You're in a lot of luck, Harry Potter fans, because it's finally happened: A Harry Potter-themed science summer camp actually exists. You heard me: Open to witches, wizards, Muggles, and No-Majs alike, a summer camp that teachers you about the magic of science — literally — is now a reality. If you've spent your life dreaming about getting a letter from Hogwarts and debating with your friends about which House you should be in, well, let's just say that this experience is perfect for you. There's only one catch: You've got to be between the ages of 7 and 12 to go on this magically scientific adventure. Curses!
Titled "Welcome to Hogwarts: Secundus Urbis," the five-day summer camp experience is hosted at The Laboratory in Chicago. The Laboratory offers fun and educational themed classes and camps for kids, aiming to incorporate "science and math with the arts, stories, and technology." It's no surprise, then, that a science camp with a magical bent would be right up their alley. According to the course description, when campers arrive on the first day, they're given striped scarves and owls before being sorted into Houses. They even get to craft their own "magical" wands! Through a lens of activities like converting Muggle money into Wizarding money, studying magical creatures, and righting a spell gone horribly wrong, campers spend the week learning about chemistry, physics, and biology. And yes, you can even earn points for your House by giving the correct answers in classes.
The first two sessions of "Welcome to Hogwarts: Secundus Urbis," which occur in July, sold out super quickly; however, there are two more sessions that are currently open for enrollment in August. And there's good news if you want to sign up for more than one week: Each pair of sessions consists of a part one and part two, so if you enjoyed the first five days enough, you can come back for the second session and get an entirely new experience.
Personally, I think this camp is an awesome, innovative way to engage kids in multiple disciplines while still letting them have fun and be imaginative over their summer breaks. If something like this had been available when I was a kid, I would have been all over it!
Speaking of which: How can you attend Harry Potter summer camp as an adult? According to ChicagoParent.com, "an adult Harry Potter workshop is currently in development and planned for the future," based on popular demand. So we may get our wands and Houses after all, everybody! I guess it's time to start brushing up on our Potions skills...
Images: Warner Bros.; Giphy
