Thank you so much for an excellent Science camp. Ethan loved every minute of it.
Pomi H
STEM-Buddy – Dr Zeeshan Sialvi
Welcome to STEM Buddy!
We’re on a mission to spark curiosity and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to engage in projects that are exciting, hands on and relate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to everyday life.
STEM Buddy & Dr Sialvi
We know that young children learn best through exploration and discovery when an activity is fun. Therefore, finding creative ways for them to enjoy learning is a challenge we always relish. We want to help give them the best possible learning experience that not only excites them about STEM but also enables them to develop transferable skills like problem-solving, time management and teamwork.
Meet Dr. Zeeshan Sialvi
Zeeshan is a qualified science teacher and a former research scientist with more than ten years experience of delivering hands-on and engaging STEM activities.
He has a Ph.D. is electrochemistry1-3 and a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Loughborough University. He is currently working at Aldwickbury School, Harpenden as a Head of Science.
Zeeshan is passionate about STEM and wants to use his teaching and research experience to empower and inspire the next generation of scientist and engineers. His friendly and approachable manner helps to support students during their development and engenders positive relationships with students and parents.
Zeeshan is dedicated to giving the students the best possible experience of STEM and he believes that teachers are at the forefront in putting efforts into closing the present gender gap in STEM, empowering capable future female scientists and engineers to discover their talent and find their place within the STEM pipeline.
Zeeshan loves to produce explosive live assemblies, in-school experiences, virtual and holiday camps, and so much more on a journey to explore the thrilling world of STEM.
- Enhanced electrochromic performance of nickel oxide-based ceramic precursor films
- Electrochromic and Colorimetric Properties of Nickel(II) Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition
- An in situ colorimetric measurement study of electrochromism in the thin-film nickel hydroxide/oxyhydroxide system
What is STEM?
STEM simply stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. However, it’s much more than just subject titles, it focuses on cross-curricular learning that connects key teaching skills to the real-life problems that we may face. For example, developing a COVID-19 vaccine is a huge task and it requires input from many different disciplines including microbiologists, immunologists and chemical engineers.
Why is STEM Education Important?
The importance of STEM education is directly linked to the technological and scientific advancements in our society. Furthermore, the millions of tech jobs that are going unfilled each year and the gender inequality that exists in engineering and science confirms that we need to do more to raise the profile of STEM subjects.
There are many benefits to STEM education. It empowers student of all ages and backgrounds to think critically and creatively to solve real life problems. It also teaches important transferable skills, including problem-solving, time management and teamwork.
Research has also shown that STEM education can benefit students with ADHD and other similar condition.1 In traditional classrooms, ADHD students often struggle to maintain their focus, fidget in their seats and find it challenging to follow direct instructions. This is where we believe that the hands-on, kinaesthetic model of STEM learning lends itself well to their complex needs.
FAQs
To assist you with your booking, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from parents/guardians when booking with STEM-buddy. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team through the contact form. We are here to help and happy to assist with any additional inquiries.
About STEM-buddy
Choose STEM-buddy for an unparalleled STEM experience led by Dr. Sialvi. Unlike typical holiday clubs, STEM-buddy offers a unique, hands-on program designed and delivered entirely by Dr. Sialvi himself, an expert with a genuine passion for STEM education.
Through engaging experiments, real-world applications, and interactive projects, Dr. Sialvi sparks curiosity and critical thinking, providing a transformative learning journey. With activities tailored to inspire creativity and teamwork, STEM-buddy isn’t just a holiday club; it’s a place where young minds thrive, gaining skills they’ll carry forward in school and beyond.
To be eligible for STEM-buddy, children must be at least 5 years old by September 1st of the current academic year and in Year 1. We take children up to age 13 (Year 8).
Our camps are offered during all school holidays, including Half Term, Easter, Summer, and Christmas. However, the schedule may vary depending on the camp. Please refer to the camp details page for specific dates and availability.
We are not currently registered with the childcare scheme; however, we are actively exploring this option for future camps.
At STEM-buddy, we recognise that children may feel anxious or shy, particularly if it’s their first time attending camp. Ensuring every child enjoys their experience and builds friendships is our priority. That’s why our staff receive training to warmly welcome each child and facilitate their smooth transition into the group. Additionally, we are happy to pair children with their friends during activities to further enhance their comfort and enjoyment.
We currently have two locations where we run holiday camps:
- Aldwickbury school, Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden, AL5 1AD
- Harpenden Academy, Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL
Making a booking
Our standard hours for the camps are 9am to 4pm
We do not offer fixed extended care hours, but we are happy to accommodate additional requests when possible, depending on staff availability and the venue. If you have a request, please feel free to reach out to us via the contact form, and we will do our best to assist.
We accept debit and credit card payments at no additional cost. If you have credit from previous bookings, please notify our team via email or the contact form when you’d like to apply it to a new booking.
If space is available and we can maintain the appropriate child-to-staff ratio, we are happy to accept last-minute bookings. Simply check availability and complete your booking online as usual.
You can reschedule your dates within the same camp, subject to availability, as long as the change is made more than 2 days before the camp’s start date.
If you wish to cancel a booking, a full refund will be provided to your card if we receive at least 7 days’ notice before the camp date(s). For cancellations made with less than 7 days’ notice, we are happy to issue a credit, which can be used for another day at the same camp or at a future holiday camp.
In the event of illness, we will also provide a credit for use on a different day at the same or a future holiday camp.
Yes, of course! We offer the following discounts:
- Book 3 or 4 days in the same camp to get 10% off the total value.
- Book 5 days (full week) to get 20% off the total value.
On the Camp
Daily Attire:
Children should wear comfortable clothing and trainers. While most activities will take place indoors, breaks and lunch will give children time to play outside. Some activities may involve paint, food colouring, or making sticky substances like slime, so we recommend clothing that can get messy. If the weather is sunny, please apply sunscreen to your child before camp begins.
Lunch:
Children should bring a reusable water bottle, a packed lunch, and snacks for both the morning and afternoon breaks. Please ensure that no nuts or nut-containing products are included in their food, as we strive to maintain a nut-free environment.
Items Not Allowed:
We ask that children leave money, electronic devices (including mobile phones), and toys at home, as we cannot be responsible for any lost or damaged items. If any devices are found, they will be held by the Camp Manager in a secure, locked location. Parents/guardians needing to contact their child during camp should reach out directly to the Camp Manager.
Each day of the camp will include a range of hands-on activities with a wow-factor! Examples include: making different types of slime, making and launching rockets, making bath bombs, building robots and learn to code with Sphero Indi and Bolt robots. Each camper will be provided with all the practical materials and resources during the course of the camp.
Dr. Sialvi with the help of his team will lead each session and provide all the instructions and guidance to successfully complete the activities. Each camp is carefully designed to allow campers to develop the following skills:
- Spark curiosity and creativity
- Encourage collaboration and team work
- Build confidence
- Captivate imagination
- Support the STEM curriculum
STEM-buddy kindly requests that parents ensure timely drop-off and pick-up of their children. In the event of illness or unforeseen circumstances, please inform the Camp Manager via contact form, email, text, or phone call if your child will be absent. If no prior notice is received, the Camp Manager will attempt to reach out to parents regarding the absence. To maintain a healthy camp environment, we ask that children remain at home for the full duration of their illness and for 48 hours after their last symptoms subside.
At STEM-buddy, our focus is on helping children make new friends, connect with others, and explore new experiences, all under the guidance of our dedicated staff. To foster a supportive and engaging environment, we divide the camp into groups of similar-aged children. This allows us to offer age-appropriate activities and team games that align with their interests, ensuring they have a fun and social experience.
Our staff-to-child ratios are designed for optimal supervision:
- 2:16 for ages 4-5
- 1:15 for ages 6-7
- 1:16 for ages 8 and up
If you have any specific grouping requests, please inform a staff member, and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Food is not provided on the camp. Children should bring a reusable water bottle, a packed lunch, and snacks for both the morning and afternoon breaks.
Please ensure that no nuts or nut-containing products are included in their food, as we strive to maintain a nut-free environment.
Children have two scheduled 20-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch break throughout the day, providing time for them to sit down, recharge, and relax. If a child feels tired during any activity, our staff are able to incorporate additional breaks or offer quieter, sideline activities to ensure they remain comfortable and engaged.
For safeguarding reasons, parents are not allowed to remain on camp during the day. All adults present at the camp are required to undergo background checks and hold a DBS certification to ensure a safe environment for all children.
Our Policies
At STEM-buddy, the safety and welfare of children are our top priorities, and we expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment. To ensure a secure environment, all staff members are required to undergo background checks and obtain an enhanced DBS. STEM-buddy believes in maintaining constant vigilance when it comes to child welfare. If any staff member has concerns or suspicions about a child’s well-being or the actions of an adult, they are obligated to report it immediately to the STEM-buddy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), local safeguarding authorities, or the police. For more information, please refer to our full Safeguarding Policy here.
Our Cookies policy can be found here.
At STEM-buddy, we prioritise the health and safety of all children attending our camps by maintaining strict hygiene and cleanliness standards, following the latest NHS and Government guidelines.
We want to assure parents that robust control measures are already in place. Children are encouraged to practice good personal hygiene, and appropriate sanitary provisions are available throughout the camp. For more detailed information, please consult our Children’s Health Policy here.
