Programs
Summer camp
Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Summer Camp at Chestnut Montessori School!
The focus for this year's Summer School was Environmental Studies. Students enjoyed Botany Studies, Zoology Studies, Sensorial Studies, Science Experiments, Food Tasting, Art Projects, Geography Studies, and more!
Interested in Summer Camp 2027? We'll be island hopping through Hawaii! Families will be able to enroll for two-week sessions, by the month, or for the full summer. Join our waitlist to be the first to hear when registration opens!
Take a look at what we explored during Summer Camp 2026!
Summer Session I (June 15-June 26, closed June 19): Where Does Our Food Come From?
Students began the summer by learning where farms are located and studied an overview of farm to table, along with a food map. They learned the needs of plants, including weeding and watering, along with the lifecycle of plants, parts of plants we eat, and what is inside a flower. They sprouted seeds and started a mini garden, along with making a work chart to ensure that the gardens were taken care of each day. Students explored food preparation through washing fruit/vegetables, making butter, squeezing fruit, cutting/slicing, grating, and preparing vegetables. The class made and enjoyed a meal together at the end of the camp.
Summer Session II (June 29-July 10, closed July 3): Study of Nature
During Summer Session II, students studied the weather around the world and how it connects with farms and animals. They tracked the weather and water cycle. Their Zoology studies took them to the creatures in the soil and how they impact the gardens. They studied leaves and how they change throughout the seasons, making nature prints. Some of their projects included creating a tornado in a bottle, shaving cream rain clouds, conducting soil samples on campus, creating a soil shake jar, water cycle in a bag, and evaporation science experiments. They also continued to tend to CMS gardens.
Summer Session III (July 13-July 24): Care of Environment
During this fun session, students learned about recycling, upcycling, composting, and reducing waste! They studied how food becomes soil and learned where their trash goes once it leaves the school. They made recycled art and studied shapes in nature. They also learned about the needs of animals. Students learned how to sort recycled items and collaborated to make a compost bin! Some other projects included recycled windchimes, simple machines, bridge building, melting crayons, making paper, water clock timer, marble roller coaster with toilet paper rolls, and a paper chain challenge!
Summer Session IV (July 27-August 7): Science and the Environment
Summer Session IV brought the studies of Water Runoff, Air Pollution, and Decomposition. Students learned an overview of decomposition and decomposition helpers. They studied air pollution and tracked the different parts of the world that are impacted the most by air pollution. They created a Sensory Table where they decided what belongs in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams. Students created art on homemade paper, took nature walks, created a crumpled watershed, had a runoff race, created petroleum jelly air catchers, made smog in a jar, and observed plastic versus nature decomposition.
Summer Session V (August 10-August 21): Showing Connections and Recognizing Purpose and Place
Summer Session V brought students to connections, where they learned about the importance of water. They studied how the environment impacts animals – where animals go to eat and how the environment impacts where animals eat. Students studied plants eaten by animals and plants eaten by humans and where these might overlap. Their tasting circle included foods that are eaten by both humans and animals. With their study of water, they enjoyed watercolor art during this session. Other activities included an oxygen experiment, storytelling of the environment, and water activities.
Summer Session VI (August 24-August 28): Lego Camp/How Can We Be Good Stewards of the Environment?
Students wound down the summer by playing along with friends, building with Legos, according to age and skill set. On Friday, they took home their favorite creation. This wrap-up of summer included projects using recycled materials, nature walks, outside story times, and activities that promoted environmental stewardship.
What People are Saying
Parent Reviews
"Our two daughters were extremely fortunate to spend 4 and 6 years at Chestnut Montessori School. Chestnut helped encourage the girls to be the passionate, curious, and compassionate people they both are today. Chestnut and Mrs. Hanson fully embrace the Montessori philosophy and helped our girls develop at their own rate - helping them to love learning and, most importantly, playing and enjoying time with other like-minded children. Their mantra of grace and courtesy as well as global citizenship lives on in our family today. We cannot recommend this school enough to help young children become amazing young adults. We were very excited to hear that Ms. Stefanski has now returned and cannot wait to continue to see how the school develops."
— Jason and Maureen Hogg
