Summer Tinkering at Mark Day School

owned and operated by Mark Day School* in San Rafael

Tinkering School has been providing professional training to Mark Day School staff on our Tinkering School pedagogy for many years. We are proud to list Summer Tinkering at Mark Day School here as an option for families looking for a tinkering summer camp program in Marin.

Similar to the Tinkering School day camp, Summer Tinkering at Mark Day School is a five day immersive building experience where young Tinkerers are given tools, training, and time to design and build incredible large scale creations out of wood! Guided by experienced Mark Day faculty, each week begins with a surprise theme that provides the structure and story for the week. Past themes have included Harry Potter, where students designed and built the Hogwarts Express steam train, and Pirates where students spent the week building a GIANT pirate ship and an island to hide their treasure on!

Check out our Day Camp Blog to see some epic tinkering over the years!

(Note: Clicking above will take you to Mark Day’s registration portal which is separate from Tinkering School’s)

Have questions about Mark Day’s camp and/or registration? Contact Mark Day’s team at:

summertinkering@markdayschool.org

*Legal Disclaimer:
Tinkering School makes no claims or guarantees, express or implied, about the experience of campers at the Mark Day Tinkering Camp. Tinkering School provides professional development training for Mark Day staff, and includes the camp in its website and marketing materials, but the Mark Day camp is operated entirely by Mark Day School, who assumes all legal responsibility. No legal oversight is provided by Tinkering School or the Institute for Applied Tinkering.

Session Details

Ages 10-13 - Session 1 (6/24-6/28)

Ages 7-11 - Session 2 (7/1-7/5, including July 4th), Session 3 (7/8-7/12), Session 4 (7/15-7/19)

Location: 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903

Time: sessions run Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm

(Drop off is 8:45-9:00am. Pick up is 3:00-3:15pm)

After care will be available until 5:00pm for an extra fee. A lunch option will be available as well.

Overview of a Week at Summer Tinkering at Mark Day School

A week at Summer Tinkering at Mark Day School is Monday through Friday. Monday morning is tool training and practice, and the project theme isn't revealed until after lunch! We format each project to offer multiple entry points for the youngest to most advanced problem-solvers, to make sure Tinkerers stay curious and dedicated to the project as it unfolds throughout the week. Sessions are led by veteran Mark Day School Design & Tinkering teachers. This program prioritizes student agency, ensuring that even the youngest participants find their voice, as they engage in design and building activities that are tailored to their skills and curiosity.

On Friday, we finish up building a little early so that friends and families can come and experience the project (in whatever state of completion the Tinkerers have attained!) During this time, we all appreciate each other's hard work and creativity, and then as a group, we disassemble the project! Taking apart the projects helps us all to reflect on and appreciate our week of teamwork, problem solving, power tools, and fun!

Check out some fun past examples of summer day camps at Mark Day School and Tinkering School!