Kenya (left), Nylaiah (back), and Hailey (right) observe the walking rainbow.
Summer camp at Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center is more than just a break from school. It’s a special time when memories are made, friendships blossom, and young people engage in learning and fun—and the two are never mutually exclusive.
In this Photo of the Month, second-graders Kenya and Hailey and first-grader Nylaiah are learning about capillary action: the movement of a liquid along another material against an opposing force.
But if we just told them that definition and asked them to memorize it, chances are it wouldn’t mean much. That’s why our afterschool and summer programs use project-based learning (PBL) activities, like the walking rainbow you see in the photo. Following instructions found in the Doctor Jupiter Junior Science My First Science Kit, participants folded a paper napkin in half, applied food coloring in the colors of the rainbow on the ends, dipped them into water-filled cups—and then watched the colors travel upwards after coming into contact with the water. The result is a “walking rainbow.”
It looks like magic, but the participants of our Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center summer camp know it’s science: The water soaks into the napkin and carries the colors with it due to capillary action, a concept that now makes sense to them.
“We enjoy doing activities like STEM and art with our participants because they inspire creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning in a fun and engaging way. These activities help kids explore new concepts while building confidence in their ideas and problem-solving skills,” says Krystle Raghubeer, director of Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center. “The walking rainbow STEM project, in particular, is a favorite because it combines science with visual creativity—it teaches concepts like color mixing, absorption, and capillary action in a playful, colorful way. It’s a great example of how science and art can come together to spark curiosity and excitement in learning.”
“My favorite part of the activity was when the colors made the rainbow,” says Hailey. “It was really cool.”
Another thing that participants love about summer camp at Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center?
“FUN FRIDAY!” says Kenya.
Nylaiah agrees: “My favorite part of summer camp is all the water activities on Fridays!”
The Child Center operates 25 summer camps. During the school year, we operate 30 afterschool programs. We also support youth development through NYC Community Schools, transfer high schools, mental health services, internships, and more. Visit childcenterny.org/youth-development/ to learn all about the ways we ensure our youth can discover and achieve their potential.
