Summer Science Camp Spotlight

The following summer science camps are sponsored by Motorola Solutions Foundation and are good examples of educational, inspirational, and engaging science camps that offer solid and innovative STEM-based enrichment. We encourage you to learn more about these programs and to search for similar offerings in your area.

Campers at Brentwood learned about the interconnectedness of food webs as they dissected owl pellets.

Brentwood Science Enrichment Camp (BSEC)

Brentwood Science Enrichment Camp (BSEC), run by the Brentwood Union Free School District, is a three-week program for rising 3rd through 5th graders. The camp is dedicated to helping students develop inquiry science skills through exposure to a range of learning experiences and hands-on take-home projects. Each day contains five hours of science instruction, balanced with recess games and activities that promote health and wellness. Sample themes from past camps include:

• Go Green: Campers performed experiments involving erosion and oil spills. Hands-on activities included the three R's—reduce, reuse and recycle—and forms of renewable energies.
• Design Time: Campers experimented with different materials and designs to find what it takes to make functioning vehicles.
• Tinker and Innovate: Campers tinkered with old appliances and recycled their parts in order to design, construct, and test new inventions.
• Genetics: Campers performed experiments like DNA extraction and made creatures called Bloops using random traits they pulled out of a bag.

For more information, visit: www.brentwood.k12.ny.us/HTMLpages/Curriculum/Science/2010_Summer_Camp/Sci_Camp_2010/index.html.

D.R.E.M.E. strives to bring science enrichment to underserved populations.

D.R.E.M.E. Summer Science Educational Programs

This summer science program, sponsored by the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational (D.R.E.M.E.) Science Literacy Foundation, features STEM education for 5th through 10th grades. Teaching and inspiring through hands-on activities, D.R.E.M.E. 2011 includes field trips to NASA, Space Center Houston, and the Museum of Natural Science. Activities will also be provided by GE Energy, NASA Educators, Texas STARBASE, Texas Southern University Biology and Airway Science Departments, Space Center Houston, Ocean Star, Port of Houston Authority, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

For more information, visit: www.dremefoundation.org .

Campers make exciting discoveries in the Cool Chemical Concoctions mini-camp!

DuPage Children's Museum Summer Mini-Camps

DuPage Children's Museum Summer Mini-Camps offer hands-on exploration in the scientific method—awareness, tool practice, project plan, build time, test and retest—in three different disciplines: chemistry, carpentry and electricity. Four-day, mini-camp sessions include:

• Cool Chemical Concoctions: Amaze yourself by making concoctions that change colors, bubble, fizz and ooze.
• Electrical Explorers: Electrify your summer with lights, buzzers and motors in our amazing camp that explores circuits, electricity and magnetism.
• Cardboard Carpentry: Measure twice, cut once! Work with real tools and master carpentry basics while creating a useable piece of furniture from super-thick cardboard.

DCM Summer Mini-Camps are for children ages 7-10. For more information visit: www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/programs_camps.html

Camper at The Tech Summer Camp

The Tech Summer Camps

The Tech Summer Camps for rising 4th-8th graders, provide the ideal mix of learning and fun, giving aspiring scientists and engineers the chance to engage in hands-on science and technology classes at The Tech Museum in San Jose. 2011 campers can choose from 20 different science and engineering areas, including green design, LEGO/robotics, video game design, photography, kitchen chemistry, and medicine.

For more information, visit: summercamps.thetech.org/descriptions.cfm.