EMU STEM Ed Institute Kicks Off Parkridge Community Center's Summer Camp

In the midst of EMU’s STEM Ed Institute Summer Outreach program, Director Sibrina Collins, Assistant Director Zachary Krauss, and Summer Outreach Intern Skylar Holcomb had the opportunity to lead three days worth of exploratory activities at Parkridge Community Center’s STEM Summer Learning Experience. Starting off with a robotics-focused day, students were challenged to use their computer science and engineering skills to complete a remote-controlled robot obstacle course consisting of ball pit balls, pool noodles, and hula hoops. After finishing the course, students switched groups and were then tasked with programming a VEX robot to drive through a maze using screenless block coding. During the second day’s activities, students explored biology slides using digital microscopes, which allowed them to take a closer look at items like honeybee wings, earthworms, and plant stems. After this, using snap circuit kits, students investigated electronics like speakers, motion sensors, and switches. On the final day of discovery, students learned about the chemical reactions and physics behind ice cream making to make their very own ice cream complete with toppings like cookies, sprinkles, and chocolate syrup. Each student truly enjoyed this scrumptious and educational activity!

Rising to the challenge, every student applied their STEM knowledge and skills to each one of the activities. Filled with excitement and laughter, the students at Parkridge Community Center were extremely intrigued and fully immersed in every lesson. Exposing students to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-based activities can unlock a world of possibilities for those who would not otherwise be heavily introduced to these types of topics. 
based activities can unlock a world of possibilities for those who would not otherwise be heavily introduced to these types of topics. By doing this, the STEM Ed Institute can inspire a new generation of engineers, computer scientists, chemists, and many more, which is imperative to the Institute’s outreach mission.