Campers must demonstrate competence in CPR to gain certification.

Lead: Jen Martin, TCS Staff Nurse

2023 CIT Summer Leadership Program
All Summer

Ages: Rising Eighth – Tenth Graders

To register, contact John McElwain, Summer Camp Director, at jmcelwain@thecollegeschool.org. There are a limited number of spaces available. 

This opportunity is designed for rising eighth through tenth graders. After the completion of the two year program, students become eligible for a paid summer camp support position.

The CIT (Counselor In Training) program is for students interested in developing leadership skills, gaining experience working with children, and building self confidence.  The program includes many aspects of a camp counselors role including: CPR certification, training sessions on such topics as basic child development and behavior management, counseling techniques and best practices, communication and leadership, and environmental stewardship. In addition to obtaining CPR certification and childcare experience, CITs will be mentored by camp leaders, and interact with professional educators to obtain the skills necessary to create a fun, engaging, safe, and upbeat camp experience. Volunteering a minimum of four one-week sessions per summer is a requirement to complete each level. CITs may volunteer more than four sessions per summer. 

Level One / Year One 

The first step of our CIT program is to obtain child and infant CPR certification as well as a childcare training course. This course will need to be purchased and completed to advance. Once these accreditation requirements are met, CIT’s will be eligible to choose four sessions of camp to volunteer. CIT’s must volunteer for a minimum of four weeks in order to advance to level two. During that time, CITs will work alongside camp leaders and support staff. They will attend and support all camp activities, swimming, and field trip opportunities. Additionally, CITs will have weekly check-ins and meetings with a supervisor. CITs will have the opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback, and get support from lead camp staff in a group setting. 

Level Two / Year Two 

This portion of the CIT program focuses on the CITs’ personal and professional growth goals from the previous season. Additionally, they will choose which age group they are most interested in supporting. Building upon their experience, CITs will focus on specific areas of interest such as behavior management, team building and icebreakers, activity/game setup and support, arts and crafts activities, and outdoor adventure activities. Second year CITs will have the opportunity to lead activities and games under the supervision of leaders and support staff. In addition to weekly check-ins, CITs will establish their own goals and performance indicators for their meetings with camp leaders. Like the previous year, they will support all camp activities, swimming, and field trip opportunities. This level supports and encourages personal and professional growth as well as goal setting and accountability. After volunteering a minimum of four sessions during the season, and upon completion of level two certification, CITs are eligible for a paid support position the following summer.