Weekly Themes

Summer 2025 themes will be posted in February. In the meantime, explore our themes from last year to get a sense of our programming.

Week 1: Mystery Detectives

Step aside Sherlock Holmes, this week is for inquisitive campers! Highlights include:

• Adventures in Math – Ask and answer questions about truth, patterns, infinity, the possible, and the impossible.
• Discovery Kitchen – What’s the secret ingredient? Find out while cooking delicious eats and treats. Psst, taste testing is an important part of a detector’s work!
• Eco Explorers – With over 36 acres to explore, Nueva's Hillsborough campus is a perfect place to discover plants at all stages of growth and find evidence of animals big and small.
• Music – Like Radio Mystery Theater, campers will showcase their storytelling skills through music.
• Myth Makers – Since the dawn of age, storytellers have told creation myths and origin tales. We'll visualize the classics and come up with our own new concepts.
• Science in the Garden – Bring out your magnifying glass, let’s dig into the secrets of the garden!

Week 2: Movin' and Groovin'

*Use code "july4" at check-out for the reduced 4-day rate this week.

Get ready to swish and sway your way through this week! Highlights include:

• Adventures in Math – Discover why math is a universal language through puzzles and challenges.
• Group Movement – Games and activities abound as campers practice teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills on their feet.
• Music – Try a new instrument, sing a favorite song, and learn about the history of music in this interactive class!
• Outdoor Art – Make your way outside to explore new art mediums in the beauty of our campus.
• Science in the Garden – Observe the movements of our resident chickens, learn about the cycle of planting, and connect to nature in our working garden.
• Story Lab – How did we get here? Read stories about human migration and come up with your own tales.

Week 3: California Adventure

We’re taking inspiration from our beautiful home state this week. Highlights include:

• Eco Explorers – Uncover the flora and fauna of Nueva's sprawling Hillsborough campus. Find out which plants are native to California, and which have traveled here from different parts of the world.
• Farmer’s Marketing Cooking – Recipes using the freshest  summer fruits and vegetables California has to offer! … Oh my! What a delicious week this will be.
• Myth Makers – Let’s take a close look at the traditional folklore and mythology of the native people of California.
• Outdoor Art – What better way to celebrate our beautiful state than to make our way outside and let our creative minds wander.
• Science in the Garden – Find out why the Northern California climate is perfect for certain fruits and vegetables and what grows best in the summer. You may see familiar ingredients in the cafe lunch!
• Stagecraft – Develop a California-based character, create props, and set the scene for your own productions.

Week 4: Time Travelers

This week is all about looking to our past to better understand our future. Highlights include:

• Art – Visit another time, space, and dimension in this imaginative art class.
• Eco Explorers – Bring out your observation notebooks! Let’s look at how plants and animals change over time.
• History’s Mysteries – Students will pick a time period and engage in inquiry-based exploration.
• Science in the Garden – For tens of thousands of years, humans have cultivated land to grow food. Discover what farm-to-table means in today’s world.
• Stagecraft – Develop a historical character, create props, and set the scene for your own productions.
• Story Lab – Transport yourself to another time period through storytelling. We’ll read examples of historical fiction and come up with our own ideas.

Week 5: Ready, Set, ACTION!

What happens when preparation leads to performance? Magic! Highlights include:

• Circus Arts – Since Ancient Roman times, circus performers have entertained audiences. This week, we’ll try our hand at juggling and other tricks.
• Eco Explorers – Which of our furry friends will you spot on our trail cameras this week? The bobcat? Our resident opossum? Or maybe… a pink unicorn!
• Group Movement – Games and activities abound as campers practice teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills on their feet.
• Science of Baking – Prep, mix, BAKE! We’ll explore how ingredients interact, and why certain proportions and ratios make a recipe successful. You don't want to miss out on the taste tests.
• Sign Language – Bring language to life through an interactive class that incorporates music and movement. Starting with the alphabet, we'll build our skills over the course of the week.
• Story Lab – Bring stories to life in this interactive storytelling class.

July 14-25, 2025
Ideally, students will attend for the full two weeks. However, the course is divided into two week-long blocks (five days of instruction), and students are welcome to sign up for either or both weeks.