Three weeks. Five courses. Countless opportunities.
At DECATS, we believe education and entertainment go hand-in-hand. Our qualitatively differentiated program focuses on leadership and responsibility education for gifted children, providing challenging and enriching coursework, nurturing the whole learner and fostering the leaders of tomorrow. Originally conceived and architected on Dr. Joseph Renzulli’s conceptions and models of giftedness, DECATS is a safe learning environment for students who demonstrate high intellectual ability, a strong commitment to learning and exceptional creativity.
All Scholars participate in
Manners to Morals during first period, an intense exploration of the joys and responsibilities of being a gifted leader. There is a different curriculum for each year that Scholars participate, determined by grade level.
Perspectives takes place during second period and provides a forum for reflection, support and direction for gifted Scholars. Topics include the privileges and responsibilities of being gifted, with special emphasis on leadership, followership, peer relationships and faith development. We also explore stereotypes of the gifted, dispelling myths and celebrating uniqueness. The primary goal of this four-year curriculum is to instill in Scholars a sense of service to others in a spirit of gratitude, learning that “better at” does not mean “better than.” Scholars are encouraged to think critically and be reflective regarding their own experiences.
Explore themes discussed in Perspectives
We gather course requests as part of an easy, online process, where you have plenty of advance time to review our offerings for the summer and map out those you wish to request. Final schedules are provided at the very start of the program, not in advance.
For more more about the course request process, check out our FAQ section.
DECATS 2026 Courses
A Day at the Beach
Pack your bags and let’s head to the beach! Create kinetic sand and learn tips and tricks for building sandcastles as you work with a team to create your own for our sandcastle contest. We’ll use found objects such as shells to create unique artwork. Next, we’ll design and test devices to help clean up the ocean, ensuring everyone can enjoy a day at the beach!
A Game of Kings
Want to join the Knights of the Square Table, or maybe the Bishop Brigade? Do you want to Rook & Roll? Don’t be intimidated by the challenge of chess! Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished chess player, come sharpen your critical thinking skills, learn to outwit your opponents and experience the thrill of victory. Come on in and take a seat. “A Game of Kings” is beginning — and it’s your move!
A Pirate’s Life for Me
Hoist the sails and hunt for treasure! In this hands-on pirate adventure, you’ll build a ship for your crew, design treasure chests to protect your loot, and create secret maps with hidden clues. Work with your crew to solve riddles and uncover lost treasure before time runs out. Batten down the hatches because adventure awaits!
A Toy Story
Toy companies such as Mattel make millions of dollars a year, proving that toys are serious business! Start from the ground up as you create your own toy company and develop a prototype of its first new toy. You’ll create a business plan, marketing campaign, and a strategy to mass produce the toy you created. Consider the cost and calculate what it would take to turn a profit. Move over Mattel, and make way for A Toy Story!
A Whole New World
Every story starts somewhere. This course is designed to teach you how to create an entirely fictional world where the characters (you design) can come to life. Create a character and build a world that transports your reader to a setting of your design. Establish the laws and language and role play scenarios to develop your characters. From Narnia to Hogwarts to Oz, a whole new world awaits!
A-maze-ing
Marble mazes may appear simplistic, but look again! Slope, angles and other mathematical concepts are what keep things rolling. Collaborate with a team to design, test, and tweak your very own marble runs. With a little patience and a lot of planning, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
Angry Birds: Next Level
Ready . . . Aim . . . FIRE! We don’t need devices to play with THESE Angry Birds. In this course, we will build different kinds of catapults, assemble different kinds of ‘birds’ for ammunition and construct various levels and barriers to knock down. Don’t let an evil piggy steal your spot. Slingshot your way into fun in Angry Birds: The Next Level!
Animania
You are a scientist deep in the Amazon hoping to learn more about an animal you’ve been researching when suddenly you discover a new species! Believe it or not, this continues to happen every year, as the world is full of areas left to explore and animals left to discover. In Animania, you’ll journey into the unknown to examine some of the wildest creatures ever seen. Take the most interesting aspects of each and build a model of your own unique species. What does it eat? Where will it live? And, most importantly, what else might be out there?
Back to the Grind!
In the Middle Ages, there were no motors or electricity. Medieval millers used the power of water wheels, tread wheels, or windmills to grind wheat, barley, and rye. Channel your engineering skills to design and construct working models of these devices. Explore other engineering feats of the Middle Ages, as we construct catapults and drawbridges. Launch your learning to the next level in “Back to the Grind!”
Behind the Scenes
Are you curious about the design and technical aspects of a show? Behind the scenes of a production, the stage crew is hard at work designing, crafting, and creating the scenery, props and costuming needed for a production. Experience the thrill of theater from backstage, as you put together the pieces that will help our “Give My Regards to Broadway” show take shape. We can’t do it without you!
Blast Off
Rockets flying, gravity defying; this is a course you will not be denying! Blast off into learning the physics of building your own rocket and then launch it and see just how far it can go! This may not be NASA, but there is no doubt that we will master different ways to overpower the gravitational force. Exploration awaits!
Blood & Guts
Our planet is a marvelous place where creatures of all shapes and sizes coexist. Don your protective equipment and join us as we get a closer look at Earth’s creatures, both inside and out. Our journey will involve hands-on exploration and dissection of aquatic and terrestrial specimens as we examine their internal and external anatomy and learn more about the human body in the process.
Brain Games
Who will be the next Brain Games Trivia Champion? Come show your competitive spirit and try your hand at trivia through quick response, jeopardy and quiz bowl games. Together with your team, test your knowledge of pop culture, sports, science, social studies, music, and more! This summer exercise your mind and enjoy the competition and camaraderie of Brain Games.
Brainteasers
Stretch your brain and prepare to attack puzzles and challenges in unconventional ways! This course is full of games, riddles and quandaries designed to test your problem-solving skills and get you thinking ‘outside the box!’ Open your mind to logic and strategy as you participate in eye-opening activities, such as life-size Sudoku, Wordles, and human knots!
Brainteasers
Stretch your brain and prepare to attack puzzles and challenges in unconventional ways! This course is full of games, riddles and quandries designed to test your problem-solving skills and get you thinking ‘outside the box!’ Open your mind to logic and strategy as you participate in eye-opening activities, such as life-size Sudoku, Wordles, and human knots!
Breaking News
Find out what it takes to research, script and launch our very own newscast! From producers all the way to broadcasters and meteorologists, we’ll need you to fill an important role in our production. We’ll use green screen technology to put us “on the scene” of newsworthy events and make sure our DECATS community always has the scoop!
Bump, Set, Spike
Ready to serve up some competition? Enhance your basic volleyball skills and work on more advanced moves through individual and group competitions. Try out different aspects of the game with the opportunity to coach your team, keep score, and officiate, as well. Our final tournament will be the ultimate chance to put your new skills to the test. The ball is in your court this summer!
Chillin’ Like a Villian
Get ready to chill out! The “cool” culinary concoctions we create in this course will be just what you need to survive the scorching summer heat. Learn the impact and flavor profiles different ingredients add to some of your favorite treats. From ice cream to gazpacho, lemonade to coleslaw, something is bound to have you Chillin’ Like a Villain during the hottest time of the year!
Clay Creations
Get ready to roll, pinch, and mold your way into the world of three-dimensional art. Come create clay sculptures inspired by a variety of subjects, ranging from your favorite animals to your favorite foods! Things will shape up beautifully in Clay Creations!
Colorama
Color can be an artist’s most powerful tool, so let’s put it to use! Explore color using a variety of mediums like watercolor, melted crayons, manipulated colored tissue and more! Your eye for color will come in handy as we tie dye T-shirts and experiment with angle and color to create optical illusions. Unleash your inner artist in Colorama!”
Comic Creations
Heroes, villains, and sidekicks, oh my! Author and illustrate your own comic book filled with characters from different historical periods, taking place in locations around the world or from a universe of your own creation. Your epic adventure will integrate frequently-used techniques of comic book artists and is sure to end with a “BANG!”
Cover to Cover
What do shaving cream, sewing and origami have to do with making books? Find out when we create decorative covers with shaving cream marbling and paste-papers. Then fold, glue and stitch paper inside to make unique and unusual handcrafted books! We will create books ranging from exploding origami books, secret room books and a journal with Japanese stitched binding. Those blank pages will then be will be filled with your original thoughts and poems. Come enjoy the book building experience from cover to cover!
Crack the Code
Since the invention of writing, people have wanted to send others messages no one else could read. Methods range from the simple (sdrawkcab segassem gnitirw) to the super sophisticated, those uncrackable by any modern computer. We’ll find various ways of scrambling words, move on to substitution ciphers, transposition ciphers, and finish off with codes. We’ll also have fun trying to create our own secret messages to pass on to others!
CSI: DECATS
Calling all would-be sleuths and Sherlock Holmes wannabes! A crime has been committed at DECATS, and it is up to you and your forensics team to identify the culprit. Learn how to investigate a crime scene, from securing the scene and collecting evidence to fingerprint analysis. Grab your magnifying glass and critical thinking cap and let’s solve the mystery!
Dazzling Design
Discover the colorful world of diamond painting! Using tiny, sparkling resin “diamonds,” you’ll place and arrange gems on canvases to create vibrant, eye-catching designs. Through the exploration of color and design principles, you’ll learn how artists use patterns, shading, and color combinations to make images pop. Whether you’re re-creating a renowned masterpiece, originating a realistic landscape, or developing an abstract design of your own, this relaxing and creative activity will turn tiny gems into treasured works of art!
DECATS DIY
Why buy what you can make yourself? Get ready to construct and create! Get a little messy and have a whole lot of fun as we make our own bouncy balls, silly putty, soap, sidewalk chalk and more. If you are ready to take projects into your own hands, this is the course for you!
DECATS Dream House
Let your creativity take the lead as you design your very own dream house. Whether you find yourself dreaming of a tree house deep in the woods or a mansion themed after your favorite television show, you’ll price out, design, and build a domain of your dreams. There’s no place like home in DECATS Dream House!
DECATS Has Talent
Are you a Scholar that loves to perform or wants to dip your toe into entertainment? In this course, Scholars will have the chance to learn about the different elements of performing arts while they develop their own acts for the Closing Celebration’s talent show. Acts may range from singing, dancing, comedy, juggling or something completely original. Creativity and imagination are strongly encouraged. Come and explore with us and you may find a talent you didn’t even know you had!
DECATS World Cup
The World Cup is headed for DECATS this summer! This global event has played an important role in the history of sports. What unique features have made each World Cup different from the last? Take a look at this competition from both a sports and historical perspective. Once we hit the field, it will be time to practice basic soccer skills, such as passing, dribbling, and shooting, and get to know the rules of the game. We’ll use goal-setting and progress-tracking to assist us as we grow our soccer skills. In the end, we will incorporate our talents and skills to compete in the 2026 DECATS World Cup.
Did You Myth Me?
Step aside, Superman. It’s time to give credit to the original superheroes – mythological figures! As we learn about myths from different cultures around the world, we will create portable cosmos, play games inspired by mythical adventures, riddle like tricksters, and debate who would win the ultimate showdown between deities, demigods, and heroes.
Disaster Detectives
Disaster detectives are ready to report! Explore explosive volcanoes like Mount St. Helens and uncover the events surrounding legendary earthquakes, such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Dive into real data, track patterns, and discover how scientists measure Earth’s natural disasters. Then, step into the spotlight as the Lead Meteorologist, breaking down details of severe weather phemnomena to an eager audience that only YOU can help keep safe.
Duct Dynasty
Duct tape art continues to trend, and origami is an art form that has maintained interest for ages. Join us and experience what the hype is all about as we bring these two types of art into one amazing course! Don’t miss out on being a part of the duct tape dynasty!
Edible Art
Art isn’t just for a canvas! Our artwork takes place on a cookie! Learn how to make icing and practice piping skills and cookie design techniques that can be used to decorate one-of-a-kind sweet treats. We’ll make art that looks too good to eat!
Engineering an Empire
Build like the ancient Egyptians, trade like the Mesopotamians, and govern like the Greeks! Come build a modern day empire by exploring concepts essential for every civilization. Develop your society’s rules, economy, and governmental structure. Role-playing and simulations will help you determine if your new society can withstand the test of time.
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
Steel your nerves, brave knight, as you study the behaviors, habitats, and anatomies of creatures from a time long past. From the depths of the ocean to the dark corners of mountain caves to the clear blue skies, we will examine dragons, banshees, chimeras, wyverns, and so much more! Make sure to grab your scroll and quill and prepare for a voyage comparable to Darwin’s expedition to the Galapagos Islands!
Food Truck Showdown
Put your culinary talents and entrepreneurial skills to the test as you create the concept for Houston’s hottest new food truck! Design a theme, logo, and menu that will be enhanced by your signature dish. Be ready to pitch your concepts and compete for financing in the Food Truck Showdown.
For Your Amusement
Come experience the thrill of designing and building your own amusement park. You’ll use measurement and concepts of design to map out your park. Apply geometry and physics to build rides that will attract visitors to help you turn a profit. Take your ideas from dream to theme this summer!
Friends, Romans, Countrymen
All roads lead to Rome! Do you think you have what it takes to be a Roman soldier? Work as a unit to learn Latin commands, execute precise formations, and become one of the most efficient forces of the ancient world. Grab your shield and discover the strategies that led Rome to glory!
Game Mechanics
Experience the physical science concepts of mass, velocity, acceleration, friction and Newtonian forces as we create race cars using fruits and vegetables. Then, use those scientific concepts and your imagination to design and create arcade games from basic cardboard boxes. Can you build a Whack-a-Mole? Are you ready to watch your friends compete in a skee-ball game you created? No quarters will be needed for this arcade, just your creativity and design skills!
Game Show Network
Yura Scholar, come on down; you’re the next contestant on ’Game Show Network.’ Test your skill, knowledge and competitive spirit as we recreate classic and contemporary game shows, including Jeopardy!, The Price is Right, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Name That Tune and Minute to Win It. Not content simply being a contestant? We will also create our very own game show from scratch. The rules and concept are only limited by our imaginations!
Give My Regards to Broadway
Lights, camera, action! Join in the excitement and magic of being part of a Broadway show. Share your love of theater as you act, sing, and dance to make a musical come to life. Everyone performs and everyone is cast in a part. Scholars learn the fundamentals of acting, create a costume, develop their character, memorize lines and sing and dance in a fast paced, hands-on production. Get ready to shine as the curtain goes up and the show goes on.
Glory Games
Get ready to strategize, defend, and compete in an epic battle of Capture the Flag. Teams will have new challenges to face each day, along with rule variations that will add complexities to the game. As the tournament unfolds, we’ll also explore some famous battles in history and the strategies that helped generals emerge victorious. You’ll need teamwork, tactical thinking, and speed to secure the win in the Glory Games!
Hello, Hogwarts
Calling all wizards! From the moment you arrive, you will cease to be a Muggle and take on the role of a Scholar at the Hogwarts School in the wizarding world of Harry Potter! Explore extraordinary classes like Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and Potions. Try your hand at making your own wand, creating a golden snitch and designing your own Hogwarts floor plan. You can wear your Hogwarts robes or choose to dress in the Muggle manner. Come begin the journey of a lifetime into the wonderful world of Harry Potter!
History’s Mysteries
From the legend of Bigfoot to the Bermuda Triangle, take a closer look at some of history’s greatest mysteries, as we examine the scientific phenomena that might be at work. Dig deeper into the existing theories or come up with one of your own. Perhaps you’ll secure your own place in history when you uncover the treasure of pirate William Kidd or pinpoint the location of Cleopatra’s tomb.
Hybrid Games
The sports world needs new ideas, and you’re the ones to invent them. Why stick to just soccer, basketball, or baseball when you can mash them together to create something totally new? Get ready to run, jump, throw, kick, and think as you play wild hybrids like Crab Soccer, Flicker Ball, and other unique combinations. Then it’s your turn to design the next big game: mixing rules, equipment, and strategies to build a sport no one has ever seen before.
Hyper History
What do you get when you combine History with PE? A “moving” exploration of the past! In this course, we will literally jump into some of history’s most interesting topics and learn more about them through the games we play. We’ll uncover the details of the American Revolution through a variation of Capture the Flag and experience the thrill of the gold rush through a team challenge using hula hoops and bean bags. These games are sure to go down in history, and you won’t want to miss them!
Ink-redible Prints
Ready to make designs that stamp, press, and pop onto the page? You’ll design custom stamps and create unique prints for clothes using a variety of materials like ink, shaving cream, dye, paint, fun foam, and fabric. Explore different printmaking techniques including collagraph, linoleum printing, and Styrofoam prints. With so many possibilities, you’re guaranteed an ink-redible time!
Innovator’s Playground
Welcome to the Innovator’s Playground! Experiment your way through each challenge your team encounters, using the engineering design process to plan and improve different structures. Launch catapults, strengthen skyscrapers and design eco-friendly solutions to modern day problems. There are no failures when you enter the Innovator’s Playground; only opportunities to adjust and improve!
It Actually IS Rocket Science
Rockets flying, gravity defying; this is a course you will not be denying! Blast off into learning the physics of building your own rocket and then launch it to see just how far it can go! This may not be NASA, but there is no doubt that we will master different ways to overpower the gravitational force. Exploration awaits!
KaBoom!
Bubble, Bubble, Pop, Pop, Fizz, Fizz…KaBoom! Come explore the exciting world of chemistry! In this course, explore concepts such as surface tension, inertia, and polymers – all by performing hands-on experiments. The KaBoom lab awaits you!
Kitchen Chemistry
Ever wonder what makes an egg hard when you boil it? This is the course for you! We will dive into why meat turns brown when you cook it, why apples can be used to ripen other fruits and veggies, and more! If you can stand the heat, get in the kitchen! Let’s get cooking with some chemistry!
Knots & Stitches
Come master the art of knots and stitches! Learn different techniques for embroidery, sewing, and crochet. We’ll create one-of-a-kind paracord bracelets and learn to tie (and untie!) various knots. We’ll have you in stitches before you know it!
LEGO Robotics
Robots, assemble! Get ready to program your very own robot! Can you program your robot to win a race? Can your robot navigate through a series of challenges you design? Use your creative and critical thinking skills as you enter the world of robotics engineering!
Level Up Dance Lab
It’s your moment to take center stage! Come build confidence, learn choreography, and create signature moves of your very own in the Level Up Dance Lab. We’ll master eight-count combinations and build a choreographed dance routine to perform in our final showcase. What moves will you cook up in the lab this summer?
Master of the Game
Let’s travel the world, step back in time, and explore leadership through play! What can games teach us about real life? We’ll explore influential games from different cultures and eras, such as Diplomacy, where it’s your negotiating skills that impact outcomes, and Weiqi, which highlights the balance between gaining resources and sharing success. You’ll play in different team configurations, experiment with strategy, and reflect on how you communicate and adapt.
Mathemagic
Do you believe you can cut a hole in an 8.5 by 11 piece of paper large enough to walk through? Easily memorize the first 100 digits of pi? Multiply 98 by 92 in your head? Create a one-sided object? Come perform mystifying, mathematical feats that one might first deem impossible, such as creating curves using only straight lines and multiplying using pebbles and holes in the ground. Discover there are more ways to have fun with numbers!
Mission to Mars
Begin your exciting journey to the Red Planet! We’ll design and build model spacecraft and investigate Martian conditions, including solving engineering challenges for landing and survival. Come engage in simulations to overcome risks associated with space exploration. Your mission to Mars awaits!
Mission to Mars
Begin your exciting journey to the Red Planet! Come explore how past and present missions to Mars are paving the way for future explorations. Research amazing facts about the Martian atmosphere, terrain and harsh environment and use your knowledge to create your own space mission. Design and build a Mars Rover and let it take you where you need to go. What will you explore on your Mission to Mars?
Mythbusters
Are poprocks and soda a deadly combination? Can the heat from the sun fully cook an egg? Join us as we find the answer to these questions and more at Mythbusters DECATS!
Once Upon a Crime
What if the witch that captured Hansel and Gretel was arrested instead of killed? What if the Big Bad Wolf was sued by the pigs and had to pay to rebuild their homes? You’ll script out and participate in the mock courtroom trials of these and other fairytale villains. Were they found guilty of their crimes? Or were they able to successfully defend themselves and keep their freedom? Get your creative ideas ready!
Our Song
Do you know that favorite singer/songwriter who sells out stadiums and takes the charts by storm? Are you ready to step into that spotlight? Join us this summer to build your own collection of chart-topping hits! Come develop your very own original music- everything from the lyrics to the melody to the chords; no prior musical experience necessary.
Papier-Mâché Cafe
Très magnifique! Come on in to the Papier-Mâché Cafe! Did you know that ‘papier-mâché’ is French for ‘chewed paper’? We won’t chew any paper in this creative course, but we will explore many new techniques for using that slimy, goopy, sticky substance that many know and love. We’ll test out several adhesive methods, different papers and even use yarn to make yarn mâché art! Roll up your sleeves, pull up a chair and come visit the Papier-Mâché Cafe.
Passion for Fashion
Where will you be when inspiration strikes? In Passion for Fashion, of course! Be inspired to develop your very own line of clothing. The basics of design will be used to create your own beautiful patterns, outfits and accessories. We’ll peer into the closets of some of history’s best dressed, as well as explore where fashion designers draw their inspiration! This summer, make your fashion creations runway-ready!
Power of Persuasion
Speak up, defend your stance, and keep it real! Are you vocally expressive and like to get your point across? Are you willing to argue for what you believe is right? Are you an expert at considering both sides of an issue without always having to win others over to your perspective? In Power of Persuasion, learn the art of the argument and debate hot topics with your fellow Scholars!
Rally Royale
Welcome to Rally Royale! Come master the court in the ultimate pickleball battleground, where every rally counts! Level up your pickleball skills, unlock new techniques, and battle it out in fun, competitive challenges to become the king or queen of the court.
Ready or Knot?
Are you ready to get “hooked” on a new way to make art? In this course, you’ll learn different cross-stitching techniques and put your needle to work to create bookmarks, custom patches, and framed art. Whether you’re a novice or looking to level up your skills, this course will have you in stitches!
Riddle Me This
Batman and Robin need your help in tracking down one of Gotham’s most notorious villains! E. Nygma is at it again, leaving behind a series of riddles, puzzles and brainteasers that you and your team must solve in order to protect the people of Gotham. Once we’ve secured the city, it will be time to switch roles and create a puzzling caper of your own. Outwit the elusive Riddler and beat him at his own game!
Rookie to Riches
Step into the shoes of a sports agent and guide your rookie athlete from draft day to financial success! In this interactive course, you’ll negotiate contracts, calculate signing bonuses, secure endorsement deals (including international opportunities), and make real financial decisions that shape your athlete’s future. Use real-world math skills like percentages, budgeting, statistics, and financial planning to build wealth that lasts beyond the game. From managing media moments to planning for retirement and community impact, every move matters.Can your rookie rise to riches and become the next global brand?
Rube Goldberg Made Me Do It
Why do a simple task when you can build a machine to do it for you? Like the Rube Goldberg machines we love to watch, we will start with the basics and end with zany and artistic engineering experiments. Chain reactions will abound as we discover and employ the laws of science. If you love designing, creating, building and tinkering with items, this course will have a domino effect on your future as an inventor!
See it in 3D
Enter the world of three-dimensional art! Through molding, constructing, and sculpting, we will create one of a kind pieces of artwork. To create our sculptures, we’ll use conventional materials like clay, but we’ll also mix it up with some different things we find along the way, such as sand and tape. Sculptures aren’t bound to rules: creations of all shapes sizes, textures, and forms are welcome!
Short Circuit
Electronic circuits run the world! From the doorbell to the computer, they are at the center of any modern electronic device. Let’s discover this exciting world by learning the basic principles and laws of electronics and by building electronic circuits. Work with real components like resistors, diodes, transistors, LEDs and speakers. Build a working burglar alarm, audio generator, wake-up alarm and other devices. Use special software to plan and test your devices.
Slime Time
Get ready for a summer of squishy sensations and slimy satisfaction! In this course, messy equals marvelous as we experiment with various slime recipes. From fluffy to glittery, we’ll concoct different types of slime, using the scientific process to document our findings as we work to create slime of the perfect consistency. It’s always the right time for Slime Time!
Sportsplex
The clock is ticking. All morning long you have been looking forward to going outside to play your favorite sport at recess. Just as that time of day nears, you hear the dreaded news, “Outside activities are canceled due to rain (or the dreaded ozone alert!)”. That’s no obstacle for the Scholars in Sportsplex! We will learn to adapt some favorite games to be played indoors. No more rainy days ruining the fun!
Sportsplex
The clock is ticking. All morning long you have been looking forward to going outside to play your favorite sport at recess. Just as that time of day nears, you hear the dreaded news, “Outside activities are canceled due to rain (or the dreaded ozone alert!)”. That’s no obstacle for the Scholars in Sportsplex! We will learn to adapt some favorite games to be played indoors. No more rainy days ruining the fun!
Spotlight Studios
Shine on stage and star on screen! Spotlight Studios is your chance to create your very own music video from start to finish. Collaborate with your group to discover what makes a song a “hit,” write your own catchy chorus, plan vibrant scenes, and design costumes that help tell the story conveyed by your lyrics. We’ll learn basic choreography, filming techniques, and simple editing tricks to provide the visual storytelling your song needs to climb the charts.
Spy School: Secret Agent Training
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us in Spy School! Learn the skills of a secret agent as you crack codes, go undercover, and complete top-secret missions. We’ll create and use spy gear to gather the intel needed to navigate through the spy obstacle course, our most critical mission yet. This is all we can share about the course; everything else is classified!
Stack the Deck
Get ready for the thrill of “the rip!” Scholars will dive into the exciting world of trading cards—from sports and games to pop culture collectibles. Discover how rarity, condition, probability, and market demand determine a card’s value. Through hands-on trading challenges and collector simulations, you’ll use critical thinking, strategy, and decision-making to build the ultimate collection. It’s your chance to play the market and see if you can come out on top!
Star Wars Zoology
May the force be with you as you study the behaviors, habitats, and anatomies of creatures from ‘a galaxy far, far away.’ From the lush forest moon of Endor to the sands of Tatooine, we will examine and classify Ewoks, Wookies, Jawas, and so much more! Make sure to grab your data log and prepare for a voyage comparable to Darwin’s expedition to the Galapagos Islands!
Strike a Pose
Ready to try out some cool yoga poses like warrior, downward facing dog or eagle? Come join us to learn these and many more fun and healthy yoga techniques that will help you relax as well as build up your physical strength! We will learn about the history of yoga, create our own routines set to music and test our yoga knowledge with some exciting games and challenges.
Survivor
Put your survival skills to the test and head out into the wild! We’ll study animal adaptations to figure out how they manage to survive in some of the harshest environments and see what works for us. Use what you learn to build a shelter that can withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store. Work with your team to employ survival skills and techniques that allow you to outlast the elements.
Team Building
Get ready to build a new professional sports team from the ground up! You’ll have to make high level decisions around locations, branding and marketing, and fan engagement to ensure your team is a success. Through strategic planning, creative branding, and smart financial management, you’ll learn what it truly takes to build, lead, and protect a championship franchise.
The Great Escape
Time is running out! If you want to escape Bowser’s dungeon and rescue Princess Peach, you must solve riddles, find clues and power-ups and work as a team in this escape-room themed course. Work together to solve daily challenges that not only involve academic knowledge, but also logic and reasoning. Can you find Princess Peach before the end of DECATS? Mushroom Kingdom is counting on you!
The Magic of Science
Manuever through the myths and misconceptions about how the world works through an exploration of physics and chemistry! Come experiment in hands-on labs, ranging from rocketry to circuits to the Laws of Motion. You won’t believe your eyes when the magic of science is at work!
The Sky’s the Limit
From the Pyramids of Giza to the Empire State Building, architectural design has allowed us to create long-lasting structures that have changed the landscape of our world. Come explore the wonders of architecture by drafting blueprints, designing skyscrapers and collaborating in the city planning process to create a model city defining the future of architecture. Use the tools of a professional architect, cardboard, cutting tools, grommets, and wooden dowels, and Play-Doh to bring your architectural designs to life.
Three, Two, One Acts
What do you get when you add quick-thinking, performing arts, and creativity? Three, Two, One Acts! Scholars will work together to select, create, rehearse, and perform a series of super-short, super-fun One-Act plays, which we will perform for our fabulous DECATS audience — in an order to be determined by them!
Uke Can Jam
String, strum, jam! Come create unique harmonies with the ukulele—a guitar-like instrument with a rich, powerful sound. From basic chords to bold performances, you’ll learn to play with confidence and style. All experience levels are welcome!
Ultimate Disc Course
Challenge your mental and physical strength out on the disc course! Join in on one of the world’s fastest growing sports – Disc Golf! Learn how to throw a disc as far and as accurate as you can while playing rounds of disc golf on the Strake Jesuit campus. Compete in tournaments and putting competitions with your fellow Scholars, and learn the science of the sport. Come spend some time this summer in the Ultimate Disc Course!
Video Games: History in the Making
When Atari released the very first video game, Pong, in 1972, no one could have predicted that video games would evolve into a billion-dollar industry. Let’s take a look at how it all happened as we walk through the history of video games. We’ll start by playing video games of the past and taking a look at what captivated the masses. Finally, we’ll get our creative juices flowing as we design mock games of the future.
Watercolor World
Art and science come together to create brilliant works of art! There’s much more to watercolor than meets the eye. Learn several tips and techniques unique to this medium, including how to paint secret images that won’t be revealed until you’re ready. Experiment with intensity and wash to create a frame-worthy masterpiece!
What’s Your Sign?
A new way to “talk” is at your fingertips as you explore the world of Americn Sign Language! ASL uses fingerspelling, gestures and facial expressions to communicate ideas. You’ll learn key vocabulary and ASL sentence structure, leaving with the confidence to hold a conversation about family, daily activities, and more!
Whodunnit?
Venture into the world of mock trial as we transform our course room into a courtroom. From the witnesses to the attorneys, everyone will play an important role, as we create the crime story, develop the characters and act out an all-new courtroom drama. The verdict hangs in the balance!