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!

  • 2024 SMDT Spring Camp

  • 2024 SMDT Spring Camp

  • 2024 SMDT Serendipity Program

  • 2024 SMDT Serendipity Program

  • 2023 SMDT Rietberg Program

  • 2023 SMDT Rietberg Program

  • 2023 SMDT Rietberg Program

  • 2024 SMDT Summer Camp

  • 2024 SMDT Summer Camp

    2024 SMDT Summer Camp

Upcoming Camps

Winter Camp

Winter magic! Sustainability & Science behind it

February 17th to February 21st

Time: 8:45-17:00

Venue: Zurich with a number of excursions!

Pick up, drop off location*: Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802

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!

Spring Camp 2025

Biomimicry! Problem-solving inspired by nature

April 28th to May 2nd 2025

Time: 8:45-17:00

Venue: Zurich with a number of excursions!

Pick up, drop off location*: Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802

Welcome spring and new life by learning about the concept of biomimicry and apply strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges.

*Pick up/drop off location may change, but we will stay close by!

Past Camps

Spring Camp

Living in harmony

April 29th to May 3rd 2024

Venue: Zurich with a number of excursions!

Pick up, drop off location: Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802

This was a five-day design thinking course, focused on the sustainability question, “What do we need to live in harmony with nature?” We explored the importance of cultural diversity through cultural games, a trip to the farmers market and creating street art. We then learned about the concept of biodiversity through a private tour of the boar enclosure at the Wildnis park and how both cultural and biodiversity are important and intertwined for living in harmony.

Summer Camp

Art For Earth

August 12th to 16th 2024

Time: 8:45 to 17:00

Venue: Zurich with many excursions!

Pick up, drop off location:* Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802

This five-day design thinking camp focuses on the question, “How can we use art to protect the Earth?” We practice how to sustainably create art and explore “How can we use art to connect with diverse people?” This second question builds on our “Living in Harmony” spring camp. Being summer, we make full use of being outdoors, go to the lake and on field trips to Kunsthaus, a Graffiti Park and The Enea Tree Museum in Rapperswil.

Autumn Camp

Food! Eating well for people and the planet

(SOLD OUT!!!!)

Oct. 14  to 19th, 2024

Time: 8:45-17:00

Venue: Zurich with a number of excursions!

Pick up, drop off location*: Cafe Rumi, Weinbergstrasse 1, Kilchberg 8802

This five-day design thinking course, explores the question: “How can we eat healthily for humans and for the planet?” There will be lots of tasty treats in store for the kids between farm outings, learning from a restaurant chef, and to doing some healthy cooking!

Early Bird Price: CHF 550/week until September 7th 2024
Normal Price: CHF 650/ week

*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

Diya Kanoria

  • 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.

Austina Kang

  • 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.

  • 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

Terms and conditions

Please access the terms and conditions for SMDT programs here.