June 10-14, grades K-5

Tennis pro Mark Haffner has been running a tennis camp at Shady Side for more than seven years. Campers will learn basic front-hand and backhand skills, practice serves, learn game strategy and have a blast with the best kids' tennis coach around!

June 10-14, grades 2-6

SSA varsity basketball coach David Vadnais welcomes all future hoops stars for a week of fun and training. From shooting and ball-handling to defense and strategy, Coach Vadnais and his staff will work with kids on fundamental skills.

July 29 - Aug. 2, grades 4-8

SSA varsity 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 and provide own equipment.

Aug. 5-9, grades K-8

Weekly Programs June 10-August 9, grades K-5,

Click the New! Drobots STEM Camps (K-5) tab at the top of the page for more information and a list of K-5 camp offerings.

Drobots Company was originally founded by a small group of parents, educators, visionaries and do-it-yourself engineers. The mission was and still is to inspire students to reduce time in front of a computer screen and instead utilize drone technology in a setting that promotes collaborative project-based learning in a positive educational environment. Hence, the company trademark slogan, Where Technology Meets Fresh Air™.

At Drobots we create flexible experiences that shift students between the excitement and hands-on activities of our indoor activities and the freedom and exploration of the outdoors. Participants utilize imagination, hand-eye coordination and STEM applications to conquer challenges and missions – all in a team-oriented environment. Under the umbrella of a friendly competitive and gamified teaching and learning methodology, participants collaborate in a team setting to deconstruct challenges and then solve them.

Week I (June 10-14), grades K-5

If you just can't wait to be a star, take the stage with some singing, dancing and acting! Taught by Senior and Middle School drama staff, students will create a set, make their own costumes, learn some songs and dances, and perform for an audience of friends and family on the last day of the camp.

Week I or Week II (June 10-14 or July 29 - Aug. 2), grades K-5

Campers will experientially "travel" to 10 different countries from India to Peru while trying a variety of contemplative practices. Folk tales, art projects, nature walks, yoga, cuisine from different countries and music are just some of the activities involved! This is a truly unique camp combining world cultures, art and fun learning!

Week I or Week III (June 10-14 or Aug. 5-9), grades 1-6

Whether brand new to chess, or already a checkmate champion, your child can learn more about the royal game at the Chess Camp. Led by USCF National Master Ben Johnson, the camp will feature daily interactive chess lessons, but also 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.

Week II or III (July 29 - Aug.2 or Aug. 5-9), grades K-5

Picture your child in the care of energetic and imaginative counselors exploring the world of needle-arts. At Handwork Day Camp, you’ll find campers sharing stories and laughs while working on a wide array of unique projects. Our goal is to teach useful skills such as, hand-sewing, embroidery, knitting, weaving, needle-felting and much more! Campers are always free to express themselves and are enveloped in creativity and fun. Whether refining skills or learning brand new ones, our camp is sure to delight. Join the fun with Summer 2019's fresh new curriculum with different projects every week!

Week III (Aug. 5-9), grades K-5

This multi-sport camp offers basic guided instruction and semi-competitive play in sports including tennis, soccer, basketball and track & field. Recreational sports such as kickball, dodgeball and volleyball will complement “training” sessions. All campers will get a chance to relax and recuperate in our beautiful indoor pool.

Grades 1-2

Junior Drone Pilots is specifically designed for campers with little to no experience flying drones. We use the safest and most reliable drone products on the market, including the Parrot™ drones for enhanced safety and most of all, fun. Campers will learn the basics of drone technology and safety before taking to the air. Through the use of iPad flight simulators and clear instructions on basic flying maneuvers, young Drobots’ pilots will experience a program filled with excitement, games, challenges, and learning. Campers work all week long to prepare for the most enjoyable part of the week: the Ultimate Drone Games that include events such as: Tic-Tac-Drone, Drone Darts, Duck-Duck-Drone, and more. All campers go home with interactive workbooks and plenty of Drobots Company keepsakes and trinkets so the memories last long beyond the summer. Drone safety and the social responsibilities of flying drones are included in this program.

Grades 3-5

Ultimate Drone Obstacle Challenge is specifically designed for both the novice and experienced drone enthusiasts. This is week is filled with pure action as students enjoy one of the world’s fastest growing sports, Drone Obstacle Racing. Campers will first learn about the basic safety of drone flying and the history behind drone racing as a sport. From there, campers will progress through various skill challenges and learn how to perform various exercises and maneuvers to become familiar with the drone’s speed and agility. Campers will use iPads and remote controls to navigate the drone through short and long obstacle courses. Participants will also create the design and help build the the obstacle course in preparation for the last day’s final activity and competition. All campers go home with interactive workbooks and plenty of Drobots Company keepsakes and trinkets so the memories last long beyond the summer. Drone safety and the social responsibilities of flying drones are included in this program.

Grades 3-5

Join us for a week of fun and learning as campers learn Java, the most widely-used programming language in the world, including instantiation, methods, parameters, loops and more. Minecraft modding is a great way to learn programming, harness creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills while making your favorite game even better. Create super swords, obstacle courses and more without any limits! Using the full power of Java campers can take their Minecraft mods to the next level and learn the most popular programming language in the world at the same time! With Java, campers learn how to give items special powers, create new game modes, and modify the layout of the world. Campers will have the freedom to create whatever sparks their imagination! No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

NOTICE: All campers are required to have a Minecraft™ account for this class. Purchase a standard account and desktop version of Minecraft™ ($26.95) at minecraft.net/store. Either a PC or Mac account will work for the camp week, but we suggest you choose the version that matches your home computer. Campers should bring their account login when they come to camp.

StemQuest unplugs campers from the computer screen in this action-packed, story-based program. Throughout the week campers will be constantly on the move as they experiment and play. StemQuest has intentionally extracted the wide-array of exhilarating challenges and mysteries from popular gaming apps and turned it all into a live adventure. Campers will use age-appropriate rovers, bots, drones, and autonomous creative technology to jump over walls, push down obstacles, lift up boulders, and navigate through galaxies. Teams of campers work together in indoor, outdoor and open-spaced “worlds” throughout the week. In doing so, campers utilize life skills such as: collaborative problem solving, design, and curiosity, to outwit, out-build, and out-smart the program instructor, The Wizard.

Roblox offers students the opportunity to actively engage in the creative process and learn fundamental coding, design, and entrepreneurial skills that will give them the confidence to excel in this week of camp and beyond. Campers will learn how to use the Roblox engine to create games using the Lua programming language. Our creation tools and educational content will be used to expose campers to unique skills as they collaborate in teams to design blueprints and test their games. In the end, all campers finish the week with a published title that can be shared with families and friends. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

Gear up your engineering skills with an abundance of LEGO parts! Apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects such as Houseboats, Mini Golf Courses, Forklifts, and the London Tower Bridge. Design and build as never before in this new, full-day camp program for LEGO enthusiasts!

StemQuest unplugs campers from the computer screen in this narrative-based program. We have intentionally extracted the wide-array of exhilarating challenges and mysteries from gaming and esports and generated a live adventure. Campers will use rovers, bots, drones, and other autonomous creative technology to jump over obstacles, push down walls, lift up boulders, toss energy balls, and navigate through mazes. Teams of campers work together indoors, outdoors and in open-spaced “arenas” throughout the week, utilizing life skills such as: design and systems thinking, collaborative problem solving, curiosity, mindfulness, and imagination to outwit, out-build, and out-smart one another as well as the program instructor, The Wizard. Use your resources wisely to defend the kingdom and lead your clan to victory!

The ultimate Artificial Intelligence (AI) camp. Can you tell the difference between a human and a robot? Learn about the design and programming behind modern digital assistant software like Alexa, Siri, and Cortana in this innovative camp. Students build their own artificial intelligence personality that can answer questions, complete requests, and chat about topics of their choosing using real HTML and JavaScript code. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.Campers will be thrilled to bring home their digital portfolio at the end of the week and continue to work on their AI creation or to share with friends or family.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

Enter the world of Ninjago and become an apprentice Ninjaneer! Engineering and Ninjanuity are the focus of this new full-day themed camp for LEGO fanatics. Learn to build Trains, Helicopters, Treehouses, and Beam Bridges before moving on to Skull Trucks, Dragons, and Spijitzu Spinners from Ninjago City!

Learn to design video games like the pros using one of the world's most popular game development platforms, Unity. Build a unique game from the ground up by conceptualizing, designing, and then developing your ideas. Learn the fundamentals of C# in order to bring your games to life! Camper designs will be accessible post camp. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

Drone search and rescue is a necessity for first responders around the world, adding a new layer of solutions to save lives across the globe. Now campers to can take part in and learn from simulated missions during this action-packed, creative, and educational program. Participants will learn to fly drones and rely on their rescue team to collect vital data in specific “rescue areas” to locate “victims” and safely rescue them. We use age-appropriate and cutting-edge technology methods available for creating plans, missions, and maps. Participants will also learn invaluable lessons on how to simply, quickly and accurately make informed and targeted suggestions for real-world positive applications.

Bring Minecraft to life using tens of thousands of LEGO parts! Build engineer-designed projects such as Snowmobiles, Catapults, and Merry-Go-Rounds. Then build a Portal to the Nether, Creepers, and Minecarts from the Minecraft universe! Engineer and craft innovative solutions in this exciting program.

Experience the wonderful world of Minecraft. Construct your own virtual world in a sandbox-like environment by using iPads to challenge your mind and create your own adventures. This fun and engaging camp will spark interests, foster creativity and help you maximize your learning potential. No prior experience with Minecraft or iPads necessary. All skill levels welcome.

Join us for a week of Roblox, one of the fastest-growing game programming platforms on the planet. In this course, campers use the Roblox Lua code to create 3D worlds. Roblox is an entertainment platform that allows camper to imagine, create, and play together across millions of user-created virtual worlds. Join the more than 60 million players per month and top developers making over $1 million a year. The types of gameplay on Roblox are just as limitless as the imagination of the campers themselves. Join us for a week of pure fun and learning: build the ultimate theme park, compete as a professional race car driver, star in a fashion show, become a superhero, or simply design a dream home. Campers will learn what makes a Roblox game a top hit and learn how to implement some of the same engagement and monetization strategies in their own work. In the end, all campers finish the week able to publish, share, and play games with friends on any platform from console to mobile. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

Save the world with Superheroes! Camper will start out building projects such as Tightrope Walkers, Space Shuttles, and an Igloo. Then build the hideouts and vehicles of your favorite caped crusaders, and learn what makes them not only Superheroes and Superheroines, but Superhero Engineers! Design, build, and save a city where ingenuity and imagination can solve any conflict in this engineering camp.

Join us for a week of animation and digital creations. Whether you engineer a friendly digital unicorn or a super scary three-headed monkey dragon, campers will have a blast transforming their imagination into reality. Using real HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, campers customize their animated creature to give it a unique personality, appearance, and behaviors. Students explore programming fundamentals in a creative camp to bring their designs to life and share them with family and friends long after camp ends.

Gear up your engineering skills with an abundance of LEGO parts! Apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects such as Houseboats, Mini Golf Courses, Forklifts, and the London Tower Bridge. Design and build as never before in this new, full-day camp program for LEGO enthusiasts!

Create an interactive mobile game that uses a smartphone's gyroscope to control characters through mazes and obstacles to find the goal! This camp focuses on the unique advantages of the mobile platform for development, teaches participants modern approaches in game design, and uses haptic and SFX feedback to enhance the game's feel. Students walk away with a robust mobile app that can be exported to a native app and downloaded by others. Camper-created apps will be accessible post camp and can be played on any computer or mobile device. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

Prepare for a full-day LEGO camp packed with hands-on and minds-on STEM fun! Build projects inspired by cool machines close to home such as Cities, Garbage Trucks, and Catamarans. Then build X-Wings, Energy Catapults, and Defense Turrets from a galaxy far, far away! Learn about BOTH kinds of The Force in this new full-day themed engineering camp for LEGO fanatics!

Experience the wonderful world of Minecraft. Construct your own virtual world in a sandbox-like environment by using iPads to challenge your mind and create your own adventures. This fun and engaging camp will spark interests, foster creativity and help you maximize your learning potential. No prior experience with Minecraft or iPads necessary. All skill levels welcome.

Calling all beginners, intermediate or advanced Minecrafters. Campers learn how to build and engineer projects including: building to scale, mining materials, strategic planning and mapping, developing access points, preparing for the elements, and fireproofing structures. Campers will have the ability to learn about customizing maps and biomes in Minecraft™. Improve skills in survival mode and learn how to craft items that will help you survive, sustain, and prosper! Survival worlds vary based upon your level of experience. Prepare for an exciting week as campers accomplish exciting results building their one-of-a-kind Minecraft features! Camper-created projects will be accessible post camp. No prior experience is required. We provide all technology on location. Tablet, phone, and game console versions of Minecraft are not compatible. Students will work in pairs or teams for most of the program.

Note: Drobots believes in the educational philosophy that students learn best when collaborating with their peers. From a social standpoint, campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and the importance of sharing and implementing ideas. This philosophy has been supported by some the world’s leading educators and technologists and backed by extensive academic research. However, campers may ask to work by themselves upon request.

NOTICE: All campers are required to have a Minecraft™ account for this class. Purchase a standard account and desktop version of Minecraft™ ($26.95) at minecraft.net/store. Either a PC or Mac account will work for the camp week, but we suggest you choose the version that matches your home computer. Campers should bring their account login when they come to camp.