Momentum makers camp total experience learning


This exploratory summer program is crafted for students entering 5th through 12th grades and offers a unique opportunity to explore specialized topics through instruction from Berks County educators, college students and community experts. Hosted on Alvernia University's vibrant campus, Momentum Makers provides a dynamic environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and hands-on discovery.


The Momentum Makers Camp features a variety of specialized one-week camps, each focusing on a distinct theme. These weeks are designed to allow students to explore specific subjects, engaging in new experiences, learning and interfacing with industry standard tools, developing career-readiness and forming lasting relationships with peers and mentors. Each camp is unique—students are welcome to join multiple weeks to experience a variety of subjects. Additionally, the Exploratory Camp offers a more robust experience; allowing students to engage with various topics, receive research mentorship and access lab spaces. The Exploratory Camp provides the opportunity for students to continue their learning experience across multiple weeks.

 

Themed Camps

Business & Entrepreneurship Introductory Camp: June 15–19, 2026

 

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Recommended for students in grades 5–8, this engaging, hands-on camp introduces entrepreneurship and business in a fun, accessible way. Students learn how companies build strong brands by designing logos and defining the message or lifestyle a business represents. Through age-appropriate activities, they explore how businesses identify customers using basic demographics and psychographics.
 

Participants gain practical experience with the Four Ps of Marketing—Product, Price, Place, and Promotion—by experimenting with advertising and creating clear, creative messages. They also learn about the Product Life Cycle and how products evolve over time. By the end of the week, students design their own business and brand, develop a simple marketing strategy, and build confidence sharing their ideas while working with new friends.
 

Skills Gained

• Collaboration & confidence
• Brand design & creativity
• Marketing basics
• Understanding customers
• Communication & presentation skills

 

Esports Introductory Camp: June 15–19; June 29–July 3, 2026

 

Register: June 29-July 3


Esports is more than just playing games—it’s about strategy, teamwork, and high-level decision-making. In the Momentum Makers Esports Camp, students dive into the competitive world of esports by analyzing professional gameplay, developing leadership skills, and collaborating in team-based challenges.


Participants will study game mechanics and tactics, practice effective communication under pressure, and apply data-driven strategies to improve performance. These experiences help students build transferable skills that extend beyond gaming—preparing them for success in academic, professional, and collaborative environments.
 

Skills Gained

  • Strategic Thinking: Analyze gameplay and adapt tactics in real time
  • Teamwork: Collaborate effectively in competitive, goal-oriented teams
  • Communication: Practice clear, confident communication under pressure
  • Data Analysis: Use performance data to make informed decisions
  • Decision-Making: Respond quickly and thoughtfully in high-stakes situations

 

Mock Trial Camp: June 15–19, 2026

 

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Discover what it takes to step into the courtroom! In this interactive camp, students will explore the fundamentals of trial advocacy, courtroom procedure, and legal reasoning. Morning sessions focus on key skills: how trials work, entering evidence, making objections, handling witnesses, and understanding the rules of evidence—all taught in an engaging, hands-on format. Afternoon sessions give students the chance to work in teams (with support from undergraduate mentors) to prepare and present a simplified legal case based on a real First Amendment issue. Campers will write statements, create examination questions, and take on attorney and witness roles. The week ends with a full mock trial simulation, where campers present both sides of the case—and may even serve as jurors. No prior experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to participate!
 

Skills Gained

  • Public speaking & persuasive communication
  • Critical thinking & legal reasoning
  • Teamwork & collaboration under pressure
  • Understanding courtroom procedures & trial advocacy
  • Confidence in presenting, arguing, and responding in real-time

 

Sustainable Fashion Camp: June 15–19; June 22–26; June 29–July 3; July 20–24, 2026

 

Register: June 22-26

 

Register: July 20-24


Join us for an exciting, STEAM-based Fashion theme week where creativity meets environmental and social consciousness.  Campers will explore the global impact of the fashion industry, exploring environmental impacts from the fashion industry. Through hands-on activities, participants will learn to upcycle and repurpose materials, develop sewing skills, and gain industry-grade product development experience. They’ll also analyze e-commerce trends, compare costs, and assess the true price of fashion.
 

Skills Gained

  • Sustainable design
  • Textile innovation
  • Fashion entrepreneurship
  • Creative problem-solving
  • Ethical production

 

Culinary Science Introductory Camp: June 22–26; June 29–July 3, 2026

 

Register: June 29-July 3


Students will engage in a hands-on culinary program where practical cooking skills and food knowledge come together. They will develop strong kitchen fundamentals, including knife skills, kitchen safety, accurate measuring, and a variety of cooking methods such as baking, sautéing, and grilling. Students will explore how ingredients work together, practice following and adapting recipes, and build confidence in the kitchen. Guest chefs and food professionals will share their expertise, and students will apply their skills creatively through a possible Mystery Ingredient Challenge. This engaging program emphasizes skill-building, teamwork, and creativity while fostering a deeper understanding of food.
 

Skills Gained

  • Basic food science concepts
  • Essential cooking techniques
  • Recipe reading and adaptation
  • Kitchen and food safety
  • Nutrition basics

 

Engineering Explorers Camp: June 22–26; July 27–31, 2026

 

Register: July 27-31


Led by Alvernia University engineering faculty, students will explore mechanical, electrical, environmental, and civil engineering 
through a team design project. Mornings feature fast, hands-on lessons. Afternoons are spent in Alvernia’s engineering labs, 
where campers work with faculty and undergraduate teaching assistants to follow the engineering design process, test ideas, 
and refine their prototypes. At the end of the week, students will present their final designs.
 

What Students Will Do in This Camp

  • Build and wire Arduino systems to power and control simple engineering projects
  • Program basic controls to make their designs respond and function as intended
  • Use sensors to collect data, showing how their projects move, react, or change
  • Watch faculty-led demonstrations on material testing to see how materials bend, stretch, and break
  • Explore heat transfer concepts through hands-on demos that show how heat moves through different materials
  • Spend every afternoon building and testing, using rapid trials and quick design fixes
  • Take part in friendly engineering challenges that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork
     

Skills Gained

  • Identify key ideas in mechanical, electrical, environmental, and civil engineering.
  • Explain how these fields connect to solve real problems.
  • Apply the engineering design process to a team project.
  • Analyze test data to guide design changes.
  • Design and build functional prototypes using lab tools safely.
  • Test prototypes under defined conditions and record results.
  • Evaluate tradeoffs to improve performance and reliability.
  • Communicate methods and results clearly to an audience.
  • Collaborate effectively by planning tasks and resolving issues.
  • Reflect on growth and next steps in engineering pathways

 

VoiceLab Camp: June 22–26

 

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Led by Allison Blair Snyder, M.A., this camp helps students turn personal experience and solid research into powerful stories that inspire change. Through guided practice in public speaking, critical inquiry, and reflection, participants grow their academic voice, confidence, and capacity to lead.
 

What You'll Learn

  • Create a personal story connected to a real-world issue
  • Research a topic using reliable sources
  • Recognize bias and missing perspectives
  • Build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills
  • Strengthen critical thinking and creative problem-solving
  • Present a PechaKucha-style talk that informs and inspires

 

Exploratory Camp: June 29–July 3; July 13–17; July 20–24, 2026

 

Register: Week 2
Register: Week 3


Discover, explore, and create at Momentum Makers Exploratory Camp! Each day, students choose sessions based on their interests and passions, exploring subjects from art, music, and esports to biomedical science, environmental science, and culinary science. On the final day, campers tour Alvernia University’s campus and see the culminating projects from other theme-specific camps, gaining insight into college-level learning and real-world applications of their interests. Momentum Makers helps students explore new topics, develop skills, and imagine future academic and creative pathways.
 

Skills Gained

  • Problem-Solving
  • Research
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Technology
  • Critical Thinking
  • Creativity and Innovation

 

Business & Entrepreneurship Advanced Camp: July 6–10, 2026

 

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Designed for students who have completed a week of Entrepreneurship camp, this advanced, hands-on program focuses on building and launching a business. Students refine their ideas by developing a unique value proposition, creating brand elements like logos and taglines, and analyzing strengths, risks, and opportunities (SWOT). They learn how to identify target customers, set pricing, and explore startup costs and funding options.


Participants also gain insight into how real companies operate by examining stakeholders, organizational structure, and decision-making. The week concludes with a Shark Tank–style pitch, where students present a polished business plan and pitch deck to investors, building confidence and real-world business skills.
 

Skills Gained

  • Business strategy & planning
  • Branding & marketing
  • Financial literacy
  • Leadership & teamwork
  • Public speaking & pitching

 

Culinary Science Advanced Camp: July 6–10, 2026

 

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During this advanced program, students will build on foundational skills to deepen their culinary knowledge and independence in the kitchen. They will refine knife skills, practice advanced cooking techniques, and execute more complex recipes using methods such as baking, sautéing, grilling, and sauce preparation. Students will analyze how ingredients interact, adjust recipes for flavor and texture, and work collaboratively to plan and execute dishes. Guest chefs and food professionals will provide industry insight, and students will be challenged to think creatively and critically during a possible elevated Mystery Ingredient Challenge. This advanced experience emphasizes precision, problem-solving, and confidence in real-world culinary settings.


Skills Gained

• Advanced cooking techniques
• Flavor development and ingredient interaction
• Recipe analysis and modification
• Kitchen organization, safety, and efficiency
• Nutrition and menu planning basics

 

Esports Advanced Camp: July 6–10, 2026

 

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The Advanced Momentum Makers Esports Camp is designed for students who already have experience with competitive gaming and are ready to move beyond fundamentals into high-level strategy, leadership, and performance analysis. In this advanced setting, students train like competitive esports athletes and team analysts. Participants break down professional gameplay, review their own match data, and refine advanced strategies used in organized esports leagues. Students take on leadership roles, practice structured team communication, and learn how preparation, adaptability, and mindset directly impact performance.


This camp emphasizes how and why decisions are made in competitive environments, helping students develop skills that transfer to academics, leadership roles, and future careers—both inside and outside of esports. This camp emphasizes how and why decisions are made in competitive environments, helping students develop skills that transfer to academics, leadership roles, and future careers—both inside and outside of esports.


Games that will be played: 

  • League of Legends: Students refine team strategy and communications while attempting to reach a common team goal. We will strengthen adaptability, planning, and real time decision making skills.
  • Valorant: Players analyze advanced team compositions, map control, ultimate economy planning, and counter-strategies across multiple game phases.


Class Requirements

  • Have prior experience with esports or competitive gaming
  • Are comfortable working in team-based environments
  • Want to challenge themselves with deeper strategy and analysis
  • Are interested in leadership, coaching, or esports-related career paths
  • It is recommended to have completed the Esports Introductory Camp prior.


Skills Gained

  • Teamwork & Leadership
  • Clear Communication
  • Game Strategy & Data Skills
  • Smart Decision-Making
  • Reflection & Growth

 

Medical Sciences Introductory Camp: July 6–10; July 13–17, 2026

 

Register: July 13-17


Discover the Future of Medicine — Hands-On, High-Tech, and Inspired by Real Healthcare Professionals Step into the world of modern medicine through immersive experiments, clinical case studies, and real laboratory investigations. Guided by physicians and professionals from our partner institutions, students learn to think like medical researchers as they explore the science behind human health, disease, and cutting-edge biomedical technology.


From using advanced tools like the Anatomage Table to investigating real physiological data with Vernier sensors, students build both scientific and problem-solving skills essential for future careers in medicine, biotechnology, and healthcare.


Additional experiences may include:

  • Heart and brain dissections that reveal anatomical structures and clinical connections
  • Cardiovascular testing using real medical equipment
  • Insights into biomedical engineering, clinical trials, and A.I. in healthcare
  • Time for students to develop their own research questions in our TExpL innovation environment


This camp is recommended for students who have not previously taken the 2024 Medical Science Camp. Returning students seeking a deeper, more challenging experience are encouraged to explore our Advanced Medical Science Camps, designed to push their skills and knowledge further than ever before.


Skills Gained

  • Biomedical research
  • Diagnostic reasoning
  • Laboratory techniques
  • Scientific communication
  • Teamwork

 

Culinary Tour of Italy Camp: July 13–17, 2026

 

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Embark on a delicious journey through Italy without leaving town! In this hands-on camp, students will explore the rich flavors and traditions of Italian cuisine under the guidance of Chef Josh Pennington. Each day focuses on a different culinary skill and menu category—from crafting fresh appetizers and flavorful sauces to making homemade pizza, hearty main courses, and decadent desserts.


Campers will gain practical cooking techniques, learn about Italian culinary traditions, and develop confidence in the kitchen while preparing meals they can enjoy. By the end of the week, participants will have a full “menu” of dishes they’ve created themselves, bringing the taste of Italy home!


Skills Gained

  • Advanced cooking techniques
  • Flavor development and ingredient interaction
  • Recipe analysis and modification
  • Kitchen organization, safety, and efficiency
  • Nutrition and menu planning basic

 

Sustainability in Action Camp: July 13–17, 2026

 

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Guided by sustainability scholar and leadership professor Dr. Alicia Sprow, this immersive, week-long summer camp empowers high school students to explore sustainability through real-world challenges on campus and in the community.


Campers examine the environmental, social, economic, and cultural dimensions of sustainability while engaging in hands-on activities, campus tours, field trips, and a service project. Participants meet local changemakers and campus experts, investigate innovative initiatives, and collaborate in teams to design their own sustainability action plans. The experience culminates in student-led presentations showcasing practical ideas for creating positive, lasting impact both on campus and in their communities.


Skills Gained

  • Define sustainability and explore its environmental, social, economic, and cultural dimensions
  • Analyze real-world sustainability projects and evaluate their impact
  • Collaborate in teams to design and present a sustainability initiative
  • Strengthen their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
  • Build connections with local changemakers and community organization

 

Visual Arts Camp: July 13–17; July 27–31, 2026

 

Register: July 27-31


The Visual Arts theme week offers a dynamic opportunity to refine foundational art skills while working on a self-designed independent project. Participants will explore perspective drawing, develop their own artistic concepts, and bring them to life through hands-on creation. Through interactive critiques and constructive feedback, campers will enhance their technique and conceptual approach.


Skills Gained

  • Perspective drawing
  • Project development
  • Research and inspiration development
  • Refining artistic techniques
  • Communicating creative ideas

 

Medical Sciences Advanced Camp: July 20–24; July 27-31, 2026

 

Register: July 27-31


The Advanced Medical Science Camp is designed for students who want to take a deeper dive into medicine, healthcare, and biomedical research career fields. Using advanced medical tools, real-world case studies, and laboratory investigations, participants learn how healthcare professionals study the human body, diagnose conditions, and design research to improve patient care.


What Students Will Experience

  • CPR/AED training, building real-world lifesaving skills
  • Advanced use of the Anatomage Table, a 3D digital human body used in medical and nursing schools
  • Hands-on labs and medical testing, with a focus on collecting and interpreting real data
  • Opportunities to learn from university faculty and healthcare professionals from Drexel and Alvernia
  • A strong emphasis on research project design, where students develop questions, plan experiments, analyze results, and share their findings. Students will work independently and in teams, strengthening their scientific thinking and their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently.


Skills Gained

  • Clinical and diagnostic reasoning
  • Research design and data analysis
  • Laboratory and technical skills
  • Scientific communication
  • Collaboration and teamwork

 

Invisible Worlds Camp: July 20-24, 2026 (Faculty-Led)

 

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Spark your child’s curiosity this summer as Microbial Ecologist Dr. Jamie Becker guides campers into the unseen universe of microbes, cells, and hidden ecosystems. Using real scientific tools—like field-ready microscopes and hands-on lab techniques—students will collect samples, capture stunning microscopic images, and explore the vibrant world of life too small to see with the naked eye.


Throughout the week, campers will discover how these invisible organisms shape the health of our planet, from soil and water to plants and animals. This engaging, science-rich adventure encourages creativity, observation, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world—all while having fun and learning like real scientists.


Skills Gained

  • Microscope use & slide preparation
  • Basic lab skills
  • Scientific drawing & documentation
  • Inquiry & experimentation
  • Biodiversity awareness
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