It was a landmark summer for OML’s education team for many reasons, not the least of which was the launch of our Worldbuilders Summer Camp! Fifteen amazing campers joined us for a week in early August, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids for our first ever OML camp experience. 

Over the five days we learned about each other and the world around us. Together we: invented and mapped our own planets and countries; played a tabletop roleplaying game with an invented world; had a LEGO city building contest; toured other “worlds” in our solar system at the Planetarium; built forts; made treasure maps in teams; used other teams’ treasure maps to find hidden items in Deering Oaks Park; played games to earn prizes from BORP (Box Of Random Prizes); and so much more! 

A major highlight of the week was a fantasy-themed live-action roleplaying (LARP) game in Deering Oaks Park led by Breakwater School’s outdoor education teacher, Patrick Fitzgibbons. The campers made amazing homemade costumes beforehand, solved problems together to recover a magical chicken stolen by goblins, had dodgeball skirmishes with foes, and ultimately defeated the LARP boss, which was a “rabid dragon” that turned out to be a Rabbit Dragon in a surprise twist. 

We were impressed by the group’s ability to quickly build community, problem solve, and work as a team. Their imaginations and creativity allowed them to flourish in the worlds they were building and we loved seeing them encourage one another. The week flew by but we’re looking forward to next year’s camp and hope to see some familiar faces!