Getting kids to think globally and grow locally.
We use gardens as a learning tool and framework for making sense of the world.
BAM campers engage with nature in immersive learning environments, building a foundation of interwoven skills in order to tackle big problems at a hands-on scale. BAM is where whole-picture thinking, consciously unconventional problem-solving, civic engagement, and muddy hands collide.
And it’s free to take part or $25 a week for coaching!
Listen to our interview on SDPB!
Check out Week 1 Recap!
Welcome to BAM: A Virtual + Backyard Summer Camp
Launch into activities and challenges campers carry out individually or as part of a Coach-led team!
Daily virtual check-ins and discussions facilitated by engaged coaches.
Present a designed and deployable solution to weekly community challenge projects!
A healthy balance between “screen time” and campers’ “getting their hands dirty time.”
12 Weeks. Jump In or Out any time.
BAM Camp is a 12-week virtual summer camp made up of 1-week modules that can be taken one-by-one, continuously, or pick-as-you go.
Topics include water, food, waste, energy, transportation, shelter, and more.
Campers unlock achievements and earn badges as they progress!
Connect to a Garden. Grow Incredible Possibilities
Campers dig-in on big ideas and challenges. Their experience is all centered around the original laboratory, the first-ever app: a garden. By observing nature, campers have direct access to billions of years of research and development – that’s Civic Biodesign!
Don’t have a garden of your own? The BAM team will work to connect you with local resources in your community to help get you started. At the end of the day, all you need is seed, some dirt, a container, water, sunlight, and patience.
How do we use Civic Biodesign in BAM Virtual Camps?
Community Level
No good idea is ever able to bring change into the world if the idea’s stuck in a vacuum. The BAM Institute’s mission is all about getting great ideas out into the world in order to actually do them – and that means 1-to-1 civic engagement with the community.
Kids will engage with their peers and a network of community, municipal, & intellectual leaders in both the public and private sectors in order to devise and refine projects with potential for real-world impact. Yeah, really. Does your camper think they’ve got a way to make their community a better community for all? This is their chance to do it.
Local/Global Ecosystems
The natural world isn’t just the original classroom – it’s the ultimate one. While there’s plenty to be learned in textbooks and online, there’s no substitute for getting your boots a little dirty and your eyes right on the real deal.
BAM Campers get hands-on with nature. Because BAM Camp marries whole-picture concepts with campers’ interactions in and around their gardens on a micro-scale, they’re not just growing a fertile plot – they’re planting the seeds of a fundamentally new way of understanding their world.
S.T.E.A.M Interdisciplinary Education
Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics. You know, that S.T.E.A.M. thing. BAM Camp is where each of the core facets of a solid education collide in a big, big way.
The result? Understanding how systems across the globe and across their community are interconnected and interdependent allow a child to develop strong intuition to help them make sense of this ever changing world.
So, what the heck is Civic Biodesign?
Civic
This is how we organize ourselves – from our schools and roads, to our food and water supply, logistics, and everything in-between – in relation to our environment. It is the interconnective root system that brings communities together.
It is when we work together to improve the standards of life, not just for ourselves but for our communities. That’s civics.
Bio
This one’s straightforward: Life. Nature. It’s everywhere around us. Our natural world is teeming with as many questions to ask and lessons to learn as it is with the species and systems that comprise it.
By studying the natural world and using natural systems as frameworks for the way we conduct ourselves civically and industrially, we leverage powerful new ways to bring about change, while restoring ecosystems.
Design
Art’s not the only thing that can imitate life. Infrastructure does it, too. Architecture? You bet. Materials, products, systems? Oh, most definitely.
Acquiring a deeper understanding of the ways we humans make objects as well as concepts, and how to make them better, is vital. We see an emerging world that exceeds sustainability and achieves regenerative standards.
What does a week of BAM Camp look like?
Every week has a the same overall schedule, but topics change to help develop campers into “whole systems thinkers.” Basically, they can see how things like water, food supply, transportation, energy, shelter, and public health are all connected. We use a system inspired by Human Centered Design Thinking, a technique developed by world renowned design firm, IDEO. Kids will journey through three phases of design in the week: Inspiration, Ideation, Implementation.
Monday + Tuesday - INSPIRATION
You’ll observe the physical world around you—from the front yard to the mailman to the insects crawling to fungus growing under the deck to soil in the planters to the width of the street, and so one. To design for resilience, you must first observe...
You'll observe the people around you--their lives, hopes, desires, thoughts in order to understand people around you better.
You'll observe the many advancements in technology and social cleverness happening around the world as well as connect with more historical ways of life that built civilizations over thousands and thousands of years.
Wednesday - IDEATION
You’ll brainstorm with what you observed in Phase #1 and then create as many ideas as possible to identify opportunities for your designs, while testing them through the creation of prototypes.
You'll brainstorm all your gathered ideas and then some you will keep, others you will toss, some you will mix together.
You'll brainstorm incredibly silly ideas, too, which often lead to the ideas that change the world.
Thursday + Friday - IMPLEMENTATION
You’ll develop a way to bring your testing and refining of your prototypes from Phase #2 to life, maybe even to the market.
You'll develop paths to partnerships that will allow for the approval of your prototype
You'll develop a game plan through the form of a pitch or a business canvas-- anything that demonstrates the victory of the prototype.
What are the details?
Ages 8 - 14
Monday - Friday
June 1 - August 21
9 AM - 5 PM Central
One-Week Drop-in Camps
Free & Premium Experiences
Hands-on Challenges
Activities That Cultivate Positive Habits
A Network of Coaches and Subject Matter Experts Encouraging Learners To Experience the World
Who are the coaches?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
“My formal education is in theatre, with a degree from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film. Since graduation, my roles beyond when I am acting have included theatre director, artistic director, creative director, film director, marketing director, movement coach, fight choreographer (certified through the Society of American Fight Directors), dance choreographer, sound designer, set designer, light designer, videographer, playwright, screenwriter, youth instructor, open source technology researcher, STEAM educator, and community organizer.
This summer, I am a coach, that will combine all those skills and experiences to help our youngest community members to see the bigger picture while planting a seed.”
Charlotte Leiferman
I am originally from London, United Kingdom and received my BS in Archaeology from University College London in 2016. During my time at university, I explored my interest in social enterprise through UCL Innovation and Enterprise where I worked in an interdisciplinary team business modelling social enterprises designed to tackle childhood obesity and at Campus Party Europe partnering with Presenté! to develop a community based learning platform for schools in the Netherlands.
My hope this summer as a coach is to help kids apply analytical thinking and research strategies to effectively tackle the most pressing problems affecting their communities and the globe!
Hannah Petersen
“Growing up, my parents reminded me ‘all of life is learning’—that principle has catapulted me into a world of unpredicted experiences and colossal opportunities. My formal education is in English Writing with a degree from the University of Northwestern-St.Paul. I have a certificate in TEFL, am a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell Team, and taught 2 years in South Korea at a language institute running and teaching English immersion programs (as well as drama, ballroom, and global education camps) for K-12 students, Korean English teachers, police officers, and local educators.
My heart’s desire this summer is to meet fellow learners eye-to-eye, coming alongside the next generation and nurturing inquiry and analytical thinking. Let’s journey together!”
Camps Run June 1st to August 21st
Is your child ready to design the future?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a real camp?
Absolutely, but in a decentralized way. We are utilizing all the same processes and activities as normal camp, but doing so at a distance.
Who will be at camp with my camper?
Other ambitious students of similar age and the one coach they are assigned to.
Does my camper have to travel somewhere?
No. How far your child goes from home is determined by you and your camper. If they only can be in the backyard, that's fine. Down the street? Okay. Over by the river? Awesome. The idea is that you create the barriers for discovery and we go from there.
Will my camper be indoctrinated with worldviews I don't believe in?
We don't know what you believe in. Our campers come from all sorts of worldviews. Your camper will be taught to observe and ask better questions. For instance, the first week of camp is about food. About where our food comes from. This is a human condition and experience. Kids like food. They are curious. They will be encouraged to grow plants, maybe food plants like popcorn. This can be empowering for a young person. Hopefully, this will lead to a discussion with you. And you may not have answers to those questions either. That's ok. It is a journey.
Will my camper have a final project or report every week? How are they being evaluated?
Ultimately, their “final projects” and “reports” are the hands-on work they are practicing throughout the entirety of the week. “Projects” are the prototypes they build. “Reports” are the interviews they either conduct or are a part of in feedback. Evaluation is assessed by their level of engagement and focus with their coach and with others and with the material. However, while there are no grades given, for every week your child(ren) completes, they receive a badge of completion, just like the Scouts.
What is included in the free version?
In the free version of BAM Camp, your camper(s) will receive a PDF packet with everything they need for one week of BAM camp. For example, if your camper is participating in Week 4 (Catch and Store Energy), the PDF packet will have their self-study "schedule," applicable information, and additional tips about Catch and Store Energy.
What is in the paid version? What am I paying for?
With the paid version of BAM Camp, (and including everything that comes with the free version), your camper(s) will be included on a specific BAM Team of other ambitious campers and given a BAM Coach who will engage your camper within the BAM Team and individually, as need be, with the BAM Camp material on a daily bases for the duration of the week.
Are there scholarships?
Scholarships are available upon request. We also have a referral program available.
How do I register my camper(s)?
You can register for individual weeks here: https://www.civicbiodesign.org/bam-camp-weeks-2020
How late can I register my camper(s)? What is the registration deadline?
Friday nights at midnight will be the cut off for the following week's camp. For example, Friday the 11th at midnight will be the cut off if you want your student to join the following Monday the 14th.
Can I change my camper's registration/week?
Yes. We ask that if you need to change your camper's registration or desired week(s), please let us know as soon as possible to ensure BAM Coaches and BAM Teams can be prepared for the week
Can I transfer the registration to another person?
No. We can either issue you a refund or the money can go into the scholarship fund.
What are the Principles of Permaculture and what do they have to do with this camp?
We use the Permaculture Principles as guide to understand an environment. They are…
1. Observe and interact- Slow down and observe and appreciate our surroundings and others. Slow down and interact with others, in real life, not on your phones. Observe nature. Observe people.
2. Catch and store energy- Take time to relax to restore balance and energy. Do things that bring you and other's joy. Do things that energize you. This could also mean letting in the sunlight to warm your room.
3. Obtain a yield- Plant a garden. Harvest the fruits of your labor. Invest in people. See them smile.
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback- Practice self-regulation and self-control. It allows you to be accountable and it empowers you. Accept feedback as it might help you grow.
5/6. Use and value renewable resources and services and produce no waste- Ride your bike instead of taking your car. Use a glass cup instead of a plastic one.
7. Design from patterns to details- Stand back and observe patterns in nature and in society and then filling in the details. Notice how one of your neighbors has a beautiful garden each year. Ask them how they do it.
8/10. Integrate rather than segregate and use and value diversity- People are all different. Plants and animals are all different. Enjoy the differences. Don't leave people out.
9. Use small and slow solutions- Don't try to solve every problem in one step. Take baby steps.
11. Use edges and value the marginal- Notice how the railroad track cut through your neighborhood. Use that extra land for a garden. Watch how weeds find and grow along the edges.
12. Creatively use and respond to change- Don't freak out when things change. Be creative. Discover a new way to do something.