The accessories make the outfit, and in this elective, you’ll make the accessories. From a simple scarf to a bedazzled popsocket, you’ll explore techniques for fabrication and adornment that will be runway-ready by the end of the elective.

Bullseye! This is your opportunity to learn all there is to know about the traditional sport of archery. Learn why an arrow flies the way it does, how a competition is scored, and what skills are needed to master the bow.

Babysitting is far more than diapers and bottles. Come learn how to be the best babysitter on the block! We will explore first aid skills, creative games and projects kids will love, what to do in an emergency, and how you can start your very own babysitting business back home.

Step right up and try your luck! We’ve got just five days to turn this pile of cardboard into a working carnival. It’s up to you to design, build and run a collection of midway and arcade games for the EXPLO community to enjoy. Tickets or prizes? Skill or luck? From skeeball and whack-a-mole to games of your own invention, with Design Thinking and your imagination the cardboard carnival will come to life!

You may have the cards, but can you beat the odds? Lady luck plays a part in these games of chance, but there really are some mathematical patterns to the whims of casino games. In this elective you’ll learn about the probability of games like blackjack and poker, and discover why the house always wins, as you understand the clever math behind these fun games.

Chemistry is everywhere! It’s in the foods we eat and the drinks we drink. During this elective, you will investigate the wonderful world of chemistry. Through hands-on experiments and demonstrations, you will learn about everyday chemical reactions that take place all around us.

Queen to rook one. Knight to king four. Checkmate! Chess is a classic game full of strategy, tension, and excitement. Whether you’re the next Bobby Fischer or you don’t know your castle from your pawn, this elective will introduce you to the logic, strategy, and patience it takes to be the next chess master.

From a fantasy realm deep in your imagination to rhyming couplets and everything in-between, this is your chance to put pen to paper and explore creative writing. You’ll warm up with interactive projects and games before spending some quality time crafting short stories and poetry. By the end of our time together, you’ll be ready to share your work with your fellow authors in a Writer’s Workshop.

Mmmm, cupcakes! Have you ever wondered who decorates those delicious cupcakes you see in bakeries and at weddings? Believe it or not, people go to school to learn how to design those creative confections. This elective will give you the opportunity to design and decorate cupcakes – and when you’ve finished, you can have your cupcake and eat it too!

Eyes, hearts, and worms. Do you want to become a surgeon someday? How about a research scientist? Come and learn about dissection! Throughout the elective we will dissect several specimens, learning about proper technique as well as analysis of the specimen’s internal structure.

Get ready to gain the knowledge and skills needed to help others. In this elective, you’ll discover what to do when first aid is needed. Find out how to respond to sprains, wounds, cuts, burns, and choking. You will learn important skills that might save someone’s life!

Spanning a gap is no small feat – engineers can spend years designing the best size, shape and structure of a bridge before construction even begins. In this elective, you’ll explore the science behind bridges as you construct and test your own models using various materials.

En garde! Are you ready for fancy footwork and foils? You will learn the basic stance, footwork, and attack techniques of the sport. Fencing is one of only five events that have been in every Olympic Summer Games, and here’s your chance to be a part of that history!

Ever wonder about how people are different from you? Join a group of curious students to learn and teach each other about identities and the diverse communities that we live in. We will use conversations and activities to think about the things that make us individuals, and to find the common ground that makes us a community.

From beachy notes to breezy ballads, the ukulele is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. Now you can, too, in this musical elective. Let your fingers take a walk down (and up) the fretboard as you learn to play both single notes and chords, as well as the rhythms and strumming patterns used to produce different effects. Play on your own, join an ensemble with your classmates, and prepare to impress your friends when you’re back home.

Grab a paddle and get ready for adventure! In this elective you’ll learn to maneuver your kayak effectively, perform specific strokes, and glide from one end of Peacock Pond to the other. Practice your paddling with games and races, or simply tour the shore with a new friend.

Think. Design. Build. Make. Whether you’re interested in solving a problem or bringing your most imaginative ideas to life, we’ve got the elective for you! Come explore the EXPLO Makerspace where you can create to your heart’s content. You’ll have a chance to try things like basic hand tools, 3D printers, and more as you tinker about in Design Thinking. There’s a creative spirit in all of us — what will you make?

Space: the final frontier. Wouldn’t it be fun to blast a rocket into space? In this model rocketry elective, you will have the opportunity to design and build your own basic model rocket. You’ll learn what makes these rockets soar as high as they do and, on the final day, you’ll run your very own test launch.

It was a dark and stormy night… actually, it was just after breakfast, but that never stopped detectives on the trail of a murderer! Like a live-action game of Clue, you will find yourself in the midst of a mysterious murder. Use stealth to hunt for hidden evidence, gumption to interview suspects, and cunning to solve a devious crime before the elective is through!

Painting is a great way to express yourself! In this elective, you will have the opportunity to explore painting techniques using watercolors and acrylic paint. Through color mixing and creative brush strokes, you will turn everyday objects and landscapes into amazing works of art.

Ever wonder how to write in code? Interested in learning how to build a fire? Come practice your real world skills while having fun with friends. You might learn to fix a toilet, change a flat, use a compass, tell a joke, give a speech, make a budget, negotiate with your parents, take a good photo, sew on a button, do your own laundry … the to-do list goes on and on!

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and this is your opportunity to get in on all the fun! Each day, we will work on specific skills such as passing, shooting, and dribbling. Through drills, games, and controlled scrimmages, we’ll help you hone your skills and improve your technique.

It’s time to tell your best story. One. Frame. At. A. Time. Join us to explore basic stop-motion techniques. From storyboard to setting up the scene, you’ll write and produce your own short stop-motion film that brings your imagination to life.

Forget the XGames, it’s time for the EXPLOGames! In this elective, we will learn what it takes to be a competitive street luger. You will have the opportunity to learn specific techniques that will allow you to safely manage EXPLO’s luge course in record time.

Spend some time at the EXPLO Spa as we learn how to make bath products from all-natural, common household ingredients. Each day, we will make different products such as lotion, lip balm, bath fizzies, soap, and more! Pick your favorite scents and colors, design your own packaging, and put it all together in a complete bath collection made by you!

What is summer without time in the pool? At EXPLO Boston, we offer beginning through intermediate swim lessons. From strokes and kicking to relays and water aerobics, you’ll have fun and improve your swimming at the same time.

Have you ever wondered how tennis stars like Roger Federer and Serena Williams make those shots? Well, here is your opportunity to learn. In this elective, we will learn all there is to know about tennis — everything from keeping score to executing the perfect serve.

Theater is an exercise in make-believe, but it takes some practice to make that illusion seem real! In this elective you’ll learn secret techniques, such as how to transform into an elderly person, how to create convincing wounds, and how to produce realistic sound effects onstage. All you need is your imagination and some tricks of the trade!

Child’s pose. Half pigeon. Sun salutations. Come explore the techniques of relaxation and meditation while increasing your physical and mental strength. Learn how to deal with stress and how to become a healthier person. Come see what yoga is all about!