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"What will my child do this summer and how will I afford it?"
BGCM has the answer!
With an increase in hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are please to offer full and partial scholarships to ease the burden and provide answers to many parent's questions right now.
If you meet eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for more than just scholarships.
Click here to apply for scholarships.
Jolly Swag's BGCM STEAM Camp PSA
Hear what our students think!
Any 2024 summer camp plans will be announced here, so check back soon.
In past years BGCM has hosted 5-8 week summer programs focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math), Robotics, Young Entrepreneurship, trips, college tours & more from July - August, 9:00am-5:00pm with before and aftercare available. Summer camp is typically open to ALL NJ and NY RESIDENTS at an affordable cost. Children living outside the NJ area or are visiting for the summer, and have transportation, may also enroll. Contact us to learn more. Click here to see our 2023 New Jersey Department of Health youth camp license.
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Hear from staff about BGCM's amazing work.
An inside look at our STEM & Robotics classes!
2023 Summer Camp:
Students Going into Grades 1-12
Children encountered a whole new world of fun with a host of programs, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Robotics, Programming, 1-2-3D, App Development, Design Thinking, Public Speaking, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Investor Pitches, Arts & Crafts, and Field Trips.
Days were action packed games, new skills discovery, safe adventures, and devoted counselors. Campers were energized to come back each day.
Camp was offered 8 Weeks: July 3 – August 25th; Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm; Students going into grades 1-12/Ages 6-18. Before and After Care is available from 8:00am - 9:00am and 5:00pm - 6:30pm. See registration forms for more information.
Volunteer Camp Counselors and CIT (Counselors-in-Training) programs were also available.
Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks was also be available.
Robotics
WHAT MIGHT STUDENTS LEARN IN ROBOTICS (see FAQs below for more)?
*Click on the grades' curriculum to view the answers.
Grades 3-5 curriculum may include:
- Endless Inventions
- Making things move
- Interactive play and more!
Grades 4-12 curriculum may include:
- Mechanical and Structural Engineering
- Competitive Design Challenges and more!
Grades 6-12 curriculum may include:
- Design, Mechanical, Structural, and Civil Engineering
- Arduino technology, Motors and Motion, and more!
Young Entrepreneurship Class
The young entrepreneurship program is an innovative and exhilarating program that aims to transform youth in grades 1-12 into educated, equipped, confident entrepreneurs. Through our various stages of entrepreneurship classes, students will learn financial literacy, business concepts, generate business ideas, and conduct market research to eventually create business plans, pitch to investors, and launch their businesses. Key elements of the program is student commitment, adult support and accountability, communication, and building important relationships with key individuals. Keynote speakers and partner organizations will come in to speak with students and provide invaluable information.
Past & Future Summer Activities
An inside look at our previous STEM & Robotics classes!
Not Your Average Summer Camp! (Previous Year)
2016 Summer Camp
We encompassed an international cultural immersion experience with students who came from China, just to attend our program. Daily activities included STEAM instruction, Creative Arts, Literacy and Financial Literacy, where students spent 6 solid weeks delving into the book, Rich Dad, Smart Dad and creating business ideas and products. Neptune and Marlboro police as well as Matawan Fire Department brought their cars and trucks to camp and educated our students about careers, safety, and respect. We brought in numerous career professionals such as an anesthesiologist, pediatrician, civil engineer, environmental scientist, and a patent attorney. Students dressed in professional attire when TD bank came in to do a financial literacy workshop and we were invited by United Airlines to visit the airport; where we toured their warehouse of supplies and saw 25 million dollar engines, cockpits, planes and more.
2017 Summer Camp
Another international cultural immersion again! Daily activities included Robotics, STEAM instruction, Creative Arts, Literacy, and Financial Literacy. Campers applied for and received jobs and were paid $125-$180 in BGCM money. They paid rent for their desks, received interest, fines, bonuses and were able to bid on items in our weekly auction. Neptune Police Department conducted a workshop on kidnapping and we brought in numerous career professionals to speak to our students. A pediatrician, food scientists from International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), a senior scientist from L'Oreal, and Johnson & Johnson's IT department held a hands-on coding and app development workshop. Students dressed in professional attire when TD bank came in to do a financial workshop on saving for college and we took a trip to New Jersey Natural Gas which allowed students to see how a gas company works and the careers in the field. We visited Newark Federal Courthouse where students learned about the justice system by speaking with a federal judge right in his courtroom. They sat in the juror, prosecution and defense team seats and learned about court procedures. We also went to Atlantic Records in NYC where students toured the office, recording studios, met the COO and spoke with record executives. Our students also had a blast when we competed against The Preparatory Academy during field day at another summer camp Jackson, NJ.
2018 Summer Camp
We had a blast! Campers were taught in classrooms without the classroom feel. Some classes were held indoors and out. Many return campers expressed great appreciation for the improvement in their reading, math, and science scores as a result of what they learned during the summer at BGCM. High school students went on to enroll in AP classes which was not an option before BGCM. Summer slide? Not when enrolled at BGCM!
Students enjoyed Robotics, STEAM instruction, Creative Arts, Literacy, Tutoring, Financial Literacy and Fashion & Design with students from NY, NJ and MD. Every camper applied for a job and receive a weekly BGCM paycheck which they later used to bid on items in our weekly auction. Guest speakers included entrepreneurs, accountants, Johnson and Johnson’s technology department, TD Bank, Be the Sea Change, and Chef Gami joined campers as they made buttermilk and cinnabon style biscuits. Yum!
Field trips included the GRAMMY Museum and Rutgers University Forensic Science Department & College Tour. Campers also put on a mock trial at the Newark Federal Courthouse which blew the judges, attorneys, and staff away with their preparedness and knowledge of the case. Finally, on our trip to Shoprite, campers learned about nutrition before receiving a budget and instructions on shopping for groceries from all food groups to
feed their families of four each. They were challenged and rewarded. Parents could not stop thanking BGCM for allowing their children to have such an experience.
Each week also included a fun filled activity: Bring a Friend to Camp Day, Black Panther Day, Crazy Sock & Hair Day, Water Day, but the one they looked forward to most was PAY DAY & AUCTION DAY. So much fun packed in 6 weeks.
2019 Summer Camp
The goal for 2019 was to continue to develop capable students who can function in a highly technological world, while expanding our reach to students going into 1st grade all the way to 12th grade. However, in 2019, we extended our reach to have kindergarten siblings attend camp with their siblings. What a joy it was to have them.
Programming was aimed at improving student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, and increasing high school graduation rates. All students enjoyed Robotics, STEAM instruction, Creative Arts, Literacy, Tutoring, Financial Literacy and a brand new Media Camp (courtesy of KiDz HuB Media Network) where they learned video recording, editing, interviewing and production skills. Students came from NY, NJ and VA and every camper applied for a job and received a weekly paycheck and were paid in BGCM money.
Guest speakers included Chef Gami who taught our campers to make biscuits and gluten free chocolate chip cookies from scratch. We also had guest speakers from Johnson & Johnson. Our fun included weekly trips to the pool, a trip to the iCims, Snapology, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a college tour of Princeton University.
Bring a friend to camp day, pajama day, crazy hair and sock day, and team spirit day were also a blast! Students participated in weekly auctions where they used their weekly BGCM money to bid on items like Bluetooth speakers, phone accessories, candy, gift cards, electronics, and more.
2020 Summer Camp
You asked and we listened! In light of COVID-19 and keeping families safe, we were proud to offer a fully online virtual summer camp that consisted of many of the activities our students and families grew to love and enjoy. Our goal was to keep everyone safe, smart, and social. Our virtual camps were the perfect way to sharpen STEM + Art skills and bond with new friends, all online from the comfort of home. With the highest quality remote instruction, campers unlocked their brilliance and created exciting projects.
Robotics, coding, gaming, creative arts, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, digital media, literacy, virtual tours, guest speakers, and Friday Fun Days were only a small piece of the fun children experienced. To maintain interest and excitement to come back each day, classes were short and effective, we offered the most effective coding classes, with a balanced schedule, and the magic of participating in all the magic of a camp experience.
Guest speakers included judges, members of congress, food scientists, forensic scientists, attorneys, doctors, technology professionals, those who worked in finance, the music industry, and perhaps even a surprise celebrity guest or two!
Camp at BGCM was one that your child HAD to experience in 2020.
Your Top Questions About BGCM's STEAM Camp, Answered!
We know you put a lot of thought into your children’s summer activities. It’s only natural to have questions and weigh your options. We’ve gathered some of the most common questions about our BGCM's Virtual STEAM camp and answered them here. We hope you find this useful.
Is BGCM's STEM camp truly suitable for all skill levels?
Absolutely. We provide special attention to each camper with a small student to teacher ratio, so each child can learn the material. Beginners welcome!
How long is BGCM's STEAM camp and how many classes will students have during the program?
We offer 8 weeks of camp for students going into grade 1-12, from 9:00a - 5:00p. Parents can choose individual weeks or all 8. Lunch will be served from 12:00p - 1:00p and snacks will be served from 10:00a - 10:30a and 3:00p - 3:30p.
What does a typical day of BGCM's Virtual STEAM camp look like?
Students will arrive at 9:00a. Lunch will be served from 12:00p - 1:00p and snacks will be served from 10:00a - 10:30a and 3:00p - 3:30p.
What is STEAM?
In this climate of economic uncertainty, America is once again turning to innovation as the way to ensure a prosperous future. Yet innovation remains tightly coupled with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – the STEM subjects. Art + Design are poised to transform our economy in the 21st century just as science and technology did in the last century.
STEM + Art = STEAM STEAM is a movement championed by Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and widely adopted by institutions, corporations and individuals. The objectives of the STEAM movement are to:
* transform research policy to place Art + Design at the center of STEM
* encourage integration of Art + Design in K–20 education
* influence employers to hire artists and designers to drive innovationSource:
What's the big deal about STEAM (STEM+Arts)?
STEAM educational practices draw on each of the disciplines, while appealing to a broader base of students who explore and make connections between art, music, mathematics, science, and engineering and technology. Two-thirds of the engineers who receive Ph.D’s from US Universities are not US Citizens. The breakdown of college graduates with STEM Degrees are as follows: 46.7% China, 37.8% from South Korea, 28.7%, Germany, and 5.6% from the US1.
The goal of initiatives instilling STEM in classrooms is not to create more scientists, engineers, or mathematicians but instead to develop capable students who can function in a highly technological world that draws upon multiple knowledge types2. STEAM education represents a recognized national next-generation high-impact academic model. The practices, strategies, and programming are built upon a foundation of identified national best practices which are designed to improve under-represented minority and low-income student growth, close achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates and improve teacher and principal effectiveness3. We need to improve the composition of the STEM education pipeline to include more women and underrepresented minorities. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S., they hold less than 25% of STEM-related jobs. At the same time, 43% of school-age children today are of African American, Latino, or Native American descent. Yet of all the engineering bachelor’s degrees in the U.S., less than 15% are awarded to underrepresented minorities. We need to reconcile these opposing trends so that the composition of our STEAM education pipeline reflects America’s shifting demographics4.
Sources: 1 http://arts.ufl.edu/ 2 stem101.org/pdf/ANSEP.pdf 3 (Vasquez, Sneider & Comer, 2013). 4 Atkins, Rodney. “America Desperately Needs More STEM Students. Here’s How to Get Them.”Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 9 July 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. <http: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2012/07/09/america-desperately-needs-more-stem-students-heres-how-to-get-them/>.
Why should my child study STEAM with BGCM?
Because BGCM offers HIGH QUALITY STEM + ARTS EDUCATION. PLUS, WE'RE BOTH AFFORDABLE AND LOCAL.
The ability to compete in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields are pertinent to the success of our children in order to gain a competitive advantage over their peers. We must position them to succeed now, academically; and later in the workforce. Additionally, there is a great need for returning Arts into the national curricula. Other countries have realized that STEAM (STEM+Arts) education is an international priority, and we must recognize the same. Arts education enhances creativity and inspires innovation. Both are critical components to creating new industries in the future. At BGCM, your child will be Encouraged!
In order to achieve global competitiveness, BGCM has designed our STEAM summer program with an innovative method for youth to learn using a fun, out of the box approach to education. Your child will be Empowered! With our combination of first-class STEM instruction, combined with Arts education (STEAM), your child will experience a fresh approach to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Our instructors will provide students with tools designed to refresh, improve, and advance their current knowledge. Your child will be ready to Transform Communities!
Upon completion of our STEAM summer program, your child will be equipped to carry out the vision of BGCM…Encourage, Empower, and Transform Communities!
What should we expect from BGCM's STEAM Camp?
STEM is taught as one subject. Additional arts options are available.
SCIENCE: Learning through interactive and hands-on science activities. Students will become mini scientists and gear up for fun experiments and science adventures!
TECHNOLOGY: Participate in an array of problem solving activities with exposure to rudimentary and complex concepts.
ENGINEERING: Various engineering techniques integrated into the curriculum to offer a comprehensive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
MATH: Students will become familiar with fundamental and multifaceted mathematical concepts.Where can I find prices, register my child, or obtain scholarship information?
Click on the links: To obtain information on prices, registration, and scholarship information.
What will my child learn in STEAM?
Below is a brief list of topics students may cover. This list is a sample only. All STEAM education is hands on. In effort to measure growth and the effectiveness of our programs, Pre and Post Assessments will also be provided.
Grades 1-5 list of brief sample topics (all hands-on):
* Introduction to Science: Scientific method, investors, and design
* Earth Science: Volcanoes, oceans, clouds, and water cycle
* Plants and Biology: Functions, growing, and butterflies
* Introduction to Engineering/Architecture: Principles of architecture, math and blueprints
* Physics: Roller coasters, potential and kinetic energy, and design/build catapults
* Invention Week: Create models, and find solutions
* Chemistry: Mixtures, density and Ultraviolet radiation
AND SO MUCH MORE!Grades 6-12 list of brief sample topics (all hands-on):
* Manufacturing
* Airplanes
* Architecture
* Electronics
* Problem Solving, Developing Ideas, and Creating Solutions
* Engineering
* Food Science & Sustainability
* Medical Technologies
* Agriculture and Biotechnologies
* Energy and Teamwork
* Electricity, Design, and Modeling
AND SO MUCH MORE!What will my child learn in Robotics (In Person Camp Only) ?
We are proud to offer Robotics for all students in grades 1-12. IF YOU DO NOT SEE A PARTICULAR TOPIC LISTED BELOW, PLEASE CONTACT US TO FIND OUT IF WE OFFER WHAT YOU OR YOUR CHILD IS LOOKING FOR.
Grades 3-5 curriculum may include:
* 3D Building Blocks
* Design and creating inventions
* Strengthening designs
* Making things move
* Fine motor coordination, logical reasoning, spatial visualization
* Cooperation, teamwork, problem solving and finding solutions
* Trucks, Helicopters, Robots, Caterpillars, Cell Phones, and More.
* Construction Vehicles
* Hoists and Cranes
* Carnival Rides
* Conveyors and Elevators
AND MUCH MORE!Grades 4-12 curriculum may include:
* Mechanical and Structural Engineering
* A deep dive into Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage
* Computer Aided Design and 3D Printing
* Competitive Design Challenges.
AND MUCH MORE!Grades 6-12 curriculum may include:
* Simple to Compound Machines
* Design, Mechanical, Structural, and Civil Engineering
* Aerospace
* Motors and Motion
* Develop Mechanisms to Achieve Desired Functionality
* Arduino Coding
* Steps to Successful Inventions
AND MUCH MORE!Do you serve students with basic, intermediate, and advanced STEM skills?
YES! We serve students with skills from all levels. Our programs are designed to level the playing field for students with less experience and will also challenge students with more advanced STEM skills.
Does BGCM Programs align with NGSS or Common Core Standards?
YES! All lessons link to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Engineering Design standards & the Common Core.
How can I make a donation or payment?
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