Welcome to Ren Camp! We're celebrating our 24th year!

We're so excited to experience another fun, active, and adventure-filled summer with your campers!

Ren Camp is open to rising 1st-6th graders, and campers are grouped by the grade they will be entering in the fall:

• Discoverers - Rising 1st graders
• Explorers - Rising 2nd & 3rd graders
• Adventurers - Rising 4th graders
• Voyagers - Rising 5th & 6th graders

Ren Camp's mission is to foster a sense of belonging where teamwork and creativity thrive through engaging, hands-on experiences that empower campers to learn, connect, and grow.

Here, your campers can dive into exciting, hands-on STEAM adventures each day, exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math in fun and meaningful ways.

What's New This Year?

• Two field trips per week (except during our two Kitchistry weeks)
• We're now offering a Drama Camp with an end of the week performance
• Bigger and better end-of-week parties
• Kitchistry now expanded into two full weeks for even more time in the kitchen
• Some new field trips that we're never been on!
• Meet real scientists, artists, and creators through special guest visits and live demos

Please be sure to register your child for the correct group. Each group is limited to 20 campers so we can provide the best experience and tailor lessons to each age level. If a group is full, you may email browderkn@etsu.edu to ask about possible accommodations. Campers placed in the wrong group due to a full session will be subject to a $50 processing fee and may not be able to attend.

Health & Safety

• We are a peanut-free campus. Please do not send any peanut products. Some campers have severe allergies, and even nearby exposure can require medical attention.
• Please list all allergies and medical needs during registration.
• Include at least two emergency contact phone numbers and fill out the liability form.

What to Bring Each Day

• A packed lunch (no microwavable food stuffs - we do not have access to one)
• A water bottle (we stay active and spend time outdoors)
• A morning snack (we provide an afternoon snack)
• A rain jacket or umbrella (we walk across campus for activities)
• Sunscreen
• An extra set of clothes
• A towel for water days
• Clothes that can get messy (paint, dirt, and outdoor fun happen daily!)

Please do not send valuables. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Smart watches and cell phones are allowed but must stay put away during camp unless needed to contact guardians in which the camper can ask permission to do so.

If there's anything helpful for us to know about your child, please share it during registration so we can support them and set them up for success!

We will send out an updated camp handbook each Wednesday before each camp week begins, ensuring you have enough time to get acclimated to each week's festivities. If you have questions at any time, feel free to email browderkn@etsu.edu.

We can't wait to make this our best summer yet and create lasting memories with your campers!

Week 1 - Mythical Creatures Academy
June 1st - 5th
Step into a world of imagination at Mythical Creatures Academy! Campers will join academy houses and explore art, science, and creativity as they design magical creatures, craft crests and banners, brew potions, and build habitats for their beasts. Along the way, they'll discover how real-world habitats and ecosystems support life on Earth. Campers will leave with new friendships, confidence, and their own magical creations.

Field Trips:
Campers will enjoy two fun field trips during Magical Creatures Camp! Our first trip is on Wednesday and includes a visit to the Kingsport Theatre to see Descendants: The Musical, followed by a trip to Warriors' Playground. On Thursday, campers will head to the pool to swim and beat the heat.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 2 - Robo World
June 8th - 12th
Welcome to Robo World, where campers imagine a future shaped by robots and become the engineers who design it. Throughout the week, campers will explore robotics and engineering through hands-on activities like programming robots, experimenting with simple machines, and tackling fun design challenges. Along the way, they'll discover real-world uses of robotics while building problem-solving skills and learning to work together as a team.

Field Trips:
Campers will enjoy two fun field trips during Robo World! On Wednesday, we'll visit the Johnson City Railroad Experience, where campers can explore hands-on exhibits and discover the engineering and technology behind trains. On Thursday, campers will head to the pool for a refreshing day of swimming and beating the heat.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 3 - Kitchistry & Lights, Camera, Action
June 15th - 19th

*Kitchistry for Discoverers & Explorers
**Lights, Camera, Action Drama Camp for Adventurers & Voyagers

This week offers two exciting, age-based experiences designed to spark creativity and hands-on learning.

Our younger campers-the Discoverers and Explorers-will take part in Kitchistry, blending science and cooking to create fun and delicious projects while exploring the chemistry behind their favorite treats.

Meanwhile, our older campers-the Adventurers and Voyagers-will step into the spotlight in the Lights, Camera, Action Drama Camp, a theatre-focused experience where they'll build confidence through acting, storytelling, improvisation, and prop creation as they work together to prepare an end-of-week performance. Parents are invited to attend the final showcase.

*During Kitchistry Week, the Discoverers and Explorers won't have any field trips so that they can spend as much time as possible in the kitchen.
**The older groups, Adventurers and Voyagers, will enjoy a pool field trip on Wednesday.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 4 - Once Upon a Fairytale & Kitchistry
June 22nd - 26th

*Once Upon a Fairytale for Discovers and Explorers
**Kitchistry for Adventurers and Voyagers

This week features two unique experiences based on age group.

Our older campers-the Adventurers and Voyagers-will take part in Kitchistry, blending science and cooking to create creative culinary projects. Their week will culminate in a Chopped-style challenge, where campers put their skills to the test.

Meanwhile, our younger campers-the Discoverers and Explorers-will step into Once Upon a Kingdom, a storybook-themed experience focused on imagination and drama. They'll create props, explore storytelling, and work together to put on an end-of-week play that parents are invited to attend.

**During Kitchistry Week, the Adventurers and Voyagers won't have any field trips so that they can spend as much time as possible in the kitchen.
*The younger groups, Discoverers and Explorers, will enjoy a pool field trip on Wednesday.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 5 - Treasure Planet
July 6th - 10th

Blast off on an interstellar adventure inspired by Treasure Planet! Campers will explore space as cosmic adventurers and pirates while learning about planets, stars, and solar systems. They'll practice problem-solving skills by reading and creating treasure maps and apply engineering principles as they design and build their own boats. The week concludes with an action-packed treasure hunt where campers put their new skills to the test!

Field Trips
Campers will take their adventure beyond camp with two exciting outings! On Wednesday, we'll visit Bays Mountain's planetarium to explore the stars and learn about planets and galaxies. On Thursday, we'll enjoy a fun swim day at the pool to cool off and recharge after our cosmic adventures.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 6 - Survivor
July 13th - 17th

Campers will learn essential survival skills while exploring sustainability and conservation through hands-on, game-style challenges. They'll gather "resources," build mini shelters, and tackle fun survival missions that spark creativity and critical thinking. Along the way, campers will work together to solve problems, strengthen teamwork, and build confidence in a fun, supportive camp setting

Field Trips:
Campers will enjoy two adventurous field trips during Survivor Week! On Wednesday, we'll explore the great outdoors at Roan Mountain, where campers can observe wildlife, and wade into the water for a creek walk . On Thursday, we'll cool off with a fun pool day, giving campers a chance to relax and cool off.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 7 - Rhythm Around the World
July 20th - 24th

Travel the globe through music and creativity! Campers will explore rhythms and sounds from different cultures while making their own instruments, including shoebox guitars and shakers. They'll create music-inspired art, design album covers, invent band names, and become "sound storytellers" as they bring their ideas to life. Campers will also learn about musical traditions from around the world through crafts and hands-on activities.

Field Trips:
On Thursday, campers will visit the International Storytelling Center before cooling off at the pool, and on Friday they'll share their creativity with a special talent show performance at a local nursing home.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Week 8 - Time Travelers
July 27th - 31st

Get ready to hop in the time machine and journey across the ages! Campers will travel back to prehistoric times to discover how early humans lived, then blast forward through history to explore amazing civilizations, inventions, and discoveries. Along the way, they'll learn about the wonders of the past and let their imaginations soar as they fly into the future, inventing new creations and imagining what life could be like. The week wraps up with a futuristic dress-up celebration, where campers showcase all they've learned and the incredible adventures they've had through time.

Field Trips:
Campers will enjoy two exciting field trips during Time Travelers Week! On Wednesday, we'll travel back in time with a visit to Backyard Terrors Dinosaur Park and Hands on Museum, where campers can explore life-sized prehistoric creatures. On Thursday, we'll head to the pool for a refreshing swim and some cool-down fun together.

Field trips are weather dependent and subject to change, as some locations do not permit official booking until later in the year.

Renaissance Camps drop off will be stated in the Parent's Handbook, will send map and handbook the Wednesday before each camp week. Cost is per week under workshops. Please see Workshop tab for cost. CHOOSE ONLY ONE DISCOUNT - YOU CANNOT TAKE BOTH. If registering for multiple workshops or multiple children, please select additional charges at fees and apply the discount rate of $10.00 off per camp for multiple registrations. If ETSU employee or student, $15.00 off per camp, please use ETSU email address. There will be a $10.00 per every ten (10) minutes late charged after 5:00 p.m. Hello Everyone, How exciting that all of you have responded to the release of the camp registration site! Please check your registrations and make sure all the registration dates will work with your schedules. After May 1, 2026 a $50.00 Administrative Fee will be charged per camp refund or per each child's withdrawal. Children MUST be going into the grades stated for their group. If your child is not registered for the correct group, please reach out, otherwise your child will not be allowed at camp that week. We are happy to get everyone registered, and also rely on these registrations to hire counselors, order supplies and to know who is coming each week. Thank you so much for your consideration! Professional Development Team