K-6 Enrichment Summer Camp – Manatee Tank – Elementary – Half Day Updated: Does your child have a passion for creativity and problem-solving? In Manatee Tank, campers will step into the shoes of future inventors, designing the ultimate pet toy for cats and dogs! This exciting camp fosters imagination, engineering, and entrepreneurial skills as kids create fun and functional toys that bring joy to pets. With the guidance of experts from the Sarasota County Humane Society, campers will follow the creative process from brainstorming to building prototypes, all while learning about the needs of animals in shelters.
Camp Highlights:
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Design a Pet Toy: Campers will brainstorm, sketch, and build a unique toy for cats or dogs, taking into consideration safety, purpose, and fun.
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Hands-On Prototyping: Using everyday materials, kids will bring their pet toy ideas to life by creating physical prototypes.
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Digital Storytelling: Campers will create a fun and engaging commercial for their toy, using filmmaking tools to tell the story of their product.
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Presentation Skills: Through a lively “Manatee Tank” pitch competition, campers will craft a compelling slide deck and present their creations to an audience of pets, owners, and fellow innovators.
What Campers Will Learn:
- Engineering and design techniques for creating functional prototypes
- Digital storytelling and filmmaking skills for creating promotional content
- Public speaking and communication skills through live presentations
- Collaboration, creativity, and teamwork in a fun and supportive environment
Final Products:
Each camper will leave with a prototype of their pet toy, a polished slide deck, and a commercial video showcasing their innovation. They’ll also develop important skills in presenting their ideas and tackling real-world challenges with creative solutions.
Exciting Partnership:
We are thrilled to be partnering with the Sarasota County Humane Society for this project. Their experts will guide the campers, offering valuable insight into the needs of shelter animals and how their toys can make a difference. Campers will also create portraits of adoptable animals and design toys for cats. To help support local shelters, we encourage campers to start collecting toilet paper rolls for special animal toys and old towels for donation.
On the final day of camp, therapy dogs will join us to test out the toys created by the campers and receive the donations we’ve collected. We’re excited about this partnership and can’t wait to share this meaningful experience with your child.
Why Choose SCF Summer Camps?
At SCF, we inspire kids to think big, stay curious, and have fun while learning. Our camps are thoughtfully designed to ignite creativity, build new skills, and create lasting memories in a safe, supportive environment. With hands-on activities, dynamic challenges, and opportunities for collaboration, Manatee Tank offers the perfect summer adventure for kids to explore their creative potential, learn new skills, and make a positive impact on the world.
Join us this summer for a fun-filled journey of discovery, innovation, and creativity at SCF!
Camp Details:
- Location:
- Lakewood Ranch: State College of Florida (SCF), Selby Room
- Camp Dates & Time:
Weekly – Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Dates: June 9, 2025 – June 12, 2025 (Week 2)
These programs are perfect for families in the greater Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch areas! We also offer K-6 summer enrichment camps on our SCF Venice campus. Check out our main Imaginarium Summer Adventures page for more offerings!