Stockton Camps 6th-8th Grade

A Summer of Exploration, Leadership, and Real-World Experience

Our 6th–8th Grade program is designed for students entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade who are ready to explore big ideas and take on meaningful challenges. At this stage, campers are eager to test their interests, think independently, and better understand the world around them. This program gives them the space to do exactly that.

Over the course of the session, campers rotate through immersive experiences in entrepreneurship, STEM, and civic leadership. They’ll spend several days designing a product and pitching a business, transition into building STEM prototypes and tackling robotics or lab-based challenges, and dive into simulations that explore how laws are shaped and decisions are made. Each experience is hands-on, collaborative, and designed to help students discover what excites them most.

Throughout the program, campers are encouraged to think critically, work collaboratively, and take ownership of their ideas. With supportive instructors and an encouraging environment, students build confidence while strengthening leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills. It’s an opportunity to explore widely before choosing a future passion.

What You'll Learn

Core Learning Principles


Campers work in teams to identify real-world problems, design a product-based solution, and develop business around it. They learn how to think creatively, analyze feasibility, and pitch their ideas clearly and confidently.

Design Products & Pitch Solutions


Through interactive simulations and discussions, campers learn how laws are proposed, debated, and passed. They analyze real issues, practice structured debate, and explore how leadership and decision-making shape communities.

Understand Civics


Students dive into hands-on STEM work through prototype building, robotics challenges, and lab-based experiments. These sessions emphasize iteration, problem-solving, and teamwork as campers test ideas, troubleshoot designs, and improve their solutions.

Explore STEM with Hands-On Work


Across all activities, campers practice collaboration, public speaking, and leadership. They learn how to explain ideas, give and receive feedback, and work through challenges as a team—building confidence in both academic and social settings.

Strengthen Leadership

A Day in the Life at Camp!

Mornings at Stockton Camps begin with structure, energy, and independence. Residential campers start the day by getting ready with their group and heading to breakfast, where counselors check in and set the tone for the day ahead. Campers fuel up with a full breakfast before diving into a packed schedule of activities.

For commuter students, the day begins just after breakfast. Families drop campers off on campus in the morning, where counselors are ready to welcome them, help them settle in, and bring them into their groups before activities begin.

After breakfast, campers meet with their group for a morning check-in and overview of the day. Instructors walk through the plan, highlight goals for each session, and answer questions before students head into their first activity block.

The morning is typically spent in immersive learning blocks. Campers may be refining a business pitch, building and testing a STEM prototype, or engaging in simulations that explore leadership and decision-making. Activities are designed to go deeper than surface-level exposure, giving campers time to build, revise, and reflect.

Lunch offers a mid-day reset. Campers enjoy a balanced meal, connect with friends, and take a break before the afternoon begins.

After lunch, campers continue into afternoon sessions, often building on work from earlier in the day. This is when collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking really come together, as campers problem-solve, debate ideas, and work toward tangible outcomes.

For commuter students, the day concludes after the afternoon session. Campers are signed out and picked up before dinner, providing a clear and consistent end to their camp day.

Residential campers enjoy some free time to unwind, shower, and spend time with friends before dinner. Evenings at Stockton Camps are community-focused, with shared meals and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

After dinner, campers come together for evening activities like team challenges, discussions, games, and special events. These sessions help build friendships and give students a chance to unwind while still feeling connected to the larger camp community. The evening winds down with a nightly dessert before campers return to their dorms.

As the day comes to a close, campers reflect on what they worked on, what they learned, and what they’re excited to continue tomorrow. By lights out, they’re tired in the best way—challenged, accomplished, and motivated to keep exploring.

Every day in the 6th–8th Grade program is thoughtfully designed to balance challenge, structure, independence, and support—creating a summer experience that helps students grow into confident thinkers, leaders, and collaborators.

Sample Schedule

Morning

8:00–9:00 AM
Breakfast & Morning Routine (Residential Campers)
Campers get ready for the day, connect with their group, and enjoy breakfast together.

9:00 AM
Commuter Drop-Off
Commuter campers arrive on campus and are welcomed by counselors before joining their groups.

9:00–9:20 AM
Morning Check-In & Daily Goals
Campers meet with their group, review goals for the day, and preview upcoming activities.

9:20–10:50 AM
Morning Focus Block 1
Immersive project work in STEM, business, leadership, or collaborative challenges.

11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Morning Focus Block 2
Project continuation, problem-solving sessions, and hands-on group work.

Midday

12:30–1:15 PM
Lunch
Campers enjoy a balanced meal and time to relax and connect with friends.

1:15–1:45 PM
Recharge & Free Time
Supervised downtime to unwind, socialize, or take a break before afternoon sessions.

Afternoon

1:45–3:15 PM
Afternoon Focus Block 1
Applied activities emphasizing teamwork, critical thinking, and communication.

3:25–4:45 PM
Afternoon Focus Block 2
Project refinement, creative challenges, or continued work from earlier sessions.

5:00 PM
Commuter Pick-Up
Commuter campers are signed out and picked up before dinner.

Evening (Residential Campers Only)

5:00–6:00 PM
Free Time & Showers

6:00–6:45 PM
Dinner

7:00–8:30 PM
Evening Activities
Group games, leadership activities, creative challenges, or special events.

8:30–9:00 PM
Wind-Down & Reflection

9:00–10:00 PM
Evening Routine & Lights Out
Campers prepare for bed, reflect on the day, and get ready for the next one.

This is a sample schedule. Activities may vary slightly by day.