SCICOMM SUMMER CAMP · SUMMER 2026
What Happens at Camp: Week by Week
Three weeks. Nine live sessions.
One finished piece of science content your teen made themselves.
Every week builds toward one thing: a finished audio or video podcast episode your teen scripted, recorded, edited, and presented to a real audience.
Most programs tell you what students will learn. We'd rather show you what they'll make.
Every student who completes SciComm Summer Camp leaves with a finished audio or video podcast episode on a science topic they chose. Something they have researched, scripted, recorded, and edited themselves. It is portfolio-ready and shareable.
Here is exactly what the three weeks look like.
WEEK 1 · JUNE 16–20
Foundation: Finding and Shaping Your Story
The first week is about two things: finding the science story only your teen can tell, and learning how to tell it for someone's ears instead of their eyes.
Students choose a topic they're genuinely curious about and draft their first script using a framework built for spoken audio.
LIVE SESSIONS
Tuesday June 17 — Welcome + Using Your Voice
Students introduce themselves, learn what science communication is and why it matters, and do their first low-stakes voice exercise. The goal is a room where everyone feels safe enough to try something, even if it’s not perfect.
Thursday June 19 — Storytelling and Finding Your Angle
We’ll tackle the difference between a fact and a story. Students learn the art of the hook, what makes science content engaging, and begin identifying their topic and angle. First script work begins.
Friday June 20 — Office Hours / Script Workshop
Students can share their early work, get feedback, and troubleshoot with the instructor. This session is optional but recommended.
By the End of Week 1
First script draft completed in Google Docs. Students have a topic, an angle, and a written script structured for the ear, not the page.
Available anytime from Week 1:
The interviewing skills module (prerecorded) is available for students who want to incorporate expert or peer voices into their piece.
WEEK 2 · JUNE 23–27
Production: Recording and Editing
Week 2 is where students stop writing and start making. They learn Descript, an audio and video editing tool used by professional podcasters and journalists. They begin recording their first version of their project.
LIVE SESSIONS
Tuesday June 24 — Writing for Audio Workshop
Students refine their Google Docs script with a focus on how it sounds spoken aloud. We work on sentence length, pacing, and word choice for the ear. Peer read-alouds help students figure out what works and what doesn't.
Thursday June 26 — Recording with Descript
Introduction to the production tool. Students learn to record, review, and make basic edits. First recording attempt happens in session — the moment most students realize this is harder (and more satisfying) than they expected.
Friday June 27 — Office Hours / Peer Feedback
Students share rough cuts and give structured feedback using a provided framework. This is their first formal experience presenting work to their peers.
By the End of Week 2
Rough cuts are recorded in Descript. Students have heard their own voice back, made at least one edit, and received peer feedback on their work.
Available anytime from Week 2:
Visual communication resources (prerecorded) for students producing a video podcast who want to think about how to represent their work visually.
WEEK 3 · JUNE 30 – JULY 3
Polish and Present: Finishing and Sharing Your Work
The final week is production studio time. Students use both live sessions to go deep into Descript. They’ll learn to do pickups, clean audio, and make the structural edits that turn a rough cut into something they're proud of. This is the week students will surprise themselves.
LIVE SESSIONS
Tuesday July 1 — Production Studio
Learning Descript in depth. Pickups, re-records, and fixes. Students will address specific feedback from Week 2 and move from rough cut to near-final.
Thursday July 3 — Production Studio
Final edits and finishing touches. Students polish their piece to make it showcase-ready. This last session gives looming deadline energy, but most students finish today.
The Showcase — Week of July 7
Scheduled to fit the group. Live Zoom event.
Students invite whoever they want: teachers, coaches, science communicators, family, friends. Each student introduces their piece, plays it for the audience, and briefly talks about what they made and why.
By End of Week 3
A polished, portfolio-ready audio or video podcast episode that students present live to an invited audience.
What Your Teen Will Make
Every student finishes camp with a complete audio or video podcast episode on a science topic they chose. This is a real piece of science communication that they can share publicly.
Audio Podcast Episode
Recorded and edited in Descript. Scripted in Google Docs with your student’s voice throughout.
Good fit for: students who prefer audio, want a podcast format, or are less comfortable on camera.
Video Podcast Episode
Same script structure as audio but with video layer. Student on camera or with visual assets.
Good fit for: students who are camera-comfortable, want a YouTube or TikTok-style format, or are building a visual portfolio.
What Students Walk Away With
✓ A finished audio or video podcast episode — portfolio-ready, shareable, theirs
✓ Fluency with Descript software: a professional text-based editing tool they can use independently
✓ A framework for taking any complex topic and explaining it clearly to any audience
✓ The experience of presenting original work to a real audience
“The difference between this and a school project is that nobody is grading it. The audience is just listening. That changes everything about how you prepare.”
Ready to see pricing and enrollment details?