STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths.

It is fantastic that kids now get to explore STEAM at school, but of course it is limited. They just don’t have time for everything!

At Designer Minds, we provide a whole week jam packed with fun STEAM activities. There may be an activity that your child has already done at school but these are few and far between.

Sure, technology and digital arts mean we'll be using screens, but we do it in a way that's all about learning and having a blast. We want to teach children how to use technology to create, not just consume.

We mix screen time with hands-on activities to keep things lively and balanced. Our mission? To make sure every camper sees the awesome potential of screens as a canvas for their imagination in the world of STEAM, all in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

Usually, 5 out of the 15 camp activities include screens. But rarely are children working only with screens. Most screen time includes robots also which children can build, programme and watch come to life!

Our STEAM camps include 3 or 4 coding activities during which children are introduced to the basics of computer coding. They will also be provided with robots which they can build and code and watch come to life.

All of our coding activities start with the basics and include more advanced challenges for children up to age 12 to progress to. If your child is an experienced coder, they can try out these advanced challenges.

However, coding is only a small part of our camp. If you wish for your child to take a deep dive into the intricacies of coding, this camp is not for you. This camp also includes science experiments, LEGO challenges, art projects and more.

If you wish for your child to get hands on with a variety of materials and activities and have a week packed with variety and fun, Designer Minds STEAM camp will give just that!

Book the Junior Group if your child is entering 1st up to 3rd Class as of this coming September.

Book the Senior Group if your child is entering 4th up to 6th Class as of this coming September.

Our clubs and camps welcome children from 6.5 years (entering 1st class) up to 12 years (6th class), creating a vibrant community of young learners.

We organize activities in such a way that kids of different ages share the same space but engage in tasks tailored to their age group. This means a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old might be exploring the same activity, but with adjustments to ensure it's just right for their developmental stage.

Our Leaders are experts at adapting these experiences, ensuring every child enjoys their time while being challenged appropriately.

It's a warm, welcoming environment where learning meets fun for every age!

We try to get kids creating with the tools that they are often most familiar with, and enjoy working with. Minecraft is a big hit, and we use it as a fun way to get creative juices flowing – in particular with our Minecraft Architecture and Minecraft Maths activities.

We definitely don't want to surprise or disappoint parents, so we always try to be upfront about what is done at our camps.

We’ve got 3 science activities in every camp and each camp includes some chemistry, biology and physics with projects such as food science, bacteria, rocket science, circuits, sensors, DNA, roller coaster physics, human anatomy, the microscopic world, polymer slime or the states of matter. *

The remainder of the camp is jam packed with fun challenges from technology, engineering, art and maths, many of which include even more science, but remember: Designer Minds is not just a Science Camp, we are a Science, Design & Technology Camp!

Please note that we have a number of STEAM camps with varying activities. Please check the STEAM camp in your area for a description of activities. Camps rotate so that you will get a new camp in your area next year.

20-hour camps cost €160. You can find all of the details including price, location and availability on our camps page.

Our camps are aimed at children going into 1st class next September (minimum age of 6.5 at the time of the camp) up to 6th class (age 12).

If you are 13 and/or going into 1st year, you are welcome to attend, but please be aware that the other attendees will be younger than you. If you don't mind this, then we'd love to have you!

You can see all of our locations and dates on our camps page.

Please use the discount coupon codes listed below to avail of discounts when you are booking 2 or more camp places for children from the same direct family in 1 transaction, e.g. Three siblings booked into one camp or one child booked into two camps.

To avail of the multiple camp family discounts, please copy the code given below into the "Coupon" field in the Checkout form.

• Please do not use the coupon codes if registering children from different families. Ideally, each family should have their own registration to ensure we collect the necessary contact details and consents.

• Your place(s) are only fully confirmed once proper payment is made.

• If registering more than 6 camp places for children from the same family, please contact us.

• Discounts CANNOT be applied after a registration has been made, so please ensure you use the appropriate code when checking out.

CODES:

2 camp places within a family get €10 discount: 2CampPlacesDiscount

3 camp places within a family get €30 discount: 3CampPlacesDiscount

4 camp places within a family get €60 discount: 4CampPlacesDiscount

5 camp places within a family get €75 discount: 5CampPlacesDiscount

6 camp places within a family get €90 discount: 6CampPlacesDiscount

7 camp places within a family get €105 discount: 7CampPlacesDiscount

8 camp places within a family get €120 discount: 8CampPlacesDiscount

To secure a place in a Summer camp, you can pay a deposit of €30 per child, if registering more than 2 weeks in advance of the Summer camp. The option to pay the deposit is on the checkout page, just before you enter your card details.

The balance will be taken 7 days before the start of your first camp.

Should the completion payment not be made 7 days in advance of the start of the camp, your deposit may be lost and your child's place will no longer be secured.

If you wish to pay your balance before this, just click the link in your confirmation email to process payment. Don't forget to check your spam or junk folder and add info@designerminds.ie to your safe list!

If you cancel 6 business days or more before the start of the camp, we are happy to refund your payment, minus a €15 cancellation fee per place.

We do not refund late cancellations.

Cancellations made less than 6 business days before the event start date and time are strictly non-refundable. A business day is defined as Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, but not including bank holidays. For example, if a camp starts on Tuesday 6th August, 2024, then last cancellations are accepted on Friday 26th July, 2024 at 5pm (Monday, 5th August, 2024 is a bank holiday).

If there are any amendments to your bookings details please reply to your confirmation email with the relevant information.

If you need to change the date of your camp, we can move the place to a different camp on a different date for free dependent on availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Transfers are only possible if requests are made 6 business days or more before the start of the event. You can check out other locations and dates online at https://designerminds.ie/camps

Sure, technology and digital arts mean we'll be using screens, but we do it in a way that's all about learning and having a blast. We want to teach children how to use technology to create, not just consume.

We mix screen time with hands-on activities to keep things lively and balanced. Our mission? To make sure every camper sees the awesome potential of screens as a canvas for their imagination in the world of STEAM, all in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

Usually, 5 out of the 15 camp activities include screens. But rarely are children working only with screens. Most screen time includes robots also which children can build, programme and watch come to life!

At Designer Minds, we aim to include all children. However, if your child requires an individual instructor/SNA, we do not provide this. Please call us to discuss any special needs your child may have.

The focus at a Designer Minds camp is having fun amongst like-minded friends!

There can be hoops and hollers of excitement when children successfully code their robot! There can be shrieks when the children's science experiments react! The children absolutely love pieces of kit that make noise, e.g. buzzers!

We're not trying to create a classroom environment, and friendly chatting is normal, except when the leaders are explaining the tasks (minority of the time).

Some children with sensitivity to noise wear ear defenders to our clubs and camps, and absolutely love the activities that they can partake in. If your child is sensitive to noise, please highlight it in the booking comments.

We have a maximum teacher/student ratio of 12:1

Our Camps are hands-on and sometimes messy. Children should attend with appropriate clothing.

There will be small breaks during the Camp Day. Please pack your child a lunch/snacks and plenty of fluids. Children will be asked to bring their rubbish home with them again in their lunch boxes.

All our Camps are strictly NUT FREE. Nuts, nut-based products and chewing gum are not permitted. If your child has any allergies, please let us know, just in case the allergen is being used as part of camp activities or experiments.

Where possible, we try to get the children outside for short periods of time each day, but this may not be possible depending on venue and weather. Please ensure your children have sunscreen on.

It's actually quite common for kids in slings and casts to attend our camps so there should not be an issue to attend. Each child is partnered up for the individual activities so they always have a helping hand, and of course our leaders will be keeping a watchful eye on them too!

All Designer Minds Workshop and Camp leaders are Garda vetted.