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This list of instructional programming resources can aid decision making for "enrichment" curriculum, technology, supplies, professional development and parent engagement activities that could be purchased for year-long and summer camp.  STEAM is featured first because of our project's STEAM focus.  STEAM covers a multitude of skills and attitudes specific to our project and these vendors offer complete kits for STEAM implementation as well as other key themes this summer.  Note that some of the resources mentioned here are FREE. If purchasing - mention that you are a 21st Century Community Learning Center.  

createED (Crayola) - Amazing repository of FREE lessons for STEAM, Project-based learning and essential SEL skills.   Their product line also includes kits, complete with supplies. Also PD and parent ideas.

Vendors for off-the-shelf materials and curriculum.  

• Ideas for STEM projects - EBRPSS

• STEMfinity - Your one-stop-shop for all things STEM and Maker Spaces.  Complete kits for summer camps.  I thought their drones were particularly inexpensive.

• EDventures - Hands on STEAM curriculum, kits, and drone technology that comes with complete lessons - Digital video, lots of science and engineering topics. They also offer PD.   plifemerritt@aol.com

• MindWorks Resources - Multidisciplinary year-long thematic units that are project-based and integrate SEL skills.  Check out their "Imaginate Kits" for elementary and middle school for summer that involve careers as well. 

• Nexplore USA - Nice site for STEAM enrichment activities, as well as fitness, finance, etc. On their site I reviewed several lesson overviews that were free.

• Engineering is Elementary  - Cross-curricular themed units (1-5) with the option to purchase supplies as well.  (Units for Engineering is Adventures (3-5) and Engineering is Everywhere (6-8) are free to download (minus supplies).  Early childhood units are Wee Engineer and EIE for Kindergarten.

• The Flying Classroom - Captain Irving takes middle school students on expeditions across all continents with project challenges.  See example projects.

Entrepreneurship/Leadership/Career Exploration

• Young Entrepreneurship Institute - Gaining 4-C's - Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity and Collaboration

• YEPITCH - Resources, curriculum, toolkit, and great challenges to teach entrepreneurship skills.

• Venture Lab - Great ideas for hosting PITCH events.  Programs that promote a entrepreneurial mindset, particularly for girls.

• The Gator Pit (high school) - Example Pitch Events for Students that feature resources

• Virtual Job Shadow - Great tool for surveying student interest and career exploration (elementary and mid/high school version.  If not this tool, there are countless others!  Make career exploration a part of your summer plan (K-12).

• STEM Career Coaliton (from Discovery Education) - Great FREE resource for student projects associated with STEM career exploration (6-12).

Financial Literacy

• EverFi - Free online game environment - teachers can select courses for students in  financial literacy, career exploration, etc.

Literacy

• Write Brain Books - Elementary and Middle School (even high school) students write and publish their own stories and books.  Kits (year-long and summer) contain everything students need to become creative and expressive authors of their own books. It’s cross-curricular (and have STEM kits) and engaging.  Check out stories and testimonials on their website.  PERFECT for summer.  Kids walk away with a published hard cover book.

• Read to Lead - A suite of FREE workplace games and curriculum that engages students in self-directed learning by placing them in the role of the boss in a professional world.  Great for career exploration for middle or high school.

Physical Education/Fitness/Health

• Skillastics - Large group floor games that focus on general fitness, sport-skill development, character development, and more, they also are enhanced by the valuable inclusion of nutrition and academic integration.  VERY Cool.  

• Walking Classroom - Podcasts for kids.  Check out this great list of topics. 

General (Supplies and Curriculum)

• American Science Surplus - Amazing resource site to buy science, gardening, electric and general supplies for STEM.

• DickBlick - Big online store for creativity and Maker Space supplies, etc.  Features also lesson plans.

Professional Development

Make sure your site's summer camp delivers a mind-blowing fun learning experience for your students that is meaningful, creative, and productive.  Learning over the summer can curb the effects of summer learning loss.

Think about what training your staff will need in order to successfully integrate exciting teaching and learning strategies such as project-based learning, making, inquiry, 21st Century Skills (communication, collaboration, critical thinking) community service, entrepreneurship, etc.   Local partners such as Knock, Knock Children's museum, Kids Orchestra, Arts Council, BREC, etc. can provide instruction as well.  Let us know how we can help.  

Also, remember tools located on the Y4Y Summer Learning website.

Project Zero:  Harvard School of Education work on pedagogy - General topics and resources on learning, play, making, cognition - all perfect for energized during the school day and during afterschool hours.