Foundations of STEM

(recommended ages: 8-9)

 Engineering is all around us!  Students will learn STEM principles and apply them to hands-on activities that are both fun and challenging.  Students will master foundations of STEM by learning about design, measurement, problem-solving, keeping an “engineering portfolio”, innovating, and prototyping.  Topics include what is STEM, aerospace engineering, principles of flight, alternative energies, and solar power.  Student projects are:

• Week 1

  • Tower of Pong  

  • Marble Run

  • Solar Powered Fan

• Week 2

  • Boat challenge

  • Paper Airplanes

  • Wind Turbines

• Week 3

  • Aquarium Stand/Hammock

  • Make your own mini robot

  • Water Powered Rockets

 

Engineering Design

(recommended ages: 9-12)

Engineering Design is the follow-up course to Foundations of STEM where students are challenged to create more complex prototypes.  Projects will include a more advanced design phase and students will continue to maintain an "engineering portfolio" to document their innovations from start to finish.  Topics include Civil Engineering, Architecture, Simple Machines, Environmental Engineering, Wind Power, and Roller Coaster Physics. 

• Week 1

  • Newspaper Chair

  • Skyscraper

  • Catapult

• Week 2

  • Solar Car

  • Robot Car 

• Week 3

  • Roller Coasters

  • Create your own flashlight

 

3D Prototyping and Graphic Design

(recommended ages 10-14)

Campers in this course will have the opportunity to work with today’s top equipment in the digital prototyping world. Campers will learn CAD or computer-aided-design software to create models that they will get to 3D print! Campers will also explore the world of digital graphic design using professional design software. Each camper will have the chance to create custom t-shirts, decals, magnets, water bottles, and more! Campers will also be able to apply both their graphic design skills and CAD prototyping skills to create custom candy bars using vacuum formed molds. Student projects are:

• Week 1

  • Intro to Computer Aided Modeling  and 3D printing

  • 3D Printed prototypes (keychains and fidget spinners)

  • 3D Printed phone cases and electronic accessories 

• ​​​Week 2

  • Intro to Vector modeling and Graphic Design 

  • Custom decals and oval magnets 

  • Custom single t-shirts 

• Week 3

  • Multi-part 3D printed prototypes 

  • Multi-color custom apparel

  • Multi-color layered decals and magnets 

  • Make your own Hat design 

  • ​

Robotics: Fabrication and Programming

(must be at least 11 years old)

Students will learn both the fabrication and programming involved in robotics.  The fundamentals of electrical engineering will be taught with topics including Ohm’s Law, soldering techniques, electronic components, and circuitry.  In addition to learning fundamentals of electronic fabrication, campers will also have the opportunity to work with one of the Lego Ev3 Mindstorm kits where they will design, build and program a powerful Lego computer that makes it possible to control motors and collect sensor feedback using the intuitive icon-based programming and data logging software

Students will fabricate (and take home):

• Week 1

  • DC Motors

  • Reverse Engineering Robot Toy

  • Learning to solder kit

  • Alarm Circuit Fabrication

• Week 2 

  • Robot Circuit Fabrication

• Week 3

  • Programming Lego Ev3 Robots