Summer Camp Activities for K-12 Students

Apr 10, 2025

Summary

Gameplan offers flexible, project-based summer camps for K–12 students. Camps focus on esports, game design, and STEM subjects like media production and cybersecurity. Students play games they already enjoy, explore career paths, and earn certificates. All programs are CTE-aligned, standards-aligned, and built to support social-emotional learning. You can mix and match content to fit your goals. Everything’s ready to go, and educator support is included.

As summer approaches, so does summer camp season. It’s a welcome break for many students but it can also be a valuable opportunity for growth.

Summer camps are more than just a way to pass the time. When designed well, they give students space to build confidence, develop new skills, and explore possible careers. If you're planning a summer program, it’s worth asking: What kind of experience are you offering your students?

Why Summer Camp Matters More Than You Think

Summer is a unique window. Students are outside the traditional classroom. There’s no pressure from grades or testing. And yet, many students stop engaging with school entirely during this time. A well-structured summer camp can keep them curious, motivated, and connected to learning.

The problem is, not all camps work. Some feel too academic while others just offer entertainment. Gameplan’s summer programs aim for a middle ground; engaging and meaningful activities that still build future-ready skills. Our programs are designed for K-12 schools, especially middle and high school. They’re flexible, project-based, CTE-aligned, and centered on future-ready learning.

Types of Summer Camp Activities

Summer camp activities are multifaceted. We offer many different tracks, and you can mix and match based on your needs:

1. Esports Summer Camp

Game-based learning works. Students already know how to play video games. What they often need is a structure that shows them how games relate to school, careers, and life.

Esports, when used within classroom instruction, can improve academic outcomes, build interest in STEM, and teach collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. A balanced esports camp also includes modules on:

Sleep hygiene
Nutrition
Physical activity

In Gameplan’s esports camps, students play titles like Rocket League, Fortnite, and Super Smash Bros. But they also explore what happens off-screen:

What careers exist in gaming and esports?
How are esports tournaments organized?
How do marketing and branding work in this space?

If you want to take it further, Exploring Careers in Esports through Minecraft Education lets students design their own tournaments and explore real-world roles like game design, event planning, and content creation.

2. Game Design Summer Camp

What better way to learn game design than by using Unreal Engine?

In this camp, students get hands-on with one of the most widely used game engines in the world. They follow structured, step-by-step projects to create their own 3D experiences with Unreal Engine’s industry-standard tools.

The full curriculum is ready to go, but also flexible. You can follow the whole path of units and lessons, or choose a specific project and work on it independently.

Students finish the course with the knowledge to finish the certification exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, students gain Game Design Fundamentals certificate and a project portfolio they can be proud of.

3. STEAM + STEM Summer Camp

With technology changing the job market, students need early exposure to in-demand skills. Gameplan’s STEM and STEAM summer camps focus on practical, creative, and technical fields. They’re aligned to career pathways and designed for exploration.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Teaches students how to stay safe online and introduces them to career options in cybersecurity. Project-based, no experience needed. Certificate included.
Media Production Fundamentals
Focuses on video production, editing, and storytelling. Helps students explore roles in the arts, entertainment, and creative industries. Certificate included.

Flexible Summer Camps for Any School or District

All Gameplan summer camps are:

Flexible in format and length
Aligned with CTE and academic standards
Built for middle and high school (and adaptable for other audiences)
Designed with SEL (social-emotional learning) in mind
Project-based with career exploration
Prepare for industry-recognized certification

You can run these as stand-alone summer camps, integrate them into co-curricular programming, or offer them as electives.

Pick and assemble the content that works best for your students. We’ll help you make it work.

Get a team member to help you and answer your questions today.

Written by

Alyson Vengoechea

Alyson Vengoechea is the Head of Content at Gameplan and an experienced educator with over a decade in curriculum development and teacher training. She holds an M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in Psychology from George Washington University. A Teach for America alumni, Alyson has led the creation of online learning programs for prestigious schools and served as a curriculum fellow for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She has also achieved outstanding student outcomes, including the highest FCAT growth in her district. Alyson is committed to equity, student voice, and meaningful learning.