Summer
Summer Program
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Welcome to Summer 2026!
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We're looking forward to a Great Summer!
Summer 2026 program catalog is now available! Click here to view our offerings.
Summer 2026 registration will open on Monday, February 2nd, at noon.
Open Window School Summer Program 2026 Dates:
Week 1 - July 6-10
Week 2 - July 13-17
Week 3 - July 20-24
Week 4 - July 27-31
Week 5 - August 3-7
Questions? Email summer@ows.org
Summer 2026 program catalog is now available! Click here to view our offerings.
Summer 2026 registration will open on Monday, February 2nd, at noon.
Open Window School Summer Program 2026 Dates:
Week 1 - July 6-10
Week 2 - July 13-17
Week 3 - July 20-24
Week 4 - July 27-31
Week 5 - August 3-7
Questions? Email summer@ows.org
About our Summer Program
The Open Window School Summer Program welcomes all kids entering kindergarten through 7th grades and offers Leader In Training (L.I.T) opportunities to 8th through 10th graders.
Our award-winning program, as recognized by SPARC for excellence in Auxiliary Programming, offers week-long classes that provide engaging experiences designed to encourage creative and critical thinking, experimentation, and discovery. While rooted in gifted education best practices, our programs welcome curious, creative learners from any school who love to explore, create, and grow.
Get ready for an action-packed summer at Open Window School! Campers entering Kindergarten through eighth grade can join us for 5 weeks of fun on our Bellevue campus in Adventure and Innovation Camps.
Adventure Camp (K-4)
Adventure Camp, for students in grades K through 4, blends classic summer fun with hands-on learning led by energetic counselors and specialist teachers in art, movement, nature, and STEM. Each week follows a theme that shapes the projects, games, and discoveries campers enjoy together. Campers will be in groups with other students entering the same grade.
This summer's themes guide a lively mix of activities, including:
- The Great Color Quest - Campers explore a new color and core value each day (Kindness, Inclusiveness, Respect, and Responsibility), culminating in a Color Parade and Neon Dance Party.
- Buidtopia - Young builders design shops and neighborhoods for ShenaLand City, complete with simple structures crafted from recycled materials.
- Wild and Wacky Games - Campers race through water relays and silly obstacle challenges that spark teamwork and laughter.
- The (wh)Y Files - Groups investigate favorite myths with hands-on science, such as bubbling "potions" made from safe kitchen chemistry.
- OWSchella - Campers create performances and artwork that help transform the campus into a joyful end-of-summer festival.
Innovation Camp (K-7)
Adventure Camp (K-4)
Adventure Camp, for students in grades K through 4, blends classic summer fun with hands-on learning led by energetic counselors and specialist teachers in art, movement, nature, and STEM. Each week follows a theme that shapes the projects, games, and discoveries campers enjoy together. Campers will be in groups with other students entering the same grade.
This summer's themes guide a lively mix of activities, including:
- The Great Color Quest - Campers explore a new color and core value each day (Kindness, Inclusiveness, Respect, and Responsibility), culminating in a Color Parade and Neon Dance Party.
- Buidtopia - Young builders design shops and neighborhoods for ShenaLand City, complete with simple structures crafted from recycled materials.
- Wild and Wacky Games - Campers race through water relays and silly obstacle challenges that spark teamwork and laughter.
- The (wh)Y Files - Groups investigate favorite myths with hands-on science, such as bubbling "potions" made from safe kitchen chemistry.
- OWSchella - Campers create performances and artwork that help transform the campus into a joyful end-of-summer festival.
Adventure Camp nurtures:
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Curiosity & Depth: Open-ended projects and real-world themes spark wonder and connection.
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Creativity & Problem-Solving: Campers design, build, experiment, and express ideas through diverse media.
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Reflection & Confidence: Guided discussions and celebrations of effort help children articulate their thinking and recognize growth.
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Social-Emotional Intelligence: Rooted in our Bobcat Virtues - Kindness, Inclusion, Respect, and Responsibility - campers build empathy, teamwork, and joyful leadership.
At Adventure Camp, children experience what it means to be seen, challenged, and inspired - the same spirit that defines an Open Window education.
Innovation Camp (K-7)
Innovation Camp is built on one of the most powerful principles of learning: giving students voice and choice in how they learn.
Each week, campers create their own schedule by selecting two classes that spark their curiosity and stretch their thinking in meaningful ways.
Each week, campers create their own schedule by selecting two classes that spark their curiosity and stretch their thinking in meaningful ways.
Led by passionate educators, artists, and specialists, each class blends interdisciplinary thinking, inquiry-based learning, and creative problem-solving. Whether coding robots, shooting hoops, crafting digital films, or exploring kindness through design, campers learn to think deeply, take creative risks, and reflect on their process.
Innovation Camp emphasizes:
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Student-Driven Exploration: Campers choose classes aligned with their interests, developing ownership and motivation.
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Depth over Breadth: Projects focus on creativity, iteration, and problem-solving - the foundations of lifelong learning.
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Collaboration & Communication: Students share ideas, test solutions, and learn from diverse perspectives.
Robotics, Coding, Parkour, Martial Arts, Drama, Chess, Debate, Arts, Minecraft, Languages, Music, Basketball, and more!
At Innovation Camp, learning feels like discovery - dynamic, challenging, and full of joy. It’s not about doing more, but about thinking deeper and finding excitement in the journey.
Every session is designed with gifted learners in mind, so each class balances thoughtful instruction with plenty of room for experimentation and play. Students stay engaged, energized, and excited to learn in a setting that celebrates innovation at every turn.
Adventure Explorers (5-7)
Adventure Explorers, for students in grades 5 through 7, takes adventure to the next level with 3-4 field trips each week, including hikes, local excursions, and team challenges that inspire independence and friendship. Each session gives campers the chance to explore new places, try new skills, and enjoy the freedom of being out in the world together.
Activities can include:
- Local hikes that build confidence on the trail.
- Tidepool visits where campers discover the shoreline up close
- Rock climbing sessions that encourage focus and teamwork
- Kayaking adventures on calm local waters
- Scavenger hunts that blend strategy, movement, and problem solving
- Arcade outings for a burst of playful energy
- A summer highlight trip to a Seattle Storm game
Every week offers a balance of challenge, creativity, and connection. Adventure Explorers gives older campers a lively space to grow their independence while having fun with friends.
Adventure Explorers, for students in grades 5 through 7, takes adventure to the next level with 3-4 field trips each week, including hikes, local excursions, and team challenges that inspire independence and friendship. Each session gives campers the chance to explore new places, try new skills, and enjoy the freedom of being out in the world together.
Activities can include:
- Local hikes that build confidence on the trail.
- Tidepool visits where campers discover the shoreline up close
- Rock climbing sessions that encourage focus and teamwork
- Kayaking adventures on calm local waters
- Scavenger hunts that blend strategy, movement, and problem solving
- Arcade outings for a burst of playful energy
- A summer highlight trip to a Seattle Storm game
Every week offers a balance of challenge, creativity, and connection. Adventure Explorers gives older campers a lively space to grow their independence while having fun with friends.
In Open Window Schools Summer Programs, campers embark on journeys that challenge them to explore, create, and grow. Whether they're adventuring through themed weeks or tailoring their own learning experience, campers develop essential life skills like grit, self-control, social intelligence, and optimism. Our camps provide a nurturing environment where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and lasting friendships are formed. Campers leave each program with new skills, a deeper understanding of themselves, and a readiness to take on the world!
Options:
- Kindergarten through 4th Grade students
- Adventure Camp - Full day option based around a fun and exciting theme for the week. Students will visit specialist teachers in Art, Movement, Nature, and STEM throughout the week with programming based around the theme.
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- Innovation Camp - Choose 2 options to make a full-day program. These programs are led by our teachers and select vendors.
- 5th-7th Grade Campers
- Adventure Explorers - Off-Campus trips throughout the Seattle area.
- Innovation Half Day – One morning or afternoon camp
- Innovation Full Day – A morning and afternoon class per day
- Leader in Training (LIT) Program
- Full Day – Training week in Week 1 plus either Week 2+3 OR Week 4+5
- Breakfast S'mores (Before Care) and S'more Fun (After Care) available
Questions? Contact summer@ows.org
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Summer Fun!
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Join us!
Open Window School Summer Program runs 5 weeks of summer programs every year for students entering Kindergarten-7th grade, as well as a Leaders in Training program for students entering 8th-10th grades.
What are the benefits of these programs and why should you choose ours?
Campers in our program embark on journeys that challenge them to explore, create, and grow. Whether they're adventuring through themed weeks or tailoring their own learning experience, campers develop essential life skills like grit, self-control, social intelligence, and optimism. Our camps provide a nurturing environment where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and lasting friendships are formed. Campers leave each program with new skills, a deeper understanding of themselves, and a readiness to take on the world!
How are programs and themes chosen?
What are the benefits of these programs and why should you choose ours?
Campers in our program embark on journeys that challenge them to explore, create, and grow. Whether they're adventuring through themed weeks or tailoring their own learning experience, campers develop essential life skills like grit, self-control, social intelligence, and optimism. Our camps provide a nurturing environment where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and lasting friendships are formed. Campers leave each program with new skills, a deeper understanding of themselves, and a readiness to take on the world!
How are programs and themes chosen?
Six Pathways. Endless Possibilities.
Each Innovation Camp tackle at least one of the pathways below, and all Adventure Camp themes and programming follow these 6 pathways.
Each Innovation Camp tackle at least one of the pathways below, and all Adventure Camp themes and programming follow these 6 pathways.
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Arts & Design Thinking - Where imagination meets innovation. Students explore creative expression as a way to solve problems, explore emotions, and communicate ideas.
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Logic, Language & Strategy - The power of patterns, puzzles, and persuasion. Campers strengthen reasoning and communication through storytelling, debate, and game design.
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Technology & Engineering - Dream it. Build it. Test it. Innovation comes alive through invention, coding, and engineering design challenges.
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Digital Media & Animation - Stories in motion. Creativity in pixels. Campers merge art, storytelling, and technology to create digital works that inform, entertain, and inspire.
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STEAM & Social Impact - Innovation with purpose. Students connect science, art, and design to real-world issues, exploring how creativity can make a difference.
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Movement, Mind & Play - Learning through motion, mindfulness, and joy. Campers build focus, confidence, and collaboration through movement, improvisation, and play.
Each pathway reflects Open Window’s belief that students thrive when they can:
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Ask big questions and explore them deeply
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Pursue personal interests with autonomy and purpose
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Think critically and creatively in equal measure
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Reflect on growth as part of learning
Come join us this summer. It’s going to be a lot of fun!
Contact us:
List of 3 members.
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Chanel Sudds
Auxiliary Programs Manager, Summer Programs and Transportation -
Euan Oswald
Summer Program, Auxiliary Programs & Athletics Directorext. 122 -
Michelle Doiron
Auxiliary Program Manager, Enrichment Classes and Student Hubext. 123
Open Window School
Open Window School provides a challenging academic curriculum blended with nurturing support from teachers that prepares students for long-term success.
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