The inaugural Wildcat Think Tank Summer Camp at Yorktown Junior High is off to an exciting start, providing students with opportunities to explore creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem- solving through a variety of engaging, hands-on activities.
The camp, which runs Monday through Thursday from June 1 through June 18, was created to give students an enriching summer experience while helping them develop skills that will benefit them both inside and outside the classroom.
The first week of the Wildcat Think Tank began with students diving into a wide range of activities designed to challenge their minds and encourage innovation. Participants coded computer programs, built race cars, designed floor plans for their dream bedrooms, and created concrete poems inspired by their five senses.
The momentum continued throughout the rest of the week, as students rotated through specialized learning experiences tailored to their interests. In the Number Ninjas session, students sharpened their mathematics skills by solving one-step and two-step equations, tackling order of operations problems, working with ratios, and practicing operations with integers through an interactive escape room challenge. The activity combined academic rigor with teamwork and problem-solving as students worked together to unlock clues and complete the challenge. Meanwhile, students in Camp Construct continued work on race cars they designed and built, adding creative touches as they painted their vehicles in preparation for future competitions and demonstrations.
Yorktown Secondary art teacher Ellen Yosko, one of many staff members helping with the Think Tank said, “I was assisting the math department and the Math Ninjas this week. I feel like the first week went off without a hitch. The students used different math concepts and skills to complete different activities. The hands-on activities kept the students engaged while learning. Can’t wait to see what next week brings.”
Yorktown ISD paraprofessional Katelyn Dodds spent part of the week working with the Number Ninjas group and with a group that explored probability through a hands-on Skittles activity that quickly became a favorite among campers.
Reflecting on the first week of camp, Dodds said, 'The first week was a great reminder that learning happens best when students are engaged, having fun, and making real-world connections. Seeing students excited about math, exploring their new campus, and building confidence for junior high made it a very rewarding start to the summer.'
STEM participants explored engineering and technology concepts by using blocks to guide and move rovers through various challenges, encouraging collaboration and strategic thinking. In Lit Lab, students continued to blend creativity with literacy by crafting shape poems, transforming words into visual works of art.
As the first-ever Wildcat Think Tank continues, organizers hope the camp will become a summer tradition that showcases the creativity, talent, and potential of Yorktown Junior High students. Yorktown Secondary principal Laura Patek said, “This is the first year for the Wildcat Think Tank at YJH. We are offering Culinary, Construction, Number Ninjas, STEM, and Lit Labs. The best learning happens when students are engaged, challenged, and having fun. Our Think Tank has provided all three, and it has been exciting to watch our students thrive.”
Additional activities and projects are planned throughout the remainder of the camp, promising more opportunities for students to explore new ideas, build meaningful skills, and demonstrate their Wildcat pride.
