Design & Engineering Summer Workshops

Program Overview
This summer, we welcome elementary school students, entering grades 1 - 6 to join us for our in person Design and Engineering Workshops on Tufts’ Medford campus. Participating students will engage in open-ended engineering design challenges that will help them gain experience in engineering design, as well as critique, collaboration, and other group-work skills. Since engineering is not just about the technical aspects, design challenges will employ students to develop empathy for clients who are having problems, while counselors help students make connections to other students.
Before (8:30AM-9:00AM) and After care (3:00PM-5:00PM) will be provided and you can select this during the registration process. Make sure to check out the application instructions below before registering.

Spy Gadget Robotics and Engineering
Robotics & Engineering Workshop
In this workshop, students will act as spy agents as they work through missions and develop gear to help solve their secret operations. Students will solve open-ended design problems by building and programming with the LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robotics kits as well engage in non-robotic design activities while using the engineering design process. Design challenges include developing spy gear, navigating robots through hidden tunnels to collect intel, and other exciting missions!

Wizarding Robotics and Engineering
Robotics & Engineering Workshop
In this engineering workshop, students will solve open-ended design problems by building and programming with the LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robotics kits as well engage in non-robotic design activities as they create magical inventions for their wizard clients and a chance to bring to life their own magic spells through using the engineering design process.

Robotics and Engineering Designs for Carnivals
Robotics & Engineering Workshops
In this engineering workshop, students will solve open-ended design problems by building and programming with the LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robotics kits as well engage in non-robotic design activities while using the engineering design process as they design their carnival. Design challenges will include creating rides, automating carnival games, and developing fun attractions that are also accessible for users!

Robotics and Engineering Devices to Assist Animals
Robotics & Engineering Workshops
In this engineering workshop, students will explore different ways that engineering can be used to help and care for animals. Students will solve open-ended design problems by building and programming with the LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robotics kits as well engage in non-robotic design activities while using the engineering design process. Activities will include designing automated pet feeders, assistant devices for animals with injuries, a smart toy, and so much more!
Meet Your Program Staff

Magee Shalhoub, Program Staff
Magee Shalhoub (she/her series) is the Program Administrator for the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO), having graduated from Suffolk University and receiving her BS in Sociology. She leads the daily operational tasks and processes for the CEEO, supporting several research faculty in pre- and post-grant management. Magee manages roughly 15 government/industry grants and 30 gifts/cost recovery/operational accounts, and orchestrates the development of new cost recovery programs within Tufts, including Teacher Engineering Education Program (TEEP), Engineering Design Lab (EDL), and Engineering Investigations (EI).
Application & Policies
Submitting your Application
Step 1 -- Student and Parent Information: Please fill out your student’s personal information, general contact information, and at least one parent or guardian’s personal information. After this information has been submitted, you will receive an email with a temporary pin to log into your account and then you will move on to step 2.
Step 2a -- Design and Engineering Workshops Program Selection: Log into your student’s account and start the enrollment process. Enrollment in our workshops are on a first-come, first-served basis. We highly recommend applying as soon as possible to ensure enrollment in your first-choice program. Enrollment is not complete until you have provided full program payment. Please use this section to select your student’s grade, and select between course offerings per week in which you are interested.
Step 2b -- Workshop Selection Review: This page is for you to review all of your workshop selections. Please ensure that you have made the correct selections along with daycare preference. If you are interested in receiving financial aid, please indicate your interest and complete the information required to be considered. After you click submit, you will receive approval or waitlist notification within 3 - 5 business days. Additional required forms will be uploaded to your application portal once your student has been confirmed a spot into the workshop.
Step 2c -- Parent, Questionnaire, Release and Consent: This page is for parents to complete to provide us with additional information that we may need to know about your student. Additionally, this page asks you to confirm photo consent, dismissal contact information, as well as a final parent signature which confirms your permission in your student’s participation in our workshops. To complete this step, you will need to have the following on you:
Step 3 -- Review and Submit: This is the final review page to confirm that you have completed all required parts of the application. If you are ready to submit the application for review, please press “Submit Application” in the lower left hand corner.
After your Workshop Approval Confirmation
Step 4 -- Payment: Once the application is complete and submitted, members of our Design & Engineering Workshops program staff will review your application within 3 to 5 business days and let you know via email if your student has been approved for course enrollment. Upon confirmation of enrollment, applicants should expect a link for tuition payment as well as post-enrollment forms which must be completed prior to program start on the applicant portal.
Step 5 -- Required Enrollment Forms: Once you have completed full program payment, you will need to complete several post-enrollment forms. To complete this step, you will need to have the following on you, you will need the following:
- Pediatrician contact information
- Immunization records from pediatrician office for upload to secure system
- Health insurance card
Please note: The K-8 Design and Engineering Workshops will be following all Tufts policies and procedures in regards to COVID-19 and vaccination. While we will be requiring submission of COVID-19 vaccination status, guidance on how to provide this information will be communicated to participating students and families closer to program start.
- Are these workshops in person and where are they located?
- In summer 2023, we are on track to have all K-8 workshops in person on the Tufts Medford Campus. Location of the workshop will be emailed to you after the registration process is complete.
- Do you provide before and aftercare?
- Yes, before care is available from 8:30-9:00AM and aftercare is available from 3:00-5:00PM for a flat rate of $100 per week.
- Will I need to provide lunch and snacks?
- Yes, due to COVID protocols on campus, students will be expected to bring a snack, lunch, and a water bottle
- Will my child go outside during the day?
- Yes, if the weather is nice, students will go outside to play. Please put sunblock on your child before dropping them off and make sure they have clothes appropriate for the weather.
- Will my child wear a mask during workshops?
- Per Tufts University COVID19 Policy, masks are optional inside of our buildings. We will update this policy if Tufts makes changes to their policy this summer.
- How do I register two+ children?
- To register two+ children, you must make a separate account for each child using a different email address. You cannot register more than one child with one email account and one student profile.
- I was added to a waitlist, what does that mean?
- If you are added to a waitlist, you will be notified if a spot will open in the workshop you registered for. You do not pay for any waitlist workshops with your final billing. You will receive an email if a spot has opened up for you and then you will have 2 days to claim your spot and pay.
Financial aid is available for students and families on a first-come, first-serve basis for all of our Design and Engineering Workshops.
Instructions for K-8 Financial Aid
- While you are selecting and reviewing your workshop selections on the application, there is an opportunity to indicate interest in financial and to complete brief application.
- Once you submit your application, our K-8 Design and Engineering Workshop program staff will review your application and financial aid request within 3 -5 business days.
- If your student's application is approved and the financial aid request is granted, you will see the aid amount deducted from your final price when you receive your bill to pay.
June 1: final date for all Design and Engineering Workshop refunds.
K-8 Design and Engineering Workshop Withdrawal Policy
K-8 Design and Engineering Workshop Refund Policy
Please see the policies section of this website for a complete list of applicable policies.
Hear from our past students' parents...
My son goes to a variety of camps every summer, each with a different focus. This was BY FAR his favorite program. He enjoyed every minute and came home super excited and over eager to share about his day, which is not typical. Keep up the great work!
Parent of a 2nd Grade Workshop Participant
This is my favorite place in the world. You guys have everything!
Workshop Participant, 4th Grade