Middle School Summer Adventures

*Required: current 6th graders and above.
**Students must have a GCPS login to sign up for this class.

Students will learn about 2D and 3D animation. They will work on developing characters, a timeline, motion tweening, backgrounds, and movement. Also, have fun learning about creating depth, applying color, reusable sequences, and working with different textures. 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• 2D character animation with Adobe Animate

  Building a character
  Moving a character
  Backgrounds levels
  Using Symbols
  Tweening
   Morphs

May 28:

• 3D animation with Blender

Using basic objects
Editing characters and environments
Sculpting characters and environments
Textures and Materials
Creating key frames
Animating on the timeline

May 29:

• Making active web pages

Getting items on pages
Styling items on pages
Moving items on pages
Creating interaction with CSS 
Using Javascript to control activity on a web page

May 30:

• Drawing and painting characters and environments

Starting a sketch book
Sketching concepts and  story boards
Making a cell for an animation
Applying color to a piece of hand made art
Stop motion animation

*Required: current 6th graders and above.

Become your neighborhood’s most sought-after babysitter! In Early Childhood Education, students will learn skills needed to obtain babysitting jobs. These skills include how to get and keep clients, how to know what to charge, and fun activities to do with children of all ages. The Gwinnett County Fire Department will be leading a SafeSitter Course on Wednesday and Thursday of the week. Students must be present both days to receive this certification. Infant simulators will help students learn basic skills: feeding, burping, rocking, diapering, and basic training in pediatric first aid. These activities will be included in the babysitting handbook received at the end of the week. Students will become the busiest babysitter on the block by taking this class. 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• Basics of babysitting
• How to get and keep clients
• Learn fun activities to do with children of all ages. 

May 28 & 29:

• The Gwinnett County Fire Department: SafeSitter course.
  • SafeSitter is a course designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. This class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises.
  • Students will learn CPR, First Aid, and Rescue skills.
  • They will also learn child care, business skills, and other life safety skills. 

*Students must be present both days to obtain their course completion certificate. There is a separate permission slip that must be filled out. Please return for a link to the permission slip.

May 30:

• Infant Simulators
  • Feeding, diapering, rocking, burping, and changing clothes
• Receive a babysitting bag to start their babysitting business

In a true to life salon environment, students will learn how to use the proper tools to prepare a client for the services he/she will be receiving and learn techniques for styling hair. Opportunities abound in this $50 billion a year world of cosmetology! 

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The schedule is subject to change.

3.26.2025 Update: We have 2 teachers this year! The topics covered in each class will differ based on teacher. Students will not be able to switch teachers.

The following topics are covered in this program, however the schedule will look different in each classroom. 

• Hair braiding
• Hot tools
• Manicuring
• Skin Care

*Required: current 6th graders and above.
*Students must have a GCPS login to sign up for this class.

This course will introduce students to the basic principles of Engineering Design Graphics. A major emphasis will be on the development of Orthographic Projections and Isometric Presentations using both hand drawn and Computer Aided Drafting technologies. This is a great opportunity for middle school students looking to pursue the Engineering Pathway in high school.

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27

• Introduction to Construction Drawings
• Sketching 3-D Objects in 2-D
• Logging in to Parametric Modeling Software (PMS)
• Sketching in PMS

May 28

• Sketching on PMS, continued
• Sketching 3-D Objects in 2-D
• Extrusion on PMS

May 29

• Additional feature functions (Revolution, Sweep, Shell, Mirror, Chamfer)
• Assemblies in PMS

May 30

• Assemblies in PMS
• Design a rocket
• Certificate
• Students will be allowed to use the software for the remainder of the summer!

Cars, cars, and more cars! Students will learn how to safely lift vehicles, mount and dismount tires, and balance tires. Also, they will learn how to perform a complete oil change and a 21-point inspection. Students will disassemble an engine and learn all the names of the components inside. 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• Careers in Automotive
• Safety rules/procedures
• How to use floor jacks and jackstands
• Wheel removal and installation
• Tire Rotation

May 28:

• Bumper-to-Bumper vehicle inspection 
• Lube oil and filter change
• Mounting and dismounting tires
• Lifting vehicles/jackstands

May 29:

• Remove wheels from vehicles
• Mounting and dismounting tires
• Wheel balance demonstration
• Using a scan tool for check engine lights

May 30:

• Engine teardown
• Transmission teardown
• Lube oil and filter change

Come explore the wonderfully exciting world of healthcare! Students will take an adventurous journey through the circulatory system, learn skills associated with CPR and First Aid, infection control procedures, and more! This adventure will touch on some knowledge and skills you will need to become a nurse, EMT, physical therapist, or doctor! 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

Skeletal System

• Introductions
• Introduce Anatomy of Skeletal system 
• Drawing and labeling a Skeleton
• Introduce Physiology of the Skeletal system
• Practice building a Skeleton

Digestive System

• Introduce anatomy of the system
• Draw the system
• Learning about the different enzymes
• Making poop with oatmeal, canned corn, and stockings

May 28:

Infection Control and PPE

• Introduce different diseases 
• Introduce transmission of diseases
• Policies and procedures for PPE
• Practice Donning and Doffing PPE

Respiratory System

3D Model of Respiratory System using construction paper, glue, pipe cleaners, plastic bags, and small poster board

May 29:

 Cardiovascular/Circulatory System & CPR 

• Introduce Anatomy of Cardiovascular/Circulatory System 
• Introduce Physiology of Cardiovascular/Circulatory System
• Drawing the Heart with chalk 
• Introduce CPR
• Learn the policies and procedures of CPR
• Practice Skills for CPR

May 30: 

Integumentary System & First Aid  

• Introduce Integumentary System Anatomy
• Introduce Integumentary System Physiology
• Create Skin Models in groups
• Introduce First Aid 
• Practice First Aid Skills

Culinary Arts
Do you watch the Food Network? Have you ever considered what it might be like to be a chef? Students will work in a commercial kitchen. They will learn basic sanitation and safety, measuring, nutrition and food science concepts. 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27

• Careers in Culinary Arts
• Safety rules & Procedures for sanitation
• Create teams for camp activities, decorate or write names on chef's hats and aprons.
• Tour of culinary lab
• Knife safety demonstration
• Smoothie Lab

May 28

• Mise en Place: Gathering ingredients
• Breakfast Lab: Flip-Flap Flapjacks

May 29

• Making pizza dough (for Friday)
• Making a cheese sauce for Mac and Cheese

May 30

• Make pizza sauce
• Assemble and bake pizza
• Pack up leftovers in pizza boxes and take hat/aprons home.

Want to know what it would be like to be a firefighter? Come be a part of this exciting new adventure! Take a thrilling look into the world of professional firefighting! Learn all aspects of a fire service career, see where firefighters work, and experience what it would be like to be a real firefighter!

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Get ready for fire fighting fun at Summer Adventures!

The Gwinnett County Fire Department will be joining us for an interactive learning experience. They'll be teaching valuable fire fighting skills in an engaging way.

To capture these educational moments, a Gwinnett County photographer/videographer will be on-site. To allow your child to participate in these photo and video opportunities, please sign Gwinnett County's photo and video release form included with the other paperwork you'll receive via email. 

Please return the completed form with all other paperwork.

The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• Careers in Fire Service
• Safety rules & Procedures
• Create teams for camp activities
• Tour of gear room
• Bunker gear demonstration

May 28:

• Visit fire station
• Fire tower tour
• Gwinnett Fire Safety House

May 29:

• Fire Inspections
• PIO Representative
• Fire Investigations

May 30:

• Stop the Bleed training
• Active threat training

*Required: current 6th graders and above; current GCPS student.

In this hands-on, four-day workshop, students will dive into the world of digital design, marketing, and branding! They will learn essential skills to create eye-catching logos, ads, and social media content, all while exploring industry standard Adobe software. 

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• Intro to marketing campaigns
• Color Theory
• Psychology of color in marketing
• Typography
• Logo fundamentals
• Adobe Illustrator introduction
• Design personal logo

May 28:

• Adobe Photoshop introduction
• Animated gif
• Adobe Express introduction

May 29:

• Photography introduction
• Photography session
• Lightroom introduction
• Plan marketing campaign pitch

May 30:

• Design marketing campaign
• Design pitch
• Pitch marketing campaign

In flight operations, junior pilots will learn the components of an aircraft along with basics of aerodynamics. They will design and build their own aircraft and test fly it in the wind tunnel. They will learn the four basics of flying and how to plot a course on a sectional, the pilot’s road map in the sky. Students will learn basic weather theory and how it affects flight. Junior Pilots will also explore all the different careers in aviation.

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27:

• Weather Review of the 4 maps/charts
• Aircraft video
• Build wooden aircraft and label the parts
• QUIA Web on aircrafts

May 28:

• Weather Review of the 4 maps/charts
• Video on aerodynamics
• Build Aircraft for wind tunnel
• Fly aircraft in wind tunnel
• Quia Web on aerodynamics

May 29:

• Weather Review of the 4 maps/charts
  • Cloud PowerPoint

CENTERS -- 30 minutes each

• Center 1: Sectional Puzzle
• Center 2: Aeronautical Chart worksheets
• Center 3: Quia Web – Sectional Activities
• Center 4: Sporty’s Video Vol 5, Sec. 3
• Center 5: Locate all symbols from legend on sectional and highlight them on the sectional. List the symbols found on the paper provided.
• Center 6: Plot a cross-country and learn how to complete the course directions on the navigation log

May 30:

• Weather Review of the 4 maps/charts
• Finish plotting a cross-country trip and learn how to complete the course directions on the navigation log
• Aviation Careers - EAA video (Handout Aviation Career Pamphlets)
• Hazardous Weather – Hurricane PowerPoint
• Types of Winds video
• Build wind type diorama

Learn how police investigate a crime scene! What are the roles and responsibilities of police officers in our society? Come explore the world of crime scene investigation (the real CSI), accident investigation, arrest procedures, and other functions of the law and justice profession.

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The schedule is subject to change.

May 27

• Safety Rules and Procedures
• Careers in Law Enforcement Services
• Traffic Stops/High Risk Traffic Stops
• DUI/Field Sobriety Evaluations

May 28

• Fingerprint Matching
• Fingerprinting (Ten Print Cards & Magnet Powder)

May 29

• Is it Murder or Suicide? Activity
• Handcuffing Techniques
• Footprint Foam Activity

May 30

• Stop the Bleed Training (Gwinnett Fire Academy Instructor)
• Active Threat training and scenarios (Gwinnett Fire Academy Instructor)