Weekly themes spark curiosity
Yorktown Elementary School (YES) hosted its annual Camp ROAR (Reaching Outstanding Academic Results) from June 2 - 26, offering a dynamic and enriching four-week summer program for incoming 1st through 5th grade students.
Held Monday through Thursday, the camp blended academic reinforcement with hands-on activities, keeping students engaged in a fun and stimulating environment. Each week of the program featured a unique theme, with tailored activities designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build community.
Students in Camp ROAR enjoy a paint activity. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Week One’s theme was “Can You Dig It?” Campers explored the prehistoric world through a variety of dinosaur-themed activities. Students created Stegosaurus- inspired snacks, excavated 'fossils,' and constructed 3D dinosaurs using marshmallows and straws. Highlights included cave paintings with berries, dinosaur egg drops, and games like “T-Rex Bean Bag Toss.” The week also featured educational elements such as fossil identification and measurement exercises, as well as activities using salt dough and playdough to create molds and trace once-living organisms.
Week Two’s theme was “Out of This World!” Campers launched into spacethemed exploration, learning about the phases of the moon with hands-on models and building constellations using geoboards. Students created alien pudding, constructed rockets, and launched them in outdoor experiments. The week was rounded out with science-themed readalouds and creative art projects centered around the cosmos.
Week Three’s theme was “Into the Wild!” Students went on a safari- style adventure, crafting paper snakes and butterflies, experimenting with 'elephant toothpaste,' and even making their own ice cream. Activities included designing giraffe pelts, building birdhouses, learning about camouflage and mimicry, and engaging in animal- themed games like “This Little Piggy” and Safari Bingo.
Week Four’s theme was “Under the Sea!” The final week dived into marine life with bubble wrap ocean art, origami fish, chalk drawings of blue whales, and fizzing coral reef experiments. Students investigated ocean food chains and the phenomenon of bioluminescence, with younger campers crafting jellyfish and pufferfish while older students explored sea creature adaptations and behaviors.
YES Principal Stephanie Zigmond praised the program, saying, “It’s such a wonderful feeling seeing these students experience the true joy of learning. They get the opportunity to visit with friends and meet some of their new teachers for the upcoming school year. Everyone is walking around with a smile on their face. The teachers work hard to ensure these kids get the most out of their time here. I’ve seen everything from ‘predator vs. prey,’ a Skittles and M&M science game, to lessons introducing advanced vocabulary like ‘bioluminescence.’ I’ll miss their little giggles as the school quiets down in July—but I can’t wait to see them all again come August!”
Camp ROAR continues to be a testament to YES’s commitment to educational excellence, providing a space where learning thrives beyond the traditional classroom— and where joy and curiosity go hand in hand.
