I despise state testing for children in schools. It's really an awfully skewed way to measure what a student knows or does not know, and it puts all accountability on the teachers, never once taking into account a strength or challenge of a student, their attitude toward a particular subject, or what might be going on in their personal life that could be affecting how they see a geometry problem on any given school day.
The emphasis on state testing is simple: product. The quantitative results matter only. You don't get any credit for showing your work, or for demonstrating that you got 90% of the steps right before simply adding incorrectly at the end. It matters only if the answer is right or wrong.
I mention state testing because Kaleidoscope is a far cry from the pressures found in the school room. There are no standards to be met for producing masterpieces here. Only endless stations and supplies for your child to create to their heart's content. The PROCESS, not the product, is emphasized and championed at Kaleidoscope. Kids can feel affirmed in their creativity rather than be told what is right or wrong.
As pressure has mounted for performances on state testing (now tying funding to performance) time for creativity, open-ended thinking and exploration is quickly flying out the classroom window. Kaleidoscope allows children up to age 12 to create, explore, imagine and design in any way they desire. My black-light room for the melted crown station is always a top visit for my daughter while we are there, and she enjoys constructing with the various mediums offered by the staff.
If I can encourage to put a destination on your summer list, it would be Kaleidoscope. Plan that you will be back more than once. Creative juices will just start oozing when your session will be ending most likely, so grab some friends, schedule a date, and head downtown to Kaleidoscope!