Camp Sessions by Grade Level
| Second and Third | Fourth and Fifth | Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth |
* Camp sessions marked with an asterisk (*) are contingent upon funding from an outside source which will be determined in January 2008.
Second and Third Graders
Secret Formulas- How does glue stick? What makes soda so sweet? In Secret Formulas, campers will develop recipes that create the best products possible and learn to develop convincing advertising for their products. A healthy dose of scientific thinking combined with equal parts creativity and experimentation yields a week of great fun!
Wright Stuff- How are airplanes and rockets alike? What makes an airplane or rocket take off? What keeps them in the air? Campers will experiment with the principles of lift, drag, thrust, and gravity as they construct fliers that meet- or exceed- given specifications. We will conclude this week with our own flight festival.
Endangered- From cute pandas to ferocious cheetahs, many living species are endangered. Campers will gain greater understanding of Earth's environmental issues, explore why some species are in need of protection and discover ways they can help our endangered species.
*Elementary Engineering I: Simple Machines*- Students will learn the art of designing successful structures through challenges utilizing various force requirements. Students will learn how to design a successful lever for performing a Catapult challenge. Students will create the best design for powering a car using the energy from a rubber band. Students will apply their understanding of gears and motor geometry through the challenges of the rubber band car.
Fourth and Fifth Graders
Fizz, Bang, Boom- Spend a week exploring chemistry in this exciting camp. Learn about atoms and molecules, acids and bases, chemical reactions, and more while participating in a series of hands-on experiments. At the end of the week, campers will test their newfound knowledge in a chemistry quiz bowl hosted by real chemists!
Wild Things- Animals do the strangest things! Why do cats purr when you pet them? Why do ants often travel in a single-file line? Why do coyotes howl at nighttime? Come investigate why these and other creatures do the things they do. Design a chemical trail, create your own "wacky animal" rating scale, and take an in-depth look at our own species behavior. There's no limit to the oddities we'll encounter!
Ocean Explorers- Humans know more about the surface of the Moon than about Earth's sea floor. Take a virtual underwater adventure, from the eerie depths of the ocean floor to the surreal beauty of the sea surface. Investigate the reason for the tides, study how tsunamis form and make waves of your own; discover the creatures that live in the deep, design your own deep-water species, and get an up-close view of what life is like on a coral reef. There's an ocean of mysteries waiting to be discovered!
DigiComp Computation- Students will learn basic computer operations and fundamentals including the fundamentals of Binary Logic and Boolean Algebra.
*Elementary Engineering: Compound Machines II*- Students will use their understanding of vertical cross beams to build various structures and use the vertical cross beam in the design of their car for a prepared challenge. Students will demonstrate their understanding of utilizing a pulley system. Students will create a compound machine demonstrating their understanding of rack and pinion steering works, engine layouts and drives, car chassis, transmissions, and differential gears through motorized retrieval challenge.
Sixth, Seventh, and Eight Graders
CSI:Greenville- Forensic science contains codes that we can use to unlock any number of mysteries. CSI: Greenville campers will learn- via hands-on laboratory experiments emphasizing chemistry, microbiology and genetics- how modern-day detectives use scientific knowledge to uncover the story behind the crime. During the end of the week, campers will apply these newly acquired skills to the investigation of a "mystery."
Moon, Mars, and Beyond- NASA's new vision calls for robotic and human explorations of the Moon and Mars within the next 20 years. Get a head start by examining the science, engineering, and biological advances necessary for this endeavor. Simulations, hands-on activities and other resources from the NASA Langley Research Center will support this camp.
*Advanced Robotics VEX*- Students will learn the importance of the structural system of a robot through experiencing the construction of this system. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the motion subsystem of a robot by accepting challenges to create motion with their robots through the use of wheels and gears to move across various terrain. Students will demonstrate how to control the sensor subsystem of a robot through obstacle course challenges.
