5th Grade Session 1

Give your camper a daily snack option with our Snack Pass! 

One Snack Pass = $24, and is good for one snack each day of camp (totaling 12 snacks).

Passes will be redeemed during recess or after camp,  if they are enrolled in aftercare. 

• Additional Snack Passes may be purchased if you would like your child to have more than one snack. 

Passes are purchased online when you register.

Campers can select one snack per day during their recess or during after school if they are enrolled in child care. Snacks will be an assortment of "power foods" that fuel fun and learning, focusing on whole foods with protein, fiber and healthy fats to keep our campers full, energized and SMART! Availability may vary.

• Available 2:30PM - 5:30PM.

• We offer engaging after-school care with flexible options to fit your family’s needs.

• Full Session Package: $600 for 36 hours of care (covers the entire session).  

•  Drop-In Rate: $25 per hour, billed in 15 minute increments ($6.25 per quarter hour).

• Activities:   Kids enjoy a variety of activities including free play,  arts and crafts,  supervised sports (kickball, tag, soccer, dodgeball, basketball and more, and  quiet time with G-rated Disney+ shows (4:30 - 5:30 PM).

• Late Pickup: A late fee of $1.00 per minute applies after 5:30 PM.

• The after-camp program requires a minimum daily enrollment of 10 students to operate.

In this immersive summer program, students will strengthen their reading, writing, and language skills while building the critical thinking and analytical abilities essential for success across all subjects. Daily lessons include purposeful journal writing to reinforce grammar, mechanics, and expression; thoughtful exploration of a high-quality novel through dynamic discussions; and hands-on activities that bring key literary elements to life. Through guided fiction and paired non-fiction texts, students will practice close reading, analyze ideas, and support their thinking with strong textual evidence. Meaningful homework assignments will reinforce classroom learning and promote continued growth throughout the program.

At the end of the program, families are invited to a conference to celebrate demonstrable improvement and discuss strategies for continued growth.

Give your child the academic advantage they deserve— this summer and beyond!

Instructor: Mrs. Michele Damodaran, DMP's 5th Grade Teacher

Writers Lab is a high-energy creative writing experience for students ready to stretch their imagination and take risks with words. This class is packed with ideas, experiments, and inspiration designed to get writing moving fast and flowing freely. Students dive into poetry, short stories, novel writing, screenwriting, and experimental forms through bold prompts, word play, and focused writing time.

Designed as a workshop-style lab, the lab allows students to draft, revise, and share their work while sharpening their voice, building fluency, and learning how writers shape ideas into powerful pieces on the page. Writers collaborate, experiment, and grow together in a supportive creative community.

In Writers Lab, students explore:

• Word Magic that sparks new poems, unsticks old stories, and uses bold, playful words, zany prompts, and creative challenges

• Poetic Excavations — exploring poetry through mixed media, collage, and art

• Strange Voices / New Stories that blend genres, voices, and hybrid writing forms

• Mix, Mash, Revise, and Edit — remixing ideas through sharing, collaboration, and revision

This class is perfect for imaginative thinkers and writers ready to move beyond the basics and write boldly, creatively, and with confidence.

At the end of the program, families are invited to a conference to celebrate demonstrable improvement and discuss strategies for continued growth.

Instructor: Ms. Nicole Lewis, DMP's 4th & 5th Grade Writing Teacher

Let your child's star shine this summer with Broadway Bound!

This fun and engaging program is the perfect way for young performers to explore their creativity and make new friends. Through exciting activities, students will learn the ins and outs of musical theater, from designing sets to rehearsing songs and scenes. Our small-group setting creates a supportive and collaborative environment where students can thrive, enhancing their performance skills while building lasting friendships. The program culminates in a dazzling mini-musical, where students will share their talents and celebrate their accomplishments. 

Give your child a summer filled with fun, friendship, and unforgettable memories!        

Instructor: Mrs. Susan Smith, returning Camp Vendor                     

Did you see a fun science experiment on YouTube? Let’s try it at camp - and then record our own videos! We’ll explore exciting hands-on activities while incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Get ready to think like a scientist and become a REAL science YouTuber!

Instructor: The Science Guys, returning DMP Enrichment and Summer Discoveries Vendor

Spend each day in a dynamic environment designed to foster imagination, problem-solving, and self-expression. Participants will strengthen their visual arts knowledge and skills by responding to open-ended prompts that inspire the creation of two- and three-dimensional works of art. Students will explore a variety of drawing, painting, collage, and sculpting tools; learn about innovative artists from around the world; and use their discoveries to express their inner creativity. Old, comfortable clothes and plenty of munchies are a must for time spent playing around in the Creative Playground.

Taught by DMP’s art teacher, Mrs. Robinson.

In this session, students will explore coding through digital art and game creation. They will use code to create interactive word art and animations while learning foundational programming concepts such as events, sequencing, loops, motion, and creative problem-solving. Students will then design their own fast-paced chase game, building scoring systems, adding sound effects, creating game rules, and learning how to debug their programs like real developers. 

Perfect for beginners and students who love art, design, and gaming!

Instructor: Mrs. Susan Smith, Summer Camp returning vendor, San Marcos Unified GATE Coordinator, 5th Grade Teacher 

Explore the science of superheroes and superpowers with exciting experiments and activities! 

We’ll investigate over 10 superheroes - and even a few villains - while uncovering the science behind their incredible abilities. How do their powers work, could they exist in real life, and could you become a hero!

Instructor: The Science Guys, returning DMP Enrichment and Summer Discoveries Vendor

Our goal is to teach children in grades 1 – 6 abstract concepts of planning, analysis and strategy through the game of chess. Kids will be excited to understand and amazed by the positive experience that chess offers. We believe that when a child learns the most complicated game in the world, they will build self-confidence, develop self-learning tools and learn how to evaluate their own decision-making process. 

This chess class is fun and educational. Kids participate in mental gymnastics, learn chess from trained instructors, and experience competition with others. Kids who learn chess will sharpen their analytical and observation skills which will be very useful in many aspects of their life. 

Chess teaches critical and abstract thinking, planning, logic and analysis. It improves the ability to concentrate and teaches the value of good sportsmanship. Chess also teaches the importance of behavior management: making good choices and considering all possibilities.

●Chess develops memory. 

●Chess improves concentration. 

●Chess develops logical thinking. 

●Chess teaches independence. 

●Chess promotes imagination and creativity. 

●Chess inspires self-motivation. 

●Chess improves schoolwork and grades 

Instructor: Coach Dustin, returning Enrichment and Summer Camp Vendor

Learn the art and science of photography! 

This hands-on class will teach you the essential skills needed to take great photos and make them even better. We'll cover everything from camera basics and composition to exposure techniques and different types of photography. Get inspired by famous photographs and learn how to recreate their styles. Explore campus with your camera, capturing unique perspectives and details. Then, using Adobe Lightroom on school-provided laptops, you'll learn to enhance your images, correct flaws, and add your own creative touch. Develop practical skills that you can use every day, for the rest of your life. 

Digital cameras and laptops with Lightroom provided.

Instructor: Mr. Terry Sanchez, DMP's Technology Teacher

This program offers a more competitive and skill-focused multi-sport experience while keeping things fun and engaging. Athletes play a different sport each day with structured games and team play.

Sports may include:
Soccer • Flag Football • Baseball • Kickball • Ultimate-style games

Program Focus:

• Skill development & strategy

• Teamwork and leadership

• Controlled competition

• Sportsmanship & confidence

Great for athletes ready to level up their game!

Instructor:  Sports-X, returning DMP Enrichment Vendor

Real World Robotics focuses on the real-life applications of robotics. In this program, your engineer will explore the basics of robotics while building some amazing & helpful devices with their classmates! They will explore how robots help humans live in the modern world and explore other worlds! While working with a partner to complete various challenges, your child will be taught how to effectively utilize sensors, how different mechanical components work in their robots, and how programming is a challenging but rewarding skill that they can master with just a little practice. We will support them in the development of their coding and building skills and inspire them with creative building challenges.

Instructor:  Snapology, returning DMP Enrichment and Camp Vendor

This class is a deeper dive into improving existing chess skills.  Students must have taken a Chess class previously and have some experience.  Students will learn to play with chess clocks and to notate their own games.  They will be learning to analyze the games that they play, and to look for different possibilities that may have better results.  This class is tournament focused and students are introduced to the rules and etiquette for tournaments.  They will play a tournament during class in which trophies and medals will be awarded to all students.  Students develop increased patience, critical thinking and planning.  They also learn a healthy attitude toward competition and improvement.  There will be a fun bughouse chess tournament.  Bughouse chess is a 4 player variant of chess where the student plays with a partner in a fast paced, exciting game.

Instructor: Coach Dustin, returning Enrichment and Summer Camp Vendor

Do your kids have big ideas? We help them share them boldly. Young Voices: Public Speaking & The Art of Expression is designed to build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking through fun, interactive speaking experiences. We transform curious, imaginative kids into confident communicators who can stand tall, organize their thoughts, and express with clarity.

Through interactive games, storytelling challenges, improv activities, and friendly debates, students learn how to capture attention, build strong opinions with reasons, and think on their feet.  It feels like play, but every game, story, and friendly debate is intentionally designed to empower  with confidence that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Instructor: Generation Forward, returning DMP enrichment vendor

Explore the science of the natural world with Critters, Creatures, & Crystals! We’ll investigate animals, bugs, plants, rocks, soil, and landforms through exciting experiments and hands-on activities. How do living and nonliving things work together, and what secrets are hidden beneath our feet?

Instructor: The Science Guys, returning DMP Enrichment and Summer Discoveries Vendor

Ever wonder how energy is developed from the sun, wind, and water? 

Come build a solar-powered car, a windmill and a watermill using LEGO® bricks.

Save the planet and build with LEGO® bricks all at the same time!

In this program, students will build complex LEGO® models that use simple machines

and technical bricks. Children will use engineering and physics concepts as they work in

teams under guided instruction to build a different model each class. Students will learn

about diverse engineering, physics, geometry, and trigonometry concepts in this program.

Instructor: Snapology, returning Enrichment and Summer Camp Vendor

Learn to follow directions, work as a team and create a variety of delicious recipes such as (but not limited to) Cookie Fries from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Beauty and Beast’s Le Fou’s Brew, Encanto Arepas, Pizza Planet Pizza, Winnie the Poo Marshmallow and Caramel Tigger Tails, Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums, Disney’s Pineapple Dole Whip, Mickey Hoop Dee Doo Cornbread, Aladdin Magic Carpet flatbread, Piglets’s Piggies in a blanket, Little Mermaid Blue Jello Jigglers and much more! 

Instructor:  Charlene's Dance & Cheer, returning DMP Enrichment and Young Artists' Day Vendor

Please note we cannot make accommodations for food allergies and sensitivity and recipes may include eggs, milk, tree nuts, wheat, gluten etc. 

Step into the magical world of Oz in our high-energy summer musical theatre camp inspired by Wicked! Campers will explore the unforgettable story of friendship, courage, and finding your voice as they bring this beloved Broadway hit to life on stage. Throughout the week, students will rehearse iconic scenes and songs, develop characters, and dive into the powerful themes behind Elphaba and Glinda’s journey. From ensemble numbers to featured roles, every camper will experience the thrill of collaborative storytelling while building confidence, stage presence, and vocal strength.

This isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about transformation. Students will grow in teamwork, creativity, and performance skills as they work toward a fully staged final presentation for family and friends. Guided by experienced musical theatre educators, campers will receive focused coaching in singing, acting, and movement in a supportive, age-appropriate environment. Whether your child is new to the stage or already loves performing, this immersive Oz adventure will challenge them, inspire them, and leave them walking a little taller—ready to “defy gravity” in their own lives.

Instructor: Music Pillars, DMP Enrichment Vendor