Sustainability Mindset
with Design Thinking Camps
Bringing problem-solving into the everyday
Kids aged 5 to 12 learn about the real world through outings, games and projects!
SMDT CAMPS
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2024 SMDT Spring Camp
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2024 SMDT Spring Camp
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2024 SMDT Summer Camp
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![2024 SMDT Summer Camp]()
2024 SMDT Summer Camp
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![2024 SMDT Fall Camp]()
2024 SMDT Fall Camp
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![2024 SMDT Fall Camp]()
2024 SMDT Fall Camp
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2025 SMDT Winter Camp
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2025 SMDT Winter Camp
Camp details
Timings: 8:45 to 17:00
Venue: City of Zurich with a number of locations!
Pick up/drop off locations:
> Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802
> NEW! Enge Bahnhof drop off at 8:45 am, pick up at 5:00 pmPricing: CHF 650/week or CHF 150/day. Siblings discount available.
Food: Twice a day snacks included!
Language: English, however our facilitators can help children with German, Portuguese, Hindi and Korean.
*subject to change but will remain close by.
Fun fact - Our last camp had over 50% returning participants!
Spring Camp 2025
Living in Harmony
April 28 - May 2
This spring, we have an exciting journey to explore the question: “What do we need to live in harmony?” Through cultural games, a visit to a lively farmers market, and hands-on street art, we’ll celebrate the richness of human diversity and acceptance. Then, we step into the wild on a private tour of Wildnis Park, exploring connections between cultural diversity and biodiversity. Through play, creativity, and exploration, we’ll discover how nature and communities thrive together and what it means to live in harmony with the world around us
Summer Camp1
Art For Earth
July 21- 25
This summer, we dive into the questions: “How can art protect the Earth?” and “How can art connect communities?” Using sustainable techniques, we create our own natural paints and explore art’s power to inspire change. Building on our Living in Harmony camp, we take creativity outdoors - enjoying the lake, visiting the Kunsthaus, exploring a Graffiti Park, and discovering the Enea Tree Museum in Rapperswil. We celebrate the connection between art, nature, and community.
Summer Camp 2
Biomimicry! Problem-solving inspired by nature
August 11- 15
We celebrate nature’s genius by exploring biomimicry (how solutions in the natural world inspire human innovation). From aerodynamic birds to water-saving desert plants, we’ll uncover nature’s smartest strategies and apply them to real-world challenges. Through hands-on engineering projects, outdoor explorations, and creative problem-solving, our campers discover how nature can be the ultimate designer.
Autumn Camp
Food! Eating well for people and the planet
Oct 13- 17
What does healthy food mean for us and for the planet? In this deliciously fun camp, kids will explore where food comes from and how our choices impact health and sustainability. Through farm visits, a food forest adventure, and hands-on farm-to-table learning, they’ll discover the journey from soil to plate. With plenty of fresh treats along the way, children will also budget, plan, shop, and cook a healthy meal to share with the community!
Winter Camp
Winter magic! Sustainability & Science behind it
Date to ne confirmed
Filled with fun science experiments, this camp explores practical ways kids can use science to design for sustainability. Our learning experiences will range from learning to recycle your own paper; designing bioplastics and exploring some fun real-world examples of how science is being used to encourage sustainability!
*Pick up/drop off location may change, but we will stay close by!
Hear from our parents!
“Y** is very inspired, it was an amazing experience. Thank you all for the wonderful atmosphere and for new friends and family whom we want to see again and again!!!”
Mother of 9 year old boy
“Heard all about earth care, self-care, and fair share today! They have learned so much in a couple of days. Thank you so much. So valuable what you have created.”
mother of 7 year old boy and 5 year old girl
“The program was so varied and inspiring, the boys loved it. How wonderful they came away with some many new learnings and friends.”
Mother of 6 and 4 year old boy
Get notifications for our upcoming camps.
If you leave us your contact info, the age of your children, and their general interest, we will send you notifications on upcoming camps that are relevant to your children’s age and interest.
Learn more about SMDT
Learn about SMDT programs such as
Our vision
Our mission
Why Sustainable Mindset
Why Design thinking
Benefits of the programs
Meet the Team
Introducing our team who designed and will be leading the course this year at Rietberg
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Diya has been teaching science and working on curriculum development for over a decade in Switzerland, the USA and the UK. As a Curriculum Area Leader at her last school, and a Biology and Environmental Science teacher she noticed growing eco-anxiety amongst students, with few skills on how to step into the real world feeling empowered to effect change.
Prior to education Diya also worked as a research scientist, equity research analyst and in corporate and venture development - giving her a unique understanding of the importance of systems thinking, and a blend of eclectic skills to work on a variety of projects.
She now focuses on developing values-based, holistic and real-world “Education for Sustainability” opportunities for students of all ages.
A lifelong learner, Diya also has an MPhil in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in Arts of Teaching from Duke University.
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Austina started STEAMED Playground when she realized that what she watched, read, and experienced at an early age shaped the ways she currently learns, plans, works, and makes decisions.
Before STEAMED Playground, she worked at different technology companies (Children’s Creativity Museum, Autodesk, Adobe, FrontRow … etc.) in Silicon Valley. As a designer and marketer, her focus was education, believing the proper education is the most important asset we can pass on to our children to ensure a better future. She has been heavily practicing Design Thinking throughout her career and participated in multiple projects implementing Design Thinking in the education market in various ways.
She is also a co-author of the book 교육을 가로막는 벽 (The wall that prevents real education), that had been published in South Korea.
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Diana’s journey as a teacher started nearly 20 years ago in Brazil in early childhood education. Since then she has navigated through a diverse range of experiences, including teacher’s training, parental education and the development of learning communities in diversified cultural settings.
Since 2015 she has dedicated her work to researching, designing, and facilitating learning experiences and projects inspired by Nature.
Diana integrates Permaculture, Systems Thinking, and Participatory Leadership into her pedagogical approach in order to cultivate Care and Collaboration in Education and help learning communities develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset that will bring us all to a sustainable and regenerative way of living, in harmony with all existence.
Contact Us
Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5pm
Phone (Diya)
+41 78 639 57 72
*Please contact through this email and phone number only for Sustainability Mindset with “Design Thinking” matters.
For other STEAMED Playground matters, contact info@steamedplayground.com
