Summer Enrichment Experiences
IU13 offers challenges, learning, and fun through its summer enrichment experiences for students. Each opportunity requires teamwork, flexibility, and social interaction on the part of the participant.
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Check out this video of clips from past years to see how students are challenged and have fun at IU13 Summer Enrichment Experiences!
Write, Draw, Explore! Nature Journaling Camp
Who can attend? Students entering Grades 4 through 7 in Fall 2026
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuition: $55.00/student
Location: Lancaster County Central Park, Environmental Center,
One Nature’s Way, Lancaster, PA
Registration Deadline: June 4, 2026
Camper Limit: 20
Step outside, slow down, and discover how nature can inspire creativity. This one-day Nature Journaling Camp invites students in grades 4–7 to spend the day at Lancaster County Park exploring the outdoors while learning how to observe, reflect, and record the world around them. Led by Karen Waltemyer, students will learn how careful observation helps us better understand our environment. Campers will explore ways to deepen their journaling experience—no matter the subject—by combining creative writing and artistic expression.
No prior experience or special “talent” is needed. Nature itself becomes the guide, encouraging creativity and curiosity in every student. Participants will see that there is no single right way to journal—nature can be captured in countless ways, all based on personal perspective.
Throughout the day, students will:
- Practice observation and reflection skills
- Use writing and art to record their experiences
- Journal while hiking and spending time in the stream
- Learn techniques they can continue using long after camp ends
Come ready to explore, create, and see nature in a whole new way!
Learn more here:
Chess Exploration: Choices, Pawn-chains, and Checkmates
Who can attend: Students entering Grades 3 through 6 in Fall 2026
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuition: $55.00/student
Location: The Conference and Training Center at IU13,
Burle Business Park, 1020 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA
Registration Deadline: June 9, 2026
Camper Limit: 20
Looking for a fun and meaningful way to spend part of your summer break? Ready to sharpen your mind and learn skills you can use long after summer ends? Whether you’ve competed in the Lancaster-Lebanon Elementary Chess Tournament, want to strengthen your play for next year, or are simply curious about improving your strategy, this chess experience is for you!
Join us at IU13 for an engaging summer chess program led by Mr. Jason Shugar, a K–5 STEM specialist and elementary chess coach from the Eastern Lancaster County School District. Through guided instruction and gameplay, students will strengthen confidence, think critically, explore new strategies, and learn how to view the chessboard in fresh ways.
Players of all experience levels are welcome—from beginners to seasoned competitors. Participants will enjoy learning alongside fellow chess enthusiasts while developing skills that elevate their game. Expect a day full of strategic thinking, focus, friendly competition, and fun.
Space is limited – register early to secure your spot!
Learn more here:
You’re Keeping Me in Suspense!
Who can attend: Students entering Grades 6 through 8 in Fall 2026
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuition: $55.00/student
Location: The Conference and Training Center at IU13, Burle Business Park
1020 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
Camper Limit: 20
You know those stories that keep you up late at night, turning pages because you just HAVE to know what happens next? Well, if you’ve ever wondered how authors go about creating that kind of magic, this workshop is for you! Whether you like your stories scary, spooky, thrilling, or mysterious, author Lindsay Bandy will share tips and strategies that will help you to keep your readers in suspense. There will be plenty of variety throughout the day, including sample stories and short videos, interactive brainstorming and plotting activities, and time to relax and write with other students who love writing just as much as you do. You’ll leave with a completed short story just right for sharing around a campfire or turning pages late into the night!
Learn more here:
Nature’s Neighbors: Discover Wildlife & Their Amazing Adaptations!
Who can attend: Students entering Grades 3 through 5 in Fall 2026
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Tuition: $55.00/student
Location: The Conference and Training Center at IU13,
Burle Business Park, 1020 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA
Registration Deadline: July 15, 2026
Camper Limit: 20
Pennsylvania’s mountains, valleys, and rivers are full of amazing wildlife, and students are invited to explore it up close! In this fun, interactive program led by Raven Ridge Wildlife Center’s Education Coordinator, Molly Snavely, students will discover the incredible animals native to Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region and learn how their unique adaptations help them survive and thrive in the wild.
Students will spend time observing and interacting with several live animals as they meet Raven Ridge’s animal ambassadors, which include reptiles, mammals, and birds of prey. Through hands-on activities, close observation, and engaging discussions, students will build a deeper understanding of how these animals live and why they matter.
Students will leave feeling inspired, connected to local wildlife, and empowered with simple ways they can help protect the animals and habitats right in their own backyard.
Learn more here:
Survival in the Wilderness: Challenge Accepted!
Who can attend: Students entering Grades 4 through 8 in Fall 2026
Date: Tuesday-Thursday, August 4-6, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuition: $175.00/student
Location: Lancaster County Central Park, Environmental Center
Pavillion #11, 733 Williamson Road, Lancaster, PA
Registration Deadline: July 28, 2026
Camper Limit: 20
This popular three-day camp is a returning favorite—giving campers the chance to unplug, get moving, and spend meaningful time outdoors. Head into the woods at Lancaster County Park and discover what it takes to survive in the wild!
Led by Naturalist Karen Waltemyer alongside IU13 staff, campers will meet at Lancaster County Park, Pavilion #11 and dive into hands-on survival learning. Together, we’ll explore the four essentials of survival: food, water, shelter, and fire.
Working in teams, campers will:
- Construct a survival shelter
- Safely build and manage a fire
- Locate and collect water sources
- Identify potential food sources and learn how to determine if they would be safe in a real survival scenario
Beyond outdoor skills, campers will strengthen teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration as they tackle challenges together. Come prepared to be active, make new friends, and work together to overcome challenges in the great outdoors. Adventure awaits!
Learn more here:
Enrichment Experience Refund/Cancellation Policies
- IU13 reserves the right to cancel any enrichment experience if there is inadequate enrollment. A full refund will be given.
In the event you cancel your child’s registration, refunds are defined below:
- Notice of cancellation must be submitted to IU13 in writing.
- A full refund will be given if cancellation is received before the registration deadline.
- A refund for cancellation after the registration deadline has passed will be at the discretion of IU13.
- Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your refund.
