Meaningful Digital Experiences Research Lab
MDXR LAB Summer Camp
July 2025
You're invited!
Join us for the MDXR LAB Summer Camp, a unique week-long, half-day summer camp experience where 21st-century fun helps children grow as communicators through the power of play! This camp is designed to harness the potential of video games to enhance expressive and receptive language skills in children between the ages of 6-12. Led by Erik X. Raj, with assistance from Monmouth University students, our game-based learning program combines interactive gaming with engaging hands-on activities that promote language and communication in a dynamic and enjoyable manner.
What is game-based learning?
Game-based learning is an educational approach that uses games to teach and reinforce skills and knowledge. By integrating learning objectives into engaging gameplay, this approach makes education both memorable and enjoyable, helping children to better understand and retain information, all while having a blast! At the MDXR LAB Summer Camp, we take game-based learning to the next level by incorporating engaging off-screen, hands-on activities that revolve around each on-screen gaming session.
What's an example of this?
In the past, we've had an extended camp session where we've learned about the history of Sega’s 1989 classic arcade game Golden Axe through a set of carefully curated online articles and YouTube videos. Afterwards, thanks to an amazing donation to the MDXR LAB, we had the opportunity to build our very own full-size Golden Axe arcade machine. This hands-on project not only allowed campers to engage in collaborative teamwork but also provided practical skills in assembly and electronics. The excitement and pride in creating a working arcade machine were palpable. After they successfully beat the game together, the campers participated in an art activity where they drew pictures of their favorite characters from the game and fully described why they liked that character. This activity further enhanced their expressive and receptive language abilities, as they articulated their thoughts and listened to others’ descriptions.
Our goal
Our goal with the MDXR LAB Summer Camp is to create an environment where children can improve their communication and language skills, build confidence, and form lasting friendships through the dynamic world of video games. We pride ourselves on designing and facilitating camp sessions that blend off-screen and on-screen activities into meaningful experiences, focusing on vocabulary expansion, following directions, critical thinking, and, of course, communication. We aim to ensure that every child leaves each day of camp not only as a better gamer but also as a more confident and effective communicator.
Intentionally small
To ensure a personalized and impactful experience, the MDXR LAB Summer Camp is capped at no more than eight campers per week. This intentionally small group size allows us to truly get to know each child, providing the individual attention they deserve.
Where, when, and how much?
MDXR LAB Summer Camp takes place at the Monmouth University Graduate Center (185 State Highway 36, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 - Building C).
Two identical* MDXR LAB Summer Camp sessions will be happening in July of 2025:
Session 1:
Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Session 2:
Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Drop off: 8:30-9:00 AM
Pick up: 12:00-12:30 PM
Registration
*When we say identical, that means that both weeks will feature the same video games and activities, so you'd only sign up for one week.
The price for one week is $199 + $20 registration fee, which includes a camp shirt and daily snacks. We also offer a special sibling discount: an additional sibling can join the camp for just $99 + $20 registration fee. This way, your children can share the fun and learning experience together at a reduced cost.
Please note that all proceeds from the MDXR LAB Summer Camp go directly to the MDXR LAB's yearly budget. These funds help us cover essential expenses such as travel and lodging when we attend conferences to present our research. Your support not only provides a fantastic summer experience for your child but also furthers our mission to share innovative findings and advancements in speech-language pathology and education. We truly appreciate your contribution and the role it plays in sustaining our work and enabling us to continue making a difference in the lives of 21st-century children.
Reserve your spot today to ensure your child doesn't miss out on this incredible experience! No minimum level of gaming experience is necessary to be a part of this camp—all gamers are welcome!