EMU STEM Ed Institute Hosts Summer Camp for Ypsilanti Grizzly Scholars

The Institute for STEM Education, Outreach and Workforce Development at Eastern Michigan University (EMU STEM Ed Institute) and the Germany Ballintyn Education Foundation (GBEF) collaborated to provide a one-week summer camp experience for 32 rising fifth- and sixth-grade students enrolled in Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) on the EMU campus, August 3 – August 7, 2026. Raj Rahman, an EMU mechanical engineering major, and Jose Hernandez, a graduate student in the EMU College of Education (COE), supported the delivery of hands-on STEM activities for the camp. Both Rahman and Hernandez serve as undergraduate and graduate assistants, respectively, with the EMU STEM Ed Institute. 

GBEF focuses on removing barriers to accessing high-quality education and career opportunities for young people. “The rising 5th and 6th grade classes of the Ypsilanti Grizzly Scholars Program completed a successful week of a STEM-focused camp in collaboration with the STEM Ed Institute at Eastern Michigan University,” said Nicolaas J. Ballintyn, GBEF treasurer.  “Students benefited from STEM classes, daily field trips, and several unique STEM Ed Institute activities.  This week’s experiences on an accessible, high-quality college campus will encourage Ypsilanti Grizzly Scholars (YGS) students to consider pursuing higher education—hopefully in a STEM field.”

Several engaging STEM activities—making homemade ice cream, robotics and coding, augmented reality (AR) globe scavenger hunt, submarines and buoyancy—were held in the facilities of COE and the EMU Department of Chemistry. The YGS students also participated in a field trip experience to the EMU Halley Library. “University libraries can show how big the world is and that the scope of knowledge and learning is vast. These visits remove barriers by making libraries approachable and comfortable for students of all ages,” said Kelly (Grossman) Getz, Associate Professor, STEM Librarian.

Skylar Holcomb, EMU alumna (BS, Secondary Education Mathematics, 2025) and former intern with the EMU STEM Ed Institute returned to campus to deliver hands-on STEM activities with the YCS students. Holcomb is now a mathematics educator at West Middle School (Taylor Public School District). Marcella Mick, an educator at Howell High School (Howell Public Schools) and Megan Stark, an educator at Skyline High School (Ann Arbor Public Schools), also delivered several engaging STEM-focused lessons during the camp.

“As a former outreach intern with EMU’s STEM Ed Institute, I was thrilled to join the camp team through the Germany-Ballintyn Education Foundation and serve as a liaison between the two organizations,” said Holcomb. “Most meaningful was the opportunity to lead campers through activities I had developed during my internship with the EMU STEM Ed Institute. Seeing those carefully planned activities come to life and succeed was one of the most rewarding experiences of my summer.”

The YGS students had the opportunity to learn about the chemistry of making homemade ice cream with Holcomb using an “ice cream ball maker.” The ice cream ball maker contains two chambers for mixing ingredients. In one chamber, the students added the ice cream mixture (heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract). Ice and salt were added to the second chamber of the ice cream ball. The salt lowers the melting point of ice, which is a chemistry concept known as freezing point depression. The ice-salt-water mixture can reach a temperature below 0°C (32°F), which is needed to freeze the ice cream. The students worked in teams to shake the ice cream ball for approximately 15 minutes to make their very own dairy treat. 

Holcomb also led the AR globe lesson plan with YGS students, where they learned about other countries using a globe and mini-iPads. Afterwards, the students worked in teams preparing a creative poster based on what they learned for a gallery walk. The AR globes lesson is unique because it integrates social studies, history, geography, and STEM applications. 

Another EMU program, Way Forward, also participated in the summer camp experience. Way Forward, which is housed within EMU@Engage, is a youth-driven traumatic brain injury (TBI) certification initiative for high school students. The YGS students were excited to learn about Way Forward. “It was a privilege seeing our Youth Health Educator Ambassadors engage with the Ypsilanti Grizzly Scholars, sharing pertinent information about traumatic brain injury and prevention through leadership and peer-to-peer education,” said Elizabeth (Liz) Garbar, Health Professional Hub Coordinator, Way Forward. “Partnerships like this provide youth with the opportunity to recognize their voices and have the power to educate, inspire and create positive changes.” 

“Engaging young people early in STEM outreach is essential—it helps them see the many successful career pathways available in these fields,” said Dr. Sibrina Collins, director of the EMU STEM Ed Institute. “Right now, thousands of students, especially those in under-resourced communities, are being left out of some of the fastest‑growing areas of our economy. Programs like this are critical for closing that gap and supporting the workforce development our communities urgently need.”

The EMU STEM Ed Institute is funded by Driving Possibilities, a Toyota USA Foundation initiative.