It’s hard to find quicksand in most residential neighborhoods, but luckily, in WOW Camps’ Gross Out Chemistry sessions, kids learn to make their own—along with slime, flubber, and various other goops. They don’t just create fun and disgusting substances that could be found on a sci-fi film set or inside that ominous shed grandpa forbids anyone to go into, though—they also learn the science behind chemical reactions and compounds, how to build their own vehicles, and the principles of simple machines.

This blend of education and play characterizes the entirety of WOW Camps’ eclectic lineup of day programs, which range from science- and tech-focused curricula to creative writing camps that boost language skills. In the Lego engineering camps, students master STEM skills through hands-on investigations of simple machines and mechanism built with the iconic bricks. This engineering mindset extends to the Zoob Land Rover camp, where students create remote-control vehicles and use them to learn the principles of data collection and performance prediction.