Hopkinton Camp Middlers

One-week sessions: Weeks 1-8

Campers will learn the values of teamwork, fair play, respect, and hard work while being exposed to various sports, like soccer, basketball, pickleball, street hockey, gaga ball, badminton, disc golf, lacrosse, wiffle ball, and cricket! The focus is on skills, drills, playing time, and introducing campers to athletic training concepts in a fun way. Campers will also participate in traditional camp activities such as high and low ropes, archery, and swimming.

One-week sessions: Week 6

From Hopkinton to Hollywood! We are partnering with IncrediFlix to teach campers how to create, direct, film, act in a movie and more. Campers will leave having made an incredible movie and have the skills to make their own movies with friends. Movies will be emailed within a month after program completion.

One-week sessions: Week 6

Work in groups to create a LEGO® set with LEGO® characters for a stop-motion movie! We are partnering with IncrediFlix to teach campers how to storyboard, shoot, and add voice-over. We will provide the LEGO® and movies will be mailed within a month after program completion.

One-week sessions: Week 3

Make a Minecraft MOVIE, Roblox MOVIE, or mash-up MOVIE! Work in groups to create a stop-motion movie full of games or challenges for your character to overcome. Students will create sets, make Minecraft blocks, film, add cool effects, and do voice-overs! Movies will be emailed within a month after program completion. We will partner with IncrediFlix to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Week 3

Campers will get to direct, act, and add special effects while working in groups to create a movie that will surprise their friends and family. Movies will be emailed within a month after program completion. We will partner with Incrediflix to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Weeks 3, 4, 6, & 8

Your camper will learn new skills and enjoy teamwork, creativity, as they practice STEM in the kitchen! We’ll use fresh produce from our onsite garden to prepare delicious recipes. Campers will learn kitchen safety and how to use equipment. Parents with campers who have allergies are strongly encouraged to reach out to Karley, Director of Nutrition Education, at: kdoray@metrowestymca.org before registration.

One-week sessions: Weeks 4 & 5

Magician Pat Farenga will teach campers close-up magic using sleight of hand, theatrical skills, and other techniques. Whether it’s a card trick, mind reading, or making something disappear, your camper will learn how to keep everyone entertained. At the end of the week, campers will showcase their magical skills for their fellow campers in a performance. All magic props will be supplied or constructed at each class.

For anyone who took Beginners (formerly Level 2)

One-week sessions: Week 5

Building on the skills learned in Beginners, this class explores more complex magic sleights and techniques, some of which require memorization and simple math. It also includes how to perform tricks for large audiences, basic stagecraft, and working as a team/assistant to make the magic happen. All magic props will be supplied or constructed at each class. Videos of famous magic performances will be shown and discussed as models of techniques and showmanship.

One-week sessions: Weeks 7 & 8

Bring your favorite Minecraft adventures to life with our enthusiastic Play-Well instructors. In a Minecraft world powered by LEGO® resources, we will build shelters to keep out Creepers, craft mystical items that only true masters can wield, and perfect our crossbow skills to stop the Wither from taking over! If you can imagine it, we can build it.

One-week sessions: Week 7

LEGO® Master, I choose you! In the race to be crowned

the Ultimate Pokémon Champion, we need your help! Learn to build your favorite Pokémon, teach them special moves, and come face to face with the current champion in an epic battle for the title. Learn from our Play-Well Pokémon Masters so you can make it to the top!

One-week sessions: Week 8

Design your custom LEGO® bot to take on any challenge. Mix and match designs, combine them with tools like drills, hammers, and battering rams, and spar with friends. Apply real-world engineering and physics concepts to help you overcome obstacles and spar your way to victory.

Entering grades: 2-8

One-week sessions: Weeks 3-8

Must be age seven by camp start to participate.

After a morning of traditional camp activities, campers will board the bus to Willow Brook Farm in Holliston to experience riding and ranch life. On M/W/F, campers will learn to ride on one of Willow Brook’s 30 horses in small group riding lessons with a trained instructor. Additionally, they’ll learn to lead, care for, tack, bathe, groom, and ride bareback. On Tu/Th, campers will learn to handle, feed, and care for goats, sheep, alpacas, donkeys, miniature horses, and more!

Willow Brook will supply a required ASTM riding helmet and riding boots for all campers. Campers must wear long pants/leggings for riding, socks, and closed-toed shoes/sneakers.

Entering grades: 3-5

One-week sessions: Weeks 3, 4, & 7

Each day will be a new adventure in our camp forest! Campers will learn basic safety and survival skills and will work as a team to practice using tools, gaining a greater understanding of our camp home! They’ll design and build basic shelters and forts such as ground-level forts, lean-to-forts, leaf huts, and more! We will partner with Owl Eyes Wilderness Survival to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Weeks 3 & 7

Campers will learn hand-building, sculpture techniques, and various ways to build structurally sound vessels and small to medium-sized sculptures. They will be able to paint their projects but will have to wait until they are glazed and fired in the kiln to pick up their projects. *Wheel throwing won’t be taught.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session

One-week sessions: Week 5

Campers will explore theater through improvisational games and activities to build confidence, voice, and spatial awareness. They’ll also gain basic acting skills individually and in a group setting. YMCA Camp Staff will create a video of the weeks production for private sharing with the families registered.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session

One-week sessions: Week 8

This fun camp will feature scenes and songs from the most popular Disney Musicals. Students and the instructors will collaborate on creating a Disney Magical Revue to perform! YMCA Camp Staff will create a video of the week's production for private sharing with the families registered.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session

One-week sessions: Week 3

In the spirit of “America’s Got Talent”, students will explore, hone and select their talent (singing, playing an instrument, magic tricks, etc) to create a memorable talent show! YMCA Camp Staff will create a video of the week's production for private sharing with the families registered.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session

One-week sessions: Weeks 4 & 6

In this program, we’ll try out many techniques such as acrylic painting, collaging, drawing, and layering. We’ll work with painting tools and everyday objects to learn how we can make art out of anything!

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session