As the June school holidays approach (May 31 to June 29, 2025), parents seeking enriching activities for their children should consider the growing trend of design-themed holiday camps in Singapore. These innovative programs offer far more than just entertainment—they provide valuable skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, and environmental awareness while getting kids away from screens. I recently explored four standout design camps to help parents make informed decisions about which might best suit their children’s interests and learning styles.
DesignTinkers: Where Young Architects Bloom
Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Founded by architect Tessa Ng in 2021, DesignTinkers has quickly established itself as Singapore’s premier playschool for budding architects. The camp’s thoughtfully structured curriculum has clearly resonated with parents—enrollment jumped 30-50% in 2024, with high rates of returning students and some classes becoming oversubscribed.
Getting There:
Located in the artistic enclave of Goodman Arts Centre in the Mountbatten area (90 Goodman Road, Block B, #02-04), DesignTinkers is accessible via several bus services (including 11, 12, 14, 48, and 196) that stop along Mountbatten Road. Those driving can use the centre’s parking facilities, though spaces fill quickly during peak periods. An additional location at Agora Colearning in HarbourFront Centre (1 Maritime Square) provides a convenient alternative for families living in the southern part of Singapore, with direct MRT access via the North-East and Circle Lines.
Program Highlights:
The camp offers up to 50 creative workshops with class sizes kept small (5-12 participants) to ensure personalised attention. The signature three-day “Design A Home” camp ($495) teaches children aged 7-12 how to apply design thinking principles, plan spaces, and translate 2D drawings into impressive 3D models. The two-day “Design An Eco-Home” camp focuses on sustainable architecture. In contrast, the “Design My Room” program lets children reimagine their personal spaces with attention to layout, furniture, materials, and colours.
For the June 2025 holidays, they’ve added an exciting new “Design A Cafe” module that combines spatial design with hospitality concepts. Single-day modules start at $165, and multi-day camps range from $33 to $4955.
What Makes It Special:
The program’s true strength lies in its ability to make complex architectural concepts accessible to young minds. Children don’t just draw pretty pictures—they learn to consider practical elements like light, ventilation, views, and landscape integration. The camp effectively bridges aesthetic creativity with technical understanding.
Eleven-year-old camp participant Sharanya Singh shared: “It was fun to think like a designer, especially when designing my room, and to design an eco-friendly house.” Her father noted significant growth in her creativity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities.
Bottom Line:
This is an exceptional choice for children who enjoy building, drawing, and solving spatial puzzles. The skills taught extend far beyond architecture into general creative problem-solving and environmental consciousness.
To register: Visit designtinkers.sg or call 6904-1112.
Charters 4 Teens: Maritime Design Adventures with Captain Martijn
Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
This unique offshore experience combines nautical adventure with design thinking aboard the luxurious Waga Mari catamaran. Dutch-born “Captain Martijn” Piket developed this concept during the pandemic after observing how children thrived during boat outings away from screens and social distancing concerns.
Getting There:
The Waga Mari departs from One Degree 15 Marina in Sentosa Cove (11 Cove Drive, Sentosa Cove, Singapore 098497). To reach the marina, take the Sentosa Express from VivoCity to Beach Station, then transfer to bus 3 to Sentosa Cove. Alternatively, drive across the Sentosa Gateway and follow signs to Sentosa Cove (parking is available but with fees). Upon arrival at One Degree 15, proceed to Pier A, where Captain Martijn’s team will be waiting to welcome participants. It’s advisable to arrive 15-20 minutes before the scheduled 9 am departure.
Program Highlights:
The five-day camp ($875, all-inclusive) accommodates children aged 9-15 who can swim. Days run from 9 am to 2:45 pm, Monday through Friday. The comprehensive program includes water sports, practical nautical skills like knot-tying (bowline and clove hitch), and a signature raft-building project where children design, construct, and race their own rafts using car tubes, wooden sticks, and ropes.
Children learn fundamental design principles, including materials selection, structural integrity, and buoyancy—all in a fun, competitive format that encourages teamwork and creative thinking. The camp maintains a strong “off-grid” philosophy, with children typically forgetting about their devices as they become fully engaged in the activities.
What Makes It Special:
The combination of adventure, skill-building, and design thinking in a natural marine environment creates a truly immersive experience. Children develop confidence through physical challenges while simultaneously engaging their minds with design problems. The spectacular setting—aboard a spacious 14-meter catamaran sailing around Singapore’s southern island—adds an element of excitement that standard classroom-based camps simply cannot match.
Bottom Line:
Though pricier than land-based alternatives, this camp offers unparalleled value through its unique blend of outdoor adventure and practical design education. It is particularly ideal for active children who enjoy water activities and hands-on challenges.
To register: Call or WhatsApp Captain Martijn at 9640-6311 or visit wagamari.com/pages/holiday-camps.
The Drawing Mint: Where Art Meets Architecture
Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
The Drawing Mint takes a unique approach by thoughtfully integrating two seemingly opposite disciplines: the spontaneous expression of fine art with the functional precision of architecture. This balanced methodology helps children develop both creative thinking and practical implementation skills.
Getting There:
The school operates from two convenient locations in Singapore:
- River Valley branch: Located at 402 River Valley Road, Singapore 248296. Accessible via buses 32, 54, 139, and 195, which stop along River Valley Road. For those driving, limited street parking is available in the surrounding areas, with additional parking at nearby shopping centres like Valley Point.
- Joo Chiat branch: Situated in the heritage-rich Joo Chiat neighbourhood (exact address not specified in the article). The area is serviced by buses 16, 33, and 155, with the closest MRT being Eunos (East-West Line), requiring a short bus connection. The culturally vibrant surroundings make this location particularly inspiring for creative activities.
Program Highlights:
The Drawing Mint offers two main holiday programs: the Architecture camp ($345) and the more comprehensive Art + Architecture camp ($510). Classes maintain an excellent 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio and cater to a wide age range, ranging from 4 to 18.
Co-founders Mae Micaela Tay and Satawat Buranasilapin thoughtfully designed the curriculum. They bring complementary expertise in early childhood education and architectural design. Their proprietary teaching tools help children translate abstract ideas into concrete models, encouraging infinite exploration through imagination.
What Makes It Special:
The Drawing Mint’s methodology stands out for its holistic approach to design education. By combining the functional thinking of architecture with the emotional elements of fine arts, children develop both logical reasoning and intuitive creativity. The program is influenced by the respected Reggio Emilia Approach, which recognises children as competent, curious learners capable of constructing their own knowledge through hands-on experiences.
Co-founder Satawat Buranasilapin emphasises that the program’s value extends far beyond training future architects or artists: “The deeper purpose is to train their minds in the architectural principles of creating a project from start to finish. Regardless of what they grow up to be—a future financial investor, entrepreneur, psychologist, or scientist—they can apply the same building principles in any field.”
Bottom Line program is an excellent choice for children who enjoy artistic expression and the satisfaction of creating functional designs. Its emphasis on developing adaptability and creativity makes it particularly valuable in today’s rapidly changing world.
To register: Visit thedrawingmint.com or call 9238-0640.
Maker.SG: STEM Education Through Robotics
Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
For children fascinated by technology and Makerthings work, Maker.SG provides an engaging introduction to robotics and STEM principles. What sets this program apart is its accessibility to very young children, with courses designed for ages as young as three.
Getting There:
Maker.SG operates from four convenient locations across Singapore:
- River Valley: Near the central business district, accessible via multiple bus routes, including 32, 54, and 195.
- Bukit Timah: In the upscale residential area, near the Botanic Gardens. Accessible via the Downtown Line (Beauty World MRT) and several bus services.
- Thomson: Situated in the north-central region, accessible via the Thomson-East Coast Line and bus services 52, 162, and 167.
- Joo Chiat: In the eastern heritage district, accessible via buses 16 and 33, with Eunos MRT (East-West Line) being the closest train station.
The article didn’t specify exact building addresses, so parenMaker could contact Maker.SG directly for precise location details and directions.
Program Highlights:
Maker.SG offers flexible pricing with half-day modules starting from $100. Age-appropriate programs introduce young children to robotics through accessible technologies:
For the youngest participants (ages 3-5), the program introduces basic robotics concepts through Lego robots and chibitronics—a system of peel-and-stick circuit components that eliminates the need for complex wiring or soldering. Older children progress to more sophisticated robotics projects.
Unlike pre-built toys, Maker children are at Maker.SG designs, prototypes, and constructs functional robots that they can take home. This process demands concentration, engineering thinking, and creative problem-solving, ng—making the learning experience much more impactful than simply playing with a finished product.
What Makes It Special:
Maker.SG excels at making complex technological concepts accessible to very young children through careful scaffolding and age-appropriate challenges. Their “hands-on, minds-on” philosophy ensures that children understand the principles behind the technology rather than just following instructions.
The program provides an early foundation in STEM fields while developing crucial skills like problem-solving, logical thinking, and perseverance through challenges. As robotics continues to grow as an industry, these early experiences may spark lasting interest in engineering and computer science.
Bottom Line:
Perfect for tech-curious children who enjoy building and understanding how things work. The early introduction to robotics concepts provides valuable STEM foundations while remaining playful and engaging for young minds.
TMakerister: Visit maker.sg or call 6908-0777.
Expert Perspective: The Developmental Benefits
According to Dr. Alison Snodgrass, a paediatrician at Parkway East Hospital with over 20 years of experience, design-based hands-on activities provide multiple developmental benefits for children:
- Development of fine motor skills
- Support for kinaesthetic learning (“learning by doing”)
- Cultivation of emotional resilience
- Building patience and a sense of accomplishment
- Establishment of stronger learning habits
- Enhanced self-confidence in both academic and everyday settings
These benefits make design camps a valuable complement to traditional academic education, helping children develop the creative thinking and adaptability needed for future success.
Final Thoughts
Singapore’s design camps offer remarkably diverse approaches to teaching children creative problem-solving, from architectural modelling and eco-design at DesignTinkers to offshore raft-building with Captain Martijn, artistic architecture at The Drawing Mint, and hands-on robotics at Maker.SG.
What unites these programs is their commitment to hands-on learning, design thinking principles, and fostering creativity away from screens. As children engage with tangible materials and physical challenges, they develop not only design skills but also confidence, resilience, and practical problem-solving abilities that will serve them well regardless of their future paths.
For parents concerned about excessive screen time during school holidays, these design camps offer the perfect antidote—structured, educational activities that children genuinely enjoy. The growing popularity of these programs suggests that many Singaporean parents are recognising the value of design education as a complement to traditional academic subjects.
Whether your child dreams of becoming an architect, engineer, artist, or simply enjoys creating and building, Singapore’s design camps provide enriching holiday experiences that entertain while developing valuable life skills.
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