Inspiring Innovation At Camp Galileo

Summer camp isn’t just fun and games anymore. While still fun, camps now take kids back in time, into the future and encourage them to expand their minds and innovate for a new world.

At least that’s what happens at Camp Galileo, an art, science and outdoors camp held at in Burlingame.

Each week has a different theme, with art and science lessons that match accordingly. For example, during Detectives in Paris week, campers learned about impressionist painting and created masterpieces of their own.

Last week, while discussing the Forbidden City and ancient China, children tried their hands at constructing their own cities, with bridges expected to hold a certain weight.

“We talk about what people have done and then we create it ourselves,” said Camp Director Elishama Goldfarb.

Camp leaders discuss how bridges have been built in the past, or how artists used certain techniques, such as pointillism. Then, the students use their brainstorming and creativity to complete their own versions. If the first try fails, the campers are encouraged to reevaluate and try again until they succeed.

“The process itself is one that’s cyclical,” said Goldfarb. “It is oriented towards a product, but really it’s about having them invent for themselves based on the knowledge that they have and based on their own brainstorming.”

Galileo hosts anywhere from 95 to 140 campers a week. Each theme lasts for one week, and campers can do all four—Detectives in Paris, Inventors Workshop, Forbidden City and We Built This City (Green Building)—or even try their hand at a couple twice, since the cycle repeats for a total of eight weeks.

Goldfarb said he is excited to see how both the camp leaders and students will innovate new ideas on the same topics as the themes repeat, especially because the teachers avoid making too many models for the kids. Rather, they give the campers the chance to try, test and recreate for themselves.

“It’s very imaginative,” Goldfarb said. “I think our theory is that the kids really are the future and if they can imagine things that don’t exist, they can actually make them, and we’re trying to give them the skills.”

Galileo is in its 10^th year and accepts children entering kindergarten through fifth grade.

Each morning, the campers enter through the fun zone—a doorway of paper streamers—before congregating for opening ceremony. During the opening ceremony, Goldfarb and other camp leaders discuss the week’s theme, perform skits and play songs.

The kids then break off into groups and spend the day rotating between art, science and outdoor activities while learning content, skills, team building and collaboration. Thursdays are water days and are spent playing waterball—similar to kickball with small pools as bases—and slip and slide.

Goldfarb grew up attending summer camps and was a counselor and backpacking leader before becoming an elementary school teacher. He said he and the other camp leaders are constantly impressed by what the campers innovate.  Furthermore, the ideas students come up with during the week at Camp Galileo bolsters his belief in the value of nontraditional teaching.

“I’ve liked that sort of alternative education style for years,” said Goldfarb, who now teaches at a Montessori school. “We have this curriculum, we have these supplies and we’ve tested it and we think it’s really good—now let’s put it in the classroom.”

For more information or to sign up for a weeklong session, visit Camp Galileo’s website.