CAMP SIMCHAH SPECIALTY: EHS STEM CAMP
ENTERING GRADES 3-7
Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:00pm
Spark Curiosity and Ignite Imagination in the state-of-the-art The David Lear Sulman Innovation Center at Epstein Hillel School.
Led by EHS STEM Coordinator and 3rd grade teacher Lea Winkler, STEM Camp at EHS is designed to offer campers an unforgettable summer experience that combines traditional camp activities and STEM enrichment to create the balance of learning and fun. The program is tailored to meet the unique interests of today’s tech-savvy kids who want to explore robotics, rocketry, engineering, and more!
Read more below, or View Other Specialty Camps.
Robotics and STEM Explorations
Week 3: July 6-10, 2026
Join us for an immersion into the world of VEX Robotics. Working in small collaborative teams, campers will brainstorm, build, and program robots to solve a unique set of maze and navigation challenges. Whether you are a beginner or have built before, you will learn the fundamentals of block coding and mechanical design to bring your machine to life.
When we aren’t working with our robotics, we will dive into “STEM Explorations.” Campers will be kept curious and engaged through a variety of hands-on activities. We will explore a mix of engineering challenges, scientific experiments, and creative fabrication. From testing structural designs to using high-tech tools like laser cutters, campers will explore how different STEM fields connect in the real world.
Rocketry and STEM Explorations
Week 4, July 13-17, 2026
Get ready for liftoff! In this exciting week, campers become rocket engineers. We will spend our time designing and carefully constructing a high-performance rocket powered by a real engine. We will explore key concepts like aerodynamics, stability, and fin placement to ensure a perfect flight. The week builds up to our highly anticipated Launch Day, where every camper gets to fire their creation into the sky!
When we aren’t building our rockets, campers will head to the lab for “STEM Explorations.” Campers will explore the wider world of science and technology and participate in interactive projects that range from chemical reactions and physics experiments to rapid-prototyping builds. It is a time for discovery, asking big questions, and getting hands-on with the answers.
Robotics and STEM Explorations
Week 5, July 20-24, 2026
Dive back into the creative world of VEX Robotics! This week introduces a brand-new set of games and design goals, making it the perfect playground for everyone. For newcomers, we provide all the tools and guidance needed to start building immediately. For returning campers, this is a chance to tackle fresh challenges and apply your skills in new ways. It is a collaborative environment where every team can explore, invent, and play.
Our “STEM Explorations” sessions continue with a focus on creativity and innovation. Campers will utilize our maker tools and materials to solve open-ended problems. Whether we are designing custom creations on the laser cutter, exploring the laws of motion, or tackling a complex group engineering task, the goal is to think like an inventor and create something new.
Rocketry and STEM Explorations
Week 6, July 27-July 31, 2026
Join us for a high-flying adventure! Campers will step into the role of engineer to craft their own model rocket from start to finish. We will focus on precision building techniques and the science of flight to maximize altitude and stability. The entire week leads up to one goal: a spectacular Launch Day, where we launch our rockets and watch our hard work soar!
When not building their rockets, campers will enjoy “STEM Explorations.” This week, we pull from a wide spectrum of science, technology, engineering, and math activities. The schedule is packed with dynamic projects, which could include anything from 3D design concepts and laser cutting to exciting scientific demonstrations.Â
Lea Winkler has worked at Epstein Hillel School for 15 years, where she is currently the third grade general studies teacher and the STEM Coordinator for the school. As STEM Coordinator, Lea leads the STEM Team, a group of EHS faculty members who develop and implement STEM curricula for grades K-8 as well as special STEM programming for the school and the community. In addition, Lea co-directs the after-school program for Epstein Hillel School. For six years, Lea also worked at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, NY. Lea received both her MAT (’10) and MEd (’18) from Brandeis University. When not teaching, Lea loves baking, knitting, crocheting, and reading.
שמחה
What is Simchah?
The Hebrew word Simchah means Happiness and Joy. At Camp Simchah, we believe in the power of Camp and the power of Happiness and Joy — so we’ve selected these principles that guide everything we do at camp.
Questions?
Contact Jonathan Heller, Camp Simchah Director, at jheller@jccns.com.
**Epstein Hillel School STEM camp has an additional $100 materials fee.
2026 Dates & Rates
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CAMP SIMCHAH FAMILY HANDBOOK 2025
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