Middle School Programs OLD
Middle school students can reach new heights at SSA Summer programs. Camps, classes and clinics give adolescents the chance to hone individual interests and discover new talents.
Camp Ren (6-9)
Camp Ren is an innovative summer day camp designed specifically for students entering grades 6-9. The Camp Ren staff is devoted to maintaining a developmentally appropriate experience while engaging kids' bodies, minds and spirits through arts, sciences, sports and fun social activities. Campers can choose to focus on forensics, rocketry, robotics, food science, ceramics, filmmaking and multimedia studio art. Each camper can personalize his or her experience to create a perfect summer fit.
Campers entering ninth grade have the option to sign up for the Leaders-in-Training (LIT) Program to develop leadership and service learning skills. Due to the nature of the extensive LIT program and COVID mitigation guidelines, SSA Summer has decided to cancel this program for Summer 2021. Rising 9th graders can still attend Camp Ren as full campers.
2021 Dates & Rates
Location: SSA Middle School, Fox Chapel
(500 Squaw Run Road East, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Ages: Kids entering grades 6-9 in 2021-2022
Times: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Week 1: June 21-25
Week 2: June 28-July 2
Week 3: July 6-July 9 (closed July 5)
Week 4: July 12-16
Week 5: July 19-July 23
Week 6: July 26-30
Each Weekly Session: $400
Please contact summerprograms@shadysideacademy.org if you need accommodations to your schedule.
After Care: $10 per day, available until 6 p.m.
Before Care: FREE, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Lunch is included.
Limited Bus transportation is available.
Specialty Areas
- Ceramics
- Food Science
- Cooking
- Dance
- Filmmaking/Film Editing
- Forensics
- Geocaching
- Jewelry-making/Glasswork
- Painting
- Robotics
- Rocketry
- Theater
A Typical Day at Camp Ren
- 7:30 a.m. – Before-Care
Our early-riser campers gather in the gym. - 8:45 a.m. – Arrival
The gym begins to fill with sounds of basketball and chatter during car and bus arrival. - 9 a.m. – Morning Meeting
Our Camp Director welcomes campers and staff, takes attendance and explains the day's schedule. - 9:10-11:15 a.m. – Morning Activities
Campers rotate through two activity periods each morning with their squads. From robotics to cooking, there's plenty to do each day! - 11:20 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. – Morning Choice
Each day, campers break from their normal squads to take part in different activities, such as swimming, frisbee golf, 3-on-3 basketball, tie-dyeing, solar cooking, comic book-making and more! - 12:30 p.m. – Lunch
Our on-site caterer prepares a delicious and nutritious meal each day, offering vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. - 1:30-2:35 p.m. – Afternoon Activities
Squads enjoy an additional activity period each afternoon. It's a great time to play sports, work on a ceramic masterpiece or edit a film! - 2:40-3:45 p.m. – Afternoon Choice
Three times a week, campers take part in a massive camp-wide activity such as human foosball, capture the flag or our annual film festival. During the other two days, all activity areas are open so campers can choose to finish old projects or start new ones. - 3:45 p.m. – Afternoon Meeting
Campers and staff gather in the gym to hear the day's highlights and prepare for dismissal. - 4 p.m. – Dismissal
Campers head outside to cars and buses after a fun and fulfilling day of camp. - 4-6 p.m. – After-Care
For parents who need a little more time to pick up their kids, Camp Ren offers after-care for only $10 a day.
Check out a Camp Ren Sample Schedule!
Sports Camps (6-8)
SSA Summer offers plenty of Sports Camps to pique the athletic interests of kids entering grades K-8. Camps are one week in length and directed by an SSA coach, ensuring the programs remain developmentally appropriate.
Each coed camp welcomes boys and girls of all ability levels. From beginners looking to try a sport for the first time, to intermediate players looking to enhance their skills, SSA sports camps provide kids with a fun and exciting opportunity to learn from great coaches and players.
As an added benefit, each of our sports camps includes a swim period, giving everyone a chance to cool off!
Information for Summer 2021 will be released in early March for all STEAM, Sport and Focus Programs.
2020 Dates & Rates
Location: SSA Senior School, Fox Chapel
(423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Ages: Varies by program (see below, based on 2020-2021 grade levels)
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Boys and Girls Basketball: June 8-12* (grades 2-6)
Boys and Girls Golf Camp: July 27-31 (grades 4-8)
Boys and Girls Ice Hockey: July 27-31 (grades K-8)
Basketball: $390
Golf: $555 - must provide own clubs
Ice Hockey: $410 - must provide own equipment
After Care: $10 per day, available until 6 p.m.
Before Care: FREE, beginning at 7:30 a.m.*
Lunch and daily swim period are included.
Bus transportation is available.
*No before- or after-care June 8-12
2020 Sports Camps
Boys and Girls Basketball Camp
Boys and Girls Golf Day Camp
July 27-31, grades 4-8
SSA varsity golf coach Mark Hessler will take beginning and immediate golfers and prepare them for the next level. Golfers will spend mornings at the Pine Creek driving range honing their short game, putting and driving skills, while competing in fun skills games for prizes! After lunch, golfers will head to the Fox course at Pittsburgh North to play nine holes. Coach-to-golfer ratio is 4:1. Current varsity coaches, college golfers and a few pros will coach this camp. Must have own clubs.
Boys and Girls Ice Hockey Camp
July 27-31, grades K-8
SSA prep hockey coach Jonathan Johnson and his staff lead two simultaneous ice hockey camps in our McKnight Hockey Center. The beginners' camp focuses on the fundamental skills necessary to play hockey. The advanced camp focuses on conditioning, strength and refinement of skills for the more experienced player. Players must provide their own equipment: helmet with full face mask, should pads, elbow pads, hockey gloves, hockey pants, hockey jock, shin pads, skates and a stick.
Focus Camps (6-9)
Join us for Shady Side Academy’s weeklong Focus Camps! Each fun and exciting camp is focused on specific skills to further develop your adolescent's mind, body and spirit.
Creative activities and fun games supplement the learning process, all while kids enjoy life on SSA’s beautiful Senior School campus. Also, in conjunction with The Handwork Studio, we are proud to offer a hands-on, project-based camp. With some of the finest professionals in the Pittsburgh area complementing our day camp staff, our Focus Camps are the perfect start or end to the summer!
2020 Dates & Rates
Location: SSA Senior School, Fox Chapel
(423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Ages: Varies by program (see below, based on 2020-2021 grade levels)
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Week I: June 8-12*
- Chess Camp (grades 1-6)
Week II: July 27- 31
- The Handwork Studio Fashion & Machine Sewing Camp (grades 6-9)
- Chess Camp (grades 1-6)
Week III: August 3-7
- The Handwork Studio Fashion & Machine Sewing Camp (grades 6-9)
Chess Camp: $390
The Handwork Studio Fashion & Machine Sewing Camp: $525
After Care: $10 per day, available until 6 p.m.
Before Care: FREE, beginning at 7:30 a.m.*
Lunch and daily swim period are included.
Bus transportation is available.
*No before- or after-care June 8-12
2020 Focus Camps 6-9
Chess Camp
June 8-12 and July 27-31, grades 1-6
Whether new to chess or already a checkmate champion, your child can learn more about the royal game at Chess Camp. Led by USCF National Master Ben Johnson, the camp will feature daily interactive chess lessons plus fun activities like team chess, chess puzzles and chess trivia. Chess teaches higher-order thinking skills and sportsmanship, so chess camp is a great way to help your child stay sharp over the summer. Chess sets are provided for use at the camp.
The Handwork Studio Fashion & Machine Sewing Camp
July 27-31 and Aug. 3-7, grades 6-9
Whether you are an aspiring fashion designer or a creative camper looking for new skills, immerse yourself in the wonderful world of machine sewing! Designed with older campers in mind, this program is all about choice and creative expression. Campers will be taught how to read and use a wide variety of Simplicity Creative Group patterns, our exclusive pattern partner. In addition to a catalog of more than 20 patterns, campers get to choose from dozens and dozens of bolts of tempting fabrics to bring individual style and flare to every creation. There are more than enough options to keep you coming back week after week and year after year!
A Typical Day at Focus Camp
- 7:30 a.m. – Before-Care
Our early-riser campers gather in the camp office. - 8:45 a.m. – Arrival
Campers begin to arrive at the gym from parent drop-off and our bus transportation. - 9 a.m. – Morning Meeting
Each camp's lead counselor welcomes campers, takes attendance and explains the day's schedule. - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. – Morning Activities
Our campers head to their Focus Camp locations and begin their week-long projects. From films to hypothesis testing, busy mornings await! - 12 p.m. – Lunch and Recess
Our on-site caterer prepares a delicious and nutritious meal each day, offering vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. A period of free play follows on the quad. - 1:20-3:45 p.m. – Afternoon Activities
Campers continue to hone their skills and work on final projects, while also getting a chance to swim in our indoor pool. - 3:45 p.m. – Afternoon Meeting
All campers and staff gather in the gym to prepare for dismissal. - 4 p.m. – Dismissal
Our campers and staff head outside to cars and buses after a fun and fulfilling day. - 4-6 p.m. – After-Care
For parents who need a little more time to pick up their kids, our Focus Camps offer after-care for $10 a day. Campers relax in our air-conditioned lounge area, while watching kid-friendly movies, playing board games and working on art projects.
NEW! STEAM Camps (6-8)
Join SSA Summer as we offer brand-new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) camps! In addition to Shady Side Academy's own STEAM experts, we have partnered with Snapology to offer a variety of week-long programs. Instructors will engage children of all ages through hands-on activities!
Location: SSA Senior School School, Fox Chapel (423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Ages: Varies by program (see below, based on 2020-2021 grade levels)
Times: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
June 8-12*
- Snapology STEAM Club (grades 1-6)
- Fabricating in the Fab Lab (grades 6-8)
August 3-7
- STEAM Art Week with Snapology (grades 1-6)
- Programming in Minecraft (grades 6-8)
Cost: $390
After Care: $10 per day, available until 6 p.m.
Before Care: FREE, beginning at 7:30 a.m.*
Lunch is included.
Bus transportation is available.
*No before- or after-care June 8-12
2020 STEAM Camps
NEW! SSA Fab Lab Camps (6-8)
Fabricating in the Fab Lab
June 8-12, grades 6-8
Come explore the Fab Lab at Shady Side Academy! Learn how to use 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC machines to design pretty much anything you can imagine. This camp is hands-on and project-based. Participants will walk away with projects designed on all the fun and innovative equipment we have to offer!
Programming in Minecraft
Aug. 3-7, grades 6-8
Have you ever wanted to mod your own Minecraft characters? Or change an iron sword into a lightsaber that can fell an Ender Dragon with one blow? In this camp, participants will learn how to leverage java to mod their own blocks, characters and equipment in the popular Minecraft environment and walk away with a game they can share with their friends.
About the SSA Fab Lab
The Fabrication and Robotics Wing houses a fabrication lab, robotics arena, workshop, wet lab, collaboration room called the "think tank" and faculty office. The "fab lab" and workshop feature cutting-edge equipment including a Tormach CNC mill, a Forest Scientific CNC router, an Epilog laser cutter, a Roland vinyl cutter, a Roland VersaPrint garment printer, a SawStop table saw and four 3D printers, including a Formlabs 3D resin printer. An art installation spelling out the word "CREATE" appears on six pillars lining the wing's corridor. These new maker spaces are open to all students and teachers across disciplines, and also provide a much-needed home for the school's Robotics and Science Olympiad teams.
NEW! Snapology Camps (1-6)
Snapology STEAM Club
June 8-12, grades 1-6
In Snapology’s STEAM Club, campers will actively experiment with the principles of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. All programs and activities are hands-on with guided instruction from an experienced Snapologist. Snapology programs utilize teamwork, communication and creative problem-solving as an essential part of creating a fun and productive atmosphere where students can learn, challenge themselves and practice their social skills. Campers will work with a partner to create a variety of structures, robots, machines and more to solve challenges presented to them in this exciting enrichment club!
STEAM Art Week With Snapology
Aug. 3-7, grades 1-6
Enjoy a fun week of STEAM art with SSA Country Day School teacher Kelly Bellini and Snapology! Morning periods with Ms. Bellini will be focused on creativity, imagination and engaging projects, using a variety of materials for art-making and building. Campers will explore techniques of the master artists and use those skills to create their own masterpieces! In the afternoon, Pittsburgh's Snapology will join campers to host their Brick Art & Design Lab. Artist Edgar Degas once said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Campers will learn about different types of art and the periods in which they were created. Then they will interpret what they see and create their own works of art out of LEGO bricks, drawing inspiration and guidance from great works of art like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Wright’s Fallingwater, and many more! By the end of the week, campers will be able to not only share information about famous artists, art forms and art movements, but also to create their own unique works of art that reach beyond the past and into the future.
About Snapology
Snapology was created by two sisters, Lisa and Laura Coe, who observed the love their children had for creative play using building blocks and other materials that snap together. The idea of offering enrichment classes and camps to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, art and literacy concepts excited them given both of their backgrounds in mathematics and science.
Snapology’s mission is to provide educational play to children using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex, computers and other interactive mediums. Our passion is providing programs to children of all abilities, including gifted children and those with extra needs.
Summer School (6-8)
Shady Side Academy offers a variety of Summer School courses to meet the needs and interests of students entering grades 6-8. Literature & Composition and Math classes enrich the academic experience of students through hands-on engagement with subject material and close, working relationships with classroom teachers. Class sizes range from 5-14 students and are assigned by grade level and ability. Classes will follow a two-week session model with projects and activities culminating in that time frame. The entire summer equates to three two-week sessions. Each 50-60 minute class period is typically followed by daily homework assignments, including weekends, to deepen understanding and prepare for the next day of learning. We recognize that summer is a time for play, and our aim is to provide students the opportunity to bolster their academic skills in a supportive and engaging environment.
Check out our Stay & Play option, which pairs Mathematics/Literature and Composition, with Camp Ren for a full day of learning and fun! See below for details.
Many of our Enrichment Courses are open to students entering grades 7-12. Students can explore filmmaking, robotics and game theory in mixed-grade groups.
2020 Dates & Rates
Location: SSA Middle School, Fox Chapel (500 Squaw Run Road East, Pittsburgh, PA 15238)
Ages: Kids entering grades 6-8 in 2020-2021
Course Dates and Times:
June 15 - July 24 (closed July 3):
Literature & Composition 6: 8:45-9:45 a.m.
Literature & Composition 7: 9:50-10:50 a.m.
Literature & Composition 8: 10:55-11:55 a.m.
Math 6: 9:50-10:50 a.m.
Math 7: 10:55-11:55 a.m.
Math 8: 8:45-9:45 a.m.
Stay and Play (School + Camp): 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.
July 13-17:
Study Skills Workshop: 1:00-2:15 p.m.
(Course times subject to change)
Individual Courses Only: $1,000 each
One Course + Stay and Play: $2,520
Two Courses + Stay and Play: $3,020
Stay & Play
Your child will enjoy the best of both worlds when you register for Stay & Play! Students enroll in six weeks of Summer School, and when they're not in class they enjoy the rest of day in Camp Ren!
After Care: $10 per day, available until 6 p.m.
Before Care: FREE, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Lunch is included.
Bus transportation is available.
Progress Reports
Progress reports are issued at the end of the fully completed six-week summer session to provide parents with individualized and detailed feedback on their child's experience. In addition, teachers provide parents with a checklist after four weeks to keep them informed about their child's coursework with individualized comments as needed. Classroom teachers keep the Summer School Director up to date on student progress with teaching goals, instructions, and expectations individualized.
Middle School Literature & Composition
June 15 - July 24 (closed July 3):
Literature & Composition 6: 8:45-9:45 a.m.
Literature & Composition 7: 9:50-10:50 a.m.
Literature & Composition 8: 10:55-11:55 a.m.
Avid readers know that the page can take you on amazing journeys! Fill your summer with book talk and workshop experiences that will challenge you to develop your reading identity, practice and exercise the skills that more challenging texts require and respond through analytical, expressive, and reflective writing.
Students will leverage new technologies as they read, annotate, discuss, and write about the books that will spark their imagination. Through hands-on engagement with texts and a close working relationship with the teacher, students will reinforce critical skills and prepare themselves for the challenges of the coming school year.
Middle School Mathematics
June 15 - July 24 (closed July 3)
Math 6: 9:50-10:50 a.m.
Math 7: 10:55-11:55 a.m.
Math 8: 8:45-9:45 a.m.
We offer three levels of Middle School mathematics. All classes engage students in a hands-on exploration of math concepts and bolster existing math and problem-solving skills to prepare students for the challenges of the school year ahead.
Our sixth grade course includes an exploration of operations with whole numbers, variables, decimals, geometry, number theory, fractions, and solving equations.
Our seventh grade course includes an introduction to algebra; decimals; positive, negative and rational numbers; equations; geometry; ratios, proportions and percentages; and the coordinate plane.
Our eighth grade course offers a preview to algebra, including expressions, equations, negative numbers, distributing, axioms, operations with polynomials and radials, quadratic equations, two-variable expressions and equations, and a focus on solving more complex equations.
In all three courses, students learn by doing. We recommend enrolling your child in the course most closely aligned with the math course your child will take in the 2020-2021 school year. For most students this is their grade level for the 2020-2021 year. Questions regarding placement? Contact Dr. David Barndollar.
Study Skills Workshop
July 13-17, 1:00-2:15 p.m., SSA Middle School
$200
This one-week workshop will provide students with the tools they need to improve self-regulated learning, study and organizational skills. We will explore individual learning characteristics, mindfulness techniques, time management, note-taking and learning strategies such as PROTO and SQ3R, test preparation and self-advocacy skills.
This one-week workshop is NOT a part of the Stay and Play program.
Meet the Summer School Director
Dr. David Barndollar is Shady Side Academy's Summer School Director. He is an experienced educator and school leader deeply committed to the development of students. He serves as the chair of the Senior School's English department and has served in a number of capacities over his career as an educator.
Please contact Dr. Barndollar with any questions.