What you'll do
Keep your prized possessions safely stowed in a safe you design yourself. Secure an impressive set of duct tape construction skills in this weeklong class as you transform simple supplies into a surprisingly strong box, complete with hidden compartments, sturdy locks and slick camouflage.
Start with an everyday shipping box and be courageous to take on construction challenges like carving custom shapes out of cardboard and tearing tape to toughen up your lid. Reinforce your box by encasing the entire thing in tape, then scope out the perfect spots for secret compartments. Be reflective as you notice how well your compartments are hidden, tweaking and redesigning to make sure they are deftly disguised. Engineer cleverly concealed locks, then invent creative ways to camouflage your safe for an extra layer of security. By week’s end, you’ll have a (nearly) unbreakable lock box to safeguard your nearest and dearest belongings.
Note:
This weeklong class is more than an innovation-igniting project—it’s an immersive experience full of delightful details, including interactive games, silly traditions, snacks (see Additional Prep, below) and dress up days designed to build community, bolster confidence and deliver loads of camp-away-from-camp fun.
What you'll need
Materials
For the week:
- 1 full roll (at least 25 yards) of duct tape (ideally in 2+ colors)
- 1 corrugated cardboard shipping box, approximately 12 x 8 x 8″ (see this size guide for details). Please don’t use a shoebox.
- 1 corrugated cardboard shipping box bigger than the above (see Additional Prep, below)
1 large pair of scissors (small child safety scissors will be harder to use)
Additional materials for Wednesday:
A few items to store in the treasure box
Additional materials for Thursday:
1 piece of cotton string, thin nylon cord or yarn, approximately
5 feet long (no clothesline cord, rope, floss, fishing line, etc.)
3+ paperclips of any size (ideally with plastic coating)
2+ durable plastic straws (no bendy or stirring straws)
Additional materials for Friday:
1 black permanent marker (plus additional colors, if you have them)
Scraps of all materials used throughout the week
Technology
- Computer or tablet with speaker and camera
- Internet access
- Zoom application installed, signed in with child’s name
Additional Prep
Please have a snack and drink ready for your child approximately halfway through class.
Break down the larger box into one continuous sheet. This is the scrap cardboard kids will use to build their treasure box components.
Check to see if your child can rip or cut a 4″ piece of duct tape off a roll by themselves. We’ll also spend time during class to practice this skill. If they can’t (or if it’s tricky), use one of these methods to create a duct tape dispenser at their workstation before class:
– Easy: Turn a chair or small table sideways and loop the duct tape roll(s) over a leg.
– Less easy: Tape something long and rigid to the top of their workstation (ideally something wide at one end, like a wooden spoon), so that the wide end extends off the side of the table to hold the tape roll(s). Use a tape plus sign on the other end for extra stability. (Use painter’s tape if you’re worried about residue on your table.)
What you'll take away
- Duct tape and cardboard construction techniques
- The skills to be courageous and embrace challenges
- The skills to be reflective and notice what is and isn’t working in your design
- A strong, secure duct tape treasure box complete with secret compartments
Join the community
The last step in the Galileo Innovator’s Process is share. Great learning can come from sharing successes and failures—to solidify your own experience as an innovator and to inspire others.
ELL
Some bilingual staff & support for multilingual families.
Special Needs
Support for Students with Special Needs (Oakland Camp Director has a Masters in Special Education).
Deals
Yes. Every year, we award thousands of weeks of specially priced camp through our financial assistance program. Apply on our Financial Assistance page. Scholarships available.