STEM – an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – is a very popular educational system that emphasizes innovation, problem solving, and critical thinking for kids. And if you have a youngster who wishes to immerse himself in scientific studies this upcoming summer break, while having a great time and making new friends in the process, then Club SciKidz, a new STEM-based summer camp with three new locations opening on Long Island, is just what the professor ordered.
Club SciKidz, a national series of STEM, tech and science day camps, will be coming to central Long Island for the first time ever this summer with locations opening in Plainview, Hicksville, and Oakdale.
Club SciKidz is primarily a summer camp catering to children ages 4 through 13 that operates through all of July through August, and each week offers attendees four different STEM-related themes to choose from, according to Stewart Gelman, co-owner/franchisee of the three LI-based Club SciKidz locations, along with his daughter, Nicole.
“Depending on the day in the class, it’s a full day and a full week with themes such as robotics, engineering, healthcare, and even veterinary classes. It gives kids a taste for a lot of different fields so they can discover where their interests lie,” Stewart said. “And classes aren’t just educational, we make them fun as well. We play some games and sing some songs, and while many of the classes are indoors due to their scientific nature, we make sure we take a few breaks throughout the day outside so the kids can enjoy the summer weather.”
Children will also participate in several real science projects that they, upon completion, are able to take home with them, giving them a fun and memorable souvenir of their time at the camp.
Stewart and his daughter are hitting the ground running with their three Club SciKidz camps, as this is the first year they will be opening all of them; while mainly a summer camp, he noted that there are plans in the works to eventually offer classes during the rest of the year at public schools as well, including “in-school field trips” and after-school programs where they will run science demonstrations and workshops.
But for the time being, Stewart said that he and his daughter are jumping in feet first this summer with the grand opening of all three Long Island locations, which is certainly an immense undertaking.
“The franchise gave us a really good territory, which is Central Long Island,” he said in regards to why he and his daughter decided to open all three of their camps at once. “So, we really wanted to take advantage of that and start getting our name out there. So even if the camps only fill up a little bit this year, next year they will hopefully fill up even more once word gets out.”
Stewart’s background is not what you would expect out of someone running a STEM-based summer camp; for many years he’s worked diligently as a certified public accountant – which can be a very intense and stressful career, especially during tax season – and he was recently looking to start winding down his business.
And at the same time his daughter Nicole, a substitute teacher who is on the cusp of completing her studies to earn a Master’s Degree in education – with an emphasis on STEM – and the two looked for a business opportunity that they embark upon together. For Stewart, purchasing a Club SciKidz franchise represented something that would allow him to gradually transition from working as a CPA, and for Nicole, it was a pathway into a career in education; a summer camp would be especially convenient for her, given the fact that most teachers have the summer off.
“Nicole has a passion for STEM, and that’s what Club SciKidz is all about, so I suggested we try it out. We are actually the first franchise in New York state…no one has opened one here yet,” he said. “So, I thought the time was ripe and the opportunity was there, so we decided to take it.”
Instead of having their own dedicated space to hold their summer camps, Club SciKidz is leasing space at three different private schools this summer: in Oakdale, it’s B’nai Israel Temple; in Hicksville, it’s Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; and in Plainview, it’s the Plainview Jewish Community Center on Floral Drive.
And if the three camps he and his daughter are opening up this summer are successful, Stewart says the possibility of opening further locations in both Nassau and Suffolk counties is a distinct possibility.
Any STEM-based summer program is only as good as the instructors and staff running it, and Stewart declared that they are only recruiting the very best candidates to ensure that the children have a comprehensive – and fun – science adventure this July and August.
“We’re actually in the process of finding a principal to run the entire program this summer, and we’re making sure we get all the right people in the right positions. We’re also recruiting college students to act as counselors this summer as well,” he said. “But everyone there will be very knowledgeable and experienced…we’re aiming for the ‘science geeks,’ because they’ll be familiar with all of the concepts that we’ll be working with.”
After many years toiling away as a CPA, Stewart said that he’s very excited to pivot – with his daughter by his side – into a totally new career with Club SciKidz, and looks forward to growing the franchise, and the young minds of its attendees, for many years to come.
“I’m really excited about it because it’s a different feeling after having done the same thing for so long…you get a little burnt out,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it, but it’s also a challenge to build up another business because we’re starting from scratch, but I’m really glad to be working with my daughter and hopefully we can make a success out of this.”
To find out more about Club SciKidz, please call 631-650-1379 or visit their website at https://centrallongisland.clubscikidz.com. Club SciKidz will also have a booth and will be holding demonstrations at the upcoming All Kids Fair in Huntington on April 6.
