Summer STEAM Day Camp

A Fun, Enriching, and Active Summer Experience

Manhattan University’s Summer Day Camp provides elementary-aged children (ages 5–10) with a safe, engaging, and well-structured summer experience that blends academic enrichment, creative arts, and activities on a beautiful university campus.

Designed for families seeking a high-quality, full-day program, our camp emphasizes learning through exploration, creativity, teamwork, and activities, helping children grow socially, intellectually, and physically while having fun.

The Summer Day Camp is a 6-week, full-day program that supports curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and healthy movement. Campers rotate through academic enrichment, visual arts, and activities in small, age-appropriate groups led by trained educators, staff, and tutors.

Dates: July 6 – August 13, 2026
Hours: 9 AM – 4 PM. M-F
Location: Manhattan University Campus, Riverdale, NY
Ages: 5–10 years old

After pick-up time (4:00 p.m.), campers who remain at Manhattan University will be charged an additional fee of $10 every fifteen minutes (the latest pick-up is 4:30 p.m.). Parents that need to drop off campers before 9:00 am are charged an additional fee of $10 for every fifteen minutes earlier (the earliest drop off is 8:30 am)

Attend one of our information sessions to learn more.

Register

Academic Enrichment

Children participate in hands-on learning activities that promote problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking through weekly rotating enrichment themes.

Science & Technology Activities

• Mini Mad Scientists Lab
  Children conduct safe experiments such as volcano reactions, color-changing liquids, and density jars while learning how scientists observe, predict, and record results.

• Weather Watchers Studio
  Campers build simple weather tools like wind socks and rain gauges, track daily conditions, and present short “weather reports” to the group.

• Unplugged Coding Adventures
  Using games, floor grids, and movement, children learn sequencing, patterns, and logic without screens through activities like “Program the Robot” and “Code My Path.”

Engineering & Building Challenges

• Bridge Builders Challenge
  Teams design and test bridges using straws, craft sticks, and tape to see which structure holds the most weight while discussing balance and load.

• Tower Power Engineering
  Campers compete in friendly design challenges to build the tallest free-standing tower using limited materials, encouraging iteration and teamwork.

• Marble Maze Masters
  Children design and redesign marble runs, learning about gravity, angles, and trial-and-error through guided experimentation.

Group Projects & Guided Exploration

• Eco-City Collaborative Project
  Small groups design a sustainable city using recycled materials, assigning roles such as engineer, designer, and planner to encourage collaboration.

• Inventors Workshop
  Campers identify a simple problem (e.g., carrying supplies, organizing toys) and prototype an invention using craft and building materials.

• Mission to Mars
  A week-long themed project where teams design rockets, habitats, and exploration tools while learning basic space science concepts.

Creative Arts

Visual and creative arts are integrated throughout the day to support imagination, self-expression, and design thinking.

Painting & Drawing

• Emotion Colors Studio
  Children explore how colors express feelings by creating abstract paintings inspired by music and storytelling.

• Nature Sketch Journals
  Campers observe leaves, insects, and outdoor spaces and create illustrated journals that blend science observation with art.

• Character Creators Lab
  Kids design original characters and backstories, combining drawing with storytelling and presentation skills.

Multimedia & Craft-Based Projects

• Recycled Art Innovators
  Using cardboard, bottles, and found materials, campers create sculptures while learning about sustainability and reuse.

• Texture & Materials Lab
  Children experiment with fabric, foil, paper, and natural materials to create mixed-media artwork and discuss material properties.

• Mask & Costume Design Studio
  Campers design masks or wearable art tied to weekly themes such as animals, space explorers, or superheroes.

Design & Creativity Labs

• Young Designers Studio
  Children follow a simplified design-thinking process—imagine, create, test, improve—to design everyday objects like pencil holders or toy vehicles.

• STEAM Storybook Makers
  Teams create illustrated books that explain a science or engineering concept using drawings, simple diagrams, and short narratives.

• Art Meets Engineering Gallery
  Final projects combine structure and aesthetics, such as moving sculptures or pop-up art, culminating in a camper art showcase.

Register