“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” – William Arthur Ward

Following the successful completion of our first Summer Camp with families affiliated with Volkswagen Anhui, the second round of the IGS Summer Camp has now begun—this time welcoming children from CXMT and IGS staff families. With a new group of curious young minds, the focus has also shifted. This time, a simple but powerful question lies at the heart of our camp: “How can we explore scientific concepts in everyday objects and activities?”

Over the past two days, our young makers have done exactly that—engaging in hands-on experiences that blend science, movement, and creativity in playful and meaningful ways. From the very start, warm-up exercises and icebreakers helped the group settle in and begin forming a sense of community. The atmosphere was open, energetic, and full of curiosity.

Using everyday materials, the students began constructing obstacle courses during the Obstacle Architect activity—testing out angles, weight distribution, and teamwork as they moved, adjusted, and refined their designs. Just a few hours later, they were switching gears to dive into the chemistry of fruit: in a jam-making session, children discovered how natural ingredients, temperature, and time can transform berries into something entirely new.

Throughout the camp so far, movement and making go hand in hand. From building marble runs and maze games to kneading bread dough in the morning and enjoying the finished product together in the afternoon, the children are not just playing—they’re learning how to observe, test, and reflect. Slime-making and the creation of info sheets added a layer of documentation and self-expression, inviting the children to explain what they experienced in their own words and drawings.

All of this aligns closely with the week’s theme: discovering how science lives in the everyday—whether it’s the physics of a marble run, the biology of rising dough, or the tactile reactions in a bowl of slime. With laughter, questions, and sticky fingers, the second IGS Summer Camp was off to a lively and inspiring start!