About this Event
Build. Code. Race. Create.
Scaffoldplaylab.org
This summer, kids don’t just learn engineering.
They live it!
At Scaffold Play Lab, children design, build, and race real go-karts while exploring robotics, coding, and hands-on architectural structures. Each day blends creative construction, problem solving, teamwork, and movement into meaningful play.
New to this summer, children also step into Shadow Puppet Drama, where light, shadow, and storytelling come together. Using handmade puppets and projection, campers create their own stories, explore narrative thinking, and bring their ideas to life on a glowing stage.
By the end of each week, children leave not only with new skills, but with confidence, creative ownership, and projects they built from imagination to reality.
Available Play Camps ~ Age ranges vary by camp — see details below
Go-Kart Play Camp
$720 per week | Age 6 to 11
Treehouse Architects Play Camp
$650 per week | Age 4 to 8
Coding / Robotics Play Camp
$690 per week | Age 6 to 11
Shadow Puppet Drama Play Camp
$650 per week | Age 4 to 6
Daily Schedule
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Monday through Friday
Extended Care
Early Arrival
8:00 to 9:00 AM | $10 per day
Extended Day
3:00 to 5:45 PM | $25 per day
Last-Minute Lunch
$8 per request
SAVE up to $240 across the summer for multi-week enrollment or when registering with friends
- Save $40 per week for signing up 2 weeks OR 2 friends sign up together for 1 week
- Save $80 per week for signing up 3 weeks OR 3 friends sign up together for 1 week
Midtown Palo Alto ~ Spots are limited each week
for more savings options
To register, you'll be directed to Brightwheel — our secure enrollment platform. Simply create a free account to complete your registration.
Each class will require a minimum number of enrollments, and for the 2026 sessions, we’ll strictly maintain capacity limits to uphold the planned ratio
Questions? Reach us at : [email protected]
Scaffold Play Lab
Summer Camp 2026
Midtown Palo Alto
Play Camp Details
Treehouse Architecture Play Camp ~ Age 4-8
Become a Forest Architect. Design, Build, and Bring a World to Life.
In this immersive studio, children step into the role of “forest architects,” designing and constructing their own multi-level treehouse environments. Inspired by nature, storytelling, and real engineering principles, they explore how spaces are imagined, structured, and connected. Through sketching, building, and refining, children transform abstract ideas into physical worlds they can walk through, test, and evolve.
What children do:
- Plan layouts with platforms, bridges, and pathways
- Build stable structures using wood and natural materials
- Explore balance, support, and connections
- Design landscapes and storytelling elements
- Add simple circuits like lights and sensors
- Bring own laptop or iPad
What they gain:
- Spatial design and engineering thinking
- Hands-on problem-solving skills
- Creativity through world-building
- Confidence from making ideas real
Code / Robotics Play Camp ~ Age 6-11
Bring ideas to life through code and machines.
In this hands-on studio, children step into the role of creators and problem-solvers, using coding and robotics to design systems that think, move, and respond. Using platforms like Mind+, they learn how software and hardware work together—translating logic into action. Through playful challenges and real-world scenarios, children build, test, and refine systems that react to inputs, solve problems, and complete missions.
What children do:
- Learn basic coding logic (sequencing, loops, commands) using Mind+
- Program robots to move and complete tasks
- Build simple circuits and interactive systems
- Test, debug, and improve their designs
- Work on small team challenges
What they gain:
- Computational and logical thinking
- Problem-solving and debugging skills
- Creativity through technology
- Confidence in making things work
Go-Kart Play Camp ~ Age 6-11
Design it. Build it. Race it.
In this dynamic workshop, children become engineers and makers, transforming raw materials into fully functional go-karts. They explore how motion, force, friction, and balance affect performance, learning through direct experimentation. Each build becomes a cycle of testing and improvement, where children experience how small design changes lead to real differences in speed, control, and stability.
What children do:
- Assemble chassis, wheels, and steering systems
- Explore speed, friction, and stability
- Test and refine their go-karts through iteration
- Solve real engineering challenges
- Participate in a final race experience
What they gain:
- Mechanical and engineering understanding
- Hands-on building skills
- Resilience through trial and improvement
- Confidence through real-world creation
Shadow Puppet Drama Play Camp ~ Age 4-6
Create stories with light, shadow, and imagination.
In this immersive studio, children enter a world where light becomes storytelling and shadows become characters. Combining visual art, movement, and performance, they explore how stories can be expressed without traditional stage tools. By shaping light, timing, and motion, children create their own theatrical worlds—developing narratives that are both imaginative and emotionally expressive.
What children do:
- Design and craft shadow puppets
- Explore light, shape, and movement
- Create characters and original stories
- Collaborate on scenes and performances
- Perform in a final shadow theater showcase
What they gain:
- Creativity and storytelling skills
- Emotional expression and confidence
- Collaboration and communication
- Artistic exploration through a unique medium
for more saving options
To register, you'll be directed to Brightwheel — our secure enrollment platform. Simply create a free account to complete your registration.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
2799 Middlefield Rd, 2799 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, United States
USD 695.44 to USD 770.13
