About
TomTod Ideas offers a 4-day summer adventure where middle schoolers pop up murals, support local businesses by being social media influencers, serve their neighbors by creating helpful handout bags, and create summer fun with their friends by running their own block party. During this program, participants are invited to find the hidden gems on each block, transform boring spaces into beautiful spaces, help neighbors in need, create fun for neighbors of all ages, connect with local legends and rising stars, and give back to their neighbors through their creativity.
• Ages: 10–14 years old
• Schedule: All TomTod Summer Camps run 4 days a week, typically Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, in a 4-day summer session
• Price: All TomTod Summer Camps are FREE to families.
TomTod Ideas is a youth development nonprofit based in Canton, Ohio that listens to, honors, and advocates for middle schoolers. Since 2012, TomTod Ideas has worked with thousands of middle schoolers. The organization creates programming specifically for 10–14 year olds and uses Liberatory Design Thinking, refined to be developmentally appropriate for early adolescents, through experiential and problem-based learning. Its 10 Cs are Caring, Character, Collaboration, Communication, Confidence, Connection, Contribution, Competence, Creative Innovation, and Critical Thinking. TomTod Ideas is a direct service organization committed to building a team of early adolescent experts who develop and implement curriculum specifically for middle schoolers, and its programs are often compared to many community leadership programs offered to adults.
TomTod Ideas creates curriculum and curates experiences that incorporate real community partners with real problems, giving students real goals to work toward. Its programming connects middle schoolers’ imaginations with real opportunities to contribute to local organizations during after-school or out-of-school time programs and engages them in community development. The leadership team includes Joel Daniel Harris (Founder, Executive Dreamer), Patrick Gerber (Team Guide, Lead Adventure Curator), and Zane Sanders (Adventure Curator).
Last updated July 3, 2026.
• Ages: 10–14 years old
• Schedule: All TomTod Summer Camps run 4 days a week, typically Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, in a 4-day summer session
• Price: All TomTod Summer Camps are FREE to families.
TomTod Ideas is a youth development nonprofit based in Canton, Ohio that listens to, honors, and advocates for middle schoolers. Since 2012, TomTod Ideas has worked with thousands of middle schoolers. The organization creates programming specifically for 10–14 year olds and uses Liberatory Design Thinking, refined to be developmentally appropriate for early adolescents, through experiential and problem-based learning. Its 10 Cs are Caring, Character, Collaboration, Communication, Confidence, Connection, Contribution, Competence, Creative Innovation, and Critical Thinking. TomTod Ideas is a direct service organization committed to building a team of early adolescent experts who develop and implement curriculum specifically for middle schoolers, and its programs are often compared to many community leadership programs offered to adults.
TomTod Ideas creates curriculum and curates experiences that incorporate real community partners with real problems, giving students real goals to work toward. Its programming connects middle schoolers’ imaginations with real opportunities to contribute to local organizations during after-school or out-of-school time programs and engages them in community development. The leadership team includes Joel Daniel Harris (Founder, Executive Dreamer), Patrick Gerber (Team Guide, Lead Adventure Curator), and Zane Sanders (Adventure Curator).
Last updated July 3, 2026.
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