Bloom Community School is revamping our summer camps, learning from the best of our age-specific academic year experiences for 1- and 2-week sessions of inquiry and imagination! Led by our incredible educators, these carefully curated learning opportunities for curious children are designed to create deeper connections to the learning process through fun activities while strengthening skills in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity. Each session's enrollment will be limited to 12 students or less to ensure high-quality attention for each child accepted into the camp.

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Bloom Community School is located at 1100 N. Beech Street, Normal, IL, in beautiful and historic Normandy Village, surrounded by green space, city playgrounds, soccer fields, and the Refuge Food Forest. Students should dress for indoor (air-conditioned) and outdoor play, and bring a packed lunch each day; microwaves are available when eating on campus. Older students may make use of public transportation to explore our communities, with any field trips announced before the date. All students are expected to be able to take part peacefully in the program, with respect for teachers, peers, and the school and community environment. 

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All camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the one- and two-week sessions, for specific age groups listed below. Each week costs $175 per student (two-week camps will cost a total of $350). Following acceptance upon registration, tuition is due in full to secure registration in each camp, after which a registration packet will be issued to gather further health and safety information.

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FOR RISING KINDERGARTENERS through 2nd-GRADERS
THEME: Makerspace Meets Movement

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DATES: June 10-14, 2019 

TEACHER: Jessica Frederick (Pods Class teacher)
DESCRIPTION:
During this week for curious collaborators, children will be playfully challenged to work in groups to invent a new outdoor game! Participants will utilize common outdoor play materials as well as with their own creations designed in Bloom's imagination-empowering makerspace.

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THEME: The World is Their Playground!

DATES: July 22-26, 2019 

TEACHER: Jessica Frederick (Pods Class teacher)
DESCRIPTION:
In this fun week of purposeful and meaningful nature play, the inviting area surrounding Bloom Community School becomes our playground! Beyond greenspace for playing and trees for climbing, activities will take place in the Normandy Village gazebos. Activities and outdoor clothes/gear needed such as rain boots, coats, etc. are all dependent on the weather.

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FOR RISING 5th- through 8th-GRADERS

THEME: The Makings of a Rock Band

DATES: June 17-21 and 24-28, 2019 (2-week camp!)

TEACHER: Stefen Robinson (Musician / Normal Community H.S. sociology teacher / Bloom leadership board member) & Grace Sheese (Blossoms Class teacher)

DESCRIPTION:

Come join a jam band! No music experience necessary for this 2-week rock-n-roll boot camp! Kids will learn to write their own songs and play their own instruments. At the end of the session, the band will have a live performance at a local venue. Leaders Grace Sheese, Bloom Community School teacher, and Stefen Robinson, a long-time member of the local band “Disorganizer” and a teacher Normal Community High School will offer a 2-week rock-n-roll boot camp! Kids will learn to write their own songs and play their own instruments. At the end of the session, the band will have a live performance for family and friends at nightshop in downtown Bloomington! 

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THEME: Art and Community

DATES: July 8-12 and 15-19, 2019 (2-week camp!)

TEACHER: Grace Sheese (Blossoms Class teacher / Ceramic artist / Illinois Wesleyan ceramics instructor)

DESCRIPTION:

Ready to build, draw, paint and create?!  Partnering with ISU’s University Galleries, we will develop a multimedia pop-up art show! We will visit the galleries to find inspiration. Each student will then work to develop their own art project which will be displayed for a public show at the end of the session. This camp will be led by Grace Sheese, a ceramic artist of 20 years who has worked as both a professional potter and an art educator for elementary through college-aged students.