The Sonoma County Office of Education and partners hosted a four day summer camp from June 23-26 for students entering 6th through 9th grade, focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) held at the Lindley Center at the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). 

The Tinker Academy MINI is a collaborative effort between SCOE, SRJC, University of California Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Career Technical Education Foundation of Sonoma County, with funding generously provided by the Imagine Science Network. This year brought students from across Sonoma County.

The camp gives students immersive hands-on experience with cutting-edge STEM tools and activities, including coding, robotics, 3D printing, laser cutting, and design challenges. 

While technology is a major draw, instructors say the true magic of the academy lies in how rapidly it fosters student development, confidence, and community. For many participants, the camp is a transformative social experience just as much as an educational one. 

“One of the things that surprises me every year is just how quickly the kids come in, often not knowing anybody, and form friendships and connections,” said Cori Shea, 4-5th grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary. “And they’re so great at trying new things, making mistakes and helping each other right off the bat, which is something in the classroom I spend a lot of time working on, and in this setting, they just, like, snap in and they just get to that really quickly”

By creating an environment where students feel safe to take creative risks and collaborate, the academy allows young innovators to master complex technical skills in a matter of days. These are skills that will prepare them for upcoming challenges throughout their education.