Summer 2026
Core Programs
Morning Programs
Our 5-week Core Programs provide students with inquiry-based instruction and hands-on learning in the classroom, laboratory, field, studio, and theatre.
Morning classes run from 8:00–11:45 am.
*Registering more than one child? Submit a separate registration for each student.*
Hawaiiʻi Nature Studies: Observers
Grades 1, 2
Through activities from CRDG’s Hawai‘i Nature Study program, Hawai‘i’s outdoor environment becomes the students’ classroom and laboratory. Students will explore the world of plants, insects, small animals, and Hawai‘i’s reef and shore. Students will observe various animal life cycles, identifying their parts and structures, learning how they grow and survive in different habitats, and discovering what makes each group of organisms unique. The learning experience is enriched through the integration of arts and crafts, projects, and games. Field trips will provide opportunities to explore tide pools, gardens, streams, and laboratories.
Full STEAM Ahead
Grades 1, 2
In this interactive class students will expand their interest in STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Students will design, plan, and execute fun and engaging hands-on projects such as learning about states of matter through our slime experiment, exploring real world solutions to natural disasters, building a solar oven to make delicious s’mores, and more!
Summer Games: Let’s Play Sports
Grades 1, 2, 3
Through active play and an emphasis on good sportsmanship, Let’s Play Sports creates a fun and supportive learning environment for young athletes. Participants explore the fundamentals of various sports, such as soccer, basketball, flag games, scooter games, and tennis (specific activities may vary). Students will engage in games, drills, and challenges designed to build coordination, enhance skills, boost confidence, and strengthen teamwork. Safety is a top priority, so appropriate attire is required (shorts, t-shirts, and athletic footwear). Water and Sunscreen are recommended.
Artist Studio: Creator Space
Grades 1, 2, 3, 4
Creator space is a mixed media studio art class where we will explore and learn about different art elements and techniques with an emphasis on using recycled materials. Each week, we will create original art pieces built around a theme or concept. At the end of their five weeks, our young artists will have a basic understanding of the different elements of design (line, shape, color, size/scale, texture, composition, and hierarchy) and how to apply them.
Hawaiiʻi Nature Studies: Explorers
Grades 3, 4, 5
Grab your field journal and magnifying glass; it’s time to become a nature explorer! Through activities from CRDG’s Hawai‘i Nature Study program, students will discover the amazing native, endemic, and introduced plants and animals that call Hawai‘i home, from the tiniest insects to the wonders of our tide pools and reefs. Each day brings a new adventure as we journey outdoors to investigate life cycles, behaviors, and adaptations of all the creatures in our unique island ecosystems. Students will develop scientific thinking skills through data collection, classification, and experimentation. We’ll make our own habitat dioramas, design posters of our favorite native species, and learn how Hawaiian culture teaches us to mālama ʻāina (care for the land). With exciting field trips to gardens, zoos, tide pools, and more, students will experience science in action and see the world around them like never before!
Students do not need to have taken previous courses to enroll.
*NEW* Let’s Dance: Beginning Choreography
Grades 4, 5, 6
Step into the world of dance and discover how to make your own moves! In this beginner-friendly class, students will explore the basics of dance, choreography, and improvisation through fun, creative movement activities. This course will help students learn spatial and bodily awareness, musicality, and strengthen their creativity. Each week includes energizing warm-ups, improv activities, and opportunities to design original dance routines—both solo and in groups. Students grow from dancers to choreographers as they design unique pieces that reflect their creativity. The class culminates in a special performance where dancers showcase their original creations for family and friends!
Grades 3, 4, 5
In this hands-on class, students will engage their creativity, enhance their engineering skills, and apply STEM concepts to real-world challenges. Divided into teams, students will tackle a series of exciting building projects that require critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Each week, teams will design and construct structures, vehicles, or machines based on specific challenges, such as building the strongest bridge, designing a balloon-powered car, protecting an egg from a high drop, launching a paper airplane, or creating a tower that can hold weight. After completing each project, teams will compete to see whose design performs the best in the challenge. This course is a fun, interactive way for students to strengthen their teamwork, communication, and scientific knowledge while applying their learning through hands-on experiences!
Culinary Kids: A Fun and Flavorful Cooking Adventure
Grades 4, 5, 6
Students will be taught the fundamentals of cooking, including techniques and safety practices in the kitchen and cooking environment. They will also learn the chemistry of cooking through activities that demonstrate what happens to mixtures when heat or cold is applied or when ingredients are combined to form reactions that lead to new flavors and textures. Through this culinary adventure, students will be introduced to the background behind some of the dishes we make and their cultural relevance. As we build our culinary repertoire, students will create a class cookbook that includes the different recipes made in class.
IMPORTANT: For this class, students must be within the listed grade levels to enroll (completed grade 3 and entering grade 4 through entering grade 6). Notify the office of any food sensitivities or dietary restrictions as sampling food will be a part of this class.
This class will have a maximum enrollment of 40 students with 2 teachers. Tuition for this class includes an additional fee to cover the food costs.
*NEW* Little Journalists: Multimedia Storytelling
Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Do you have a story to tell? Want to explore photography or filmmaking? In this class, students become young reporters, photographers, and filmmakers — learning how to share the stories that matter most in their world. Our young journalists will discover how to tell true, respectful, and powerful stories through images and sound. They’ll learn how to frame photos, write scripts and captions, interview others, capture video, and edit short stories—all while practicing journalistic values like honesty, empathy, and kuleana (responsibility). Over the course of this class, we will produce our own short photo story and video project to share at our final “Little Journalists Showcase.” No prior experience is needed — just curiosity, creativity, and a story to tell!
Hawaiiʻi Nature Studies: Researchers
Grades 6, 7, 8, 9
Through activities from CRDG’s Hawai‘i Nature Study program, Hawai‘i’s outdoor environment becomes the students’ classroom and laboratory. Students will explore the world of plants, insects, small animals, and Hawai‘i’s reef and shore. Field trips provide opportunities to explore tide pools, gardens, streams, and laboratories. The learning experience is enriched through exploration and hands-on research. Students will apply their learning by creating a personalized, informative activity book to share with family and friends and continue the learning. Join us this summer as we explore hard concepts through fun exploration, field research experiences, and creative arts.
Students do not need to have taken previous courses to enroll.
Minecraft®: Adventures in Creating and Coding
Grades 6, 7, 8, 9
Minecraft® is one of the most popular open-world video games, providing limitless opportunity to build, discover, and problem-solve. In this interactive course, students will participate in a virtual learning adventure within the Minecraft® environment. Working in collaborative groups, students will harness their creativity and problem solving skills to tackle a series of design and coding challenges such as hour of code challenges, group-world making, and build challenges that will allow them to express their creativity & practice their computer science skills through guided Minecraft Education lessons.
Announcements
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
It's that time of the year for festive lights, holiday cheer, and finalizing next year's Summer Programs schedule! We will be launching registration in early February 2026. To receive registration announcements, sign up below to join our mailing list or follow us on social media by clicking the icons above.
Wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday season.
**updated 12/17/2025**
~LAUNCHING FEBRUARY 2026~
