Ep 41- Summer STEM Camps

On May 16, 2026, Wes and Shelly Fryer discuss why they run summer STEM camps and what they’re offering in summer 2026, noting they’re teaching 16 half-day camps (Shelly 9, Wes 7). They emphasize camps as passion projects and a “sandbox” for learning through play, curiosity, wonder, and computational thinking, with structure, community-building, partner work, and parent communication. They share reflections from past camps (including COVID-era online Minecraft camps) and lessons learned at Providence Day’s extensive summer program, including the importance of streamlined logins and student helpers. They point listeners to camps.shellyfryer.com for updated enrollment, astrokidsclub.org for Minecraft content, and mention sites like classroom.shellyfryer.com. Shelly outlines LEGO, rocket/design, Artemis innovation, and a new “Super Sleuths” forensics/breakout camp; Wes previews animal websites, space-themed Minecraft coding, wizarding builds, mini-game coding, and game coding with AI, plus upcoming STEM PD in July with Cherokee immersion teachers in Oklahoma.00:00 Welcome and Camp Overview00:51 Why We Run STEM Camps02:42 Where to Find Camp Info04:24 Curiosity Wonder and Play05:56 Shelly’s Lego Camp Philosophy08:44 Wes’s Minecraft Camp Journey14:42 Shelly’s Coding and STEM Roots18:50 Lessons From Last Summer21:54 Shelly’s Camp Structure and Community26:38 Computational Thinking Teaser27:16 Coding Social Skills27:26 Computational Thinking Basics28:08 AI Iteration Milestone29:40 Screen Time Hard Fun30:40 News Feed Sponsor31:39 Shelly Lego Camps32:23 Rocket Design Camp33:59 Innovation Design Artemis35:11 Super Sleuths Forensics36:18 Camp Sites Resources38:24 Wes Minecraft Space40:38 Wizarding Minecraft Build42:30 Minecraft Minigame Coding44:49 Game Coding With AI46:05 Cherokee STEM Teacher Camp48:55 Design Thinking With Teachers50:43 Contact Subscribe Wrap