Learning Standards:

Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning (PK.S.1)

PK.S.1.1: Campers will be encouraged to ask questions about woodworking materials and predict outcomes during small-scale projects, fostering curiosity and scientific reasoning.

PK.S.1.3: Campers will actively explore woodworking materials through hands-on experimentation, understanding the scientific principles behind drilling, hammering, and sanding.

Engineering Design Process (PK.ETS1)

PK.ETS1.1: Campers will identify problems, such as how to construct large-scale Olympic sport-inspired games, and brainstorm solutions through the engineering design process.

PK.ETS1.2: Campers will explore multiple solutions by actively experimenting with different approaches while building their Olympic-inspired woodworking projects.

Physical Development and Health (PK.PDH.1)

PK.PDH.1.1: Campers will develop fine motor skills by drilling, hammering, and sanding during small-scale woodworking projects.

Social-Emotional Development (PK.SED.4.2)

PK.SED.4.2: Campers will collaborate in teams to build large-scale Olympic sport-inspired games, learning teamwork, perseverance, and social-emotional skills.

Approaches to Learning (PK.AL.4)

PK.AL.4: Campers will exhibit curiosity and willingness to learn new skills by participating in scaffolded woodworking projects and discovering the fascinating world of Olympic sports.

NORY Peace Prize: Community Change-MAKERS

What if the small problems you notice every day were actually opportunities to design something better? Think about a family member struggling with groceries, a friend annoyed by tangled cords, or a shared space that never quite works. As NORY Change-MAKERS, you’ll turn everyday frustrations into purposeful inventions, tackling problems many adults have learned to ignore. By learning how to ask the right questions and design with empathy, you’ll use engineering and systems thinking to challenge the status quo and create practical solutions that improve real lives. This experience isn’t about flashy tech or grand gestures. It’s about proving that thoughtful, well-designed ideas can create meaningful change, earning recognition through the NORY Peace Prize.

Campers Will:

  • Identify overlooked problems in everyday life and push beyond “okay” solutions by designing smarter, more effective improvements.
  • Design empathetic inventions by considering real users’ needs and program robotic prototypes that serve others intentionally.
  • Present their impact-driven solutions as candidates for the NORY Peace Prize, celebrating purposeful engineering and leadership.

6/12-6/16