Summer Camps for

Recruiting in STEM
David Keathly
Principal
Lecturer/Robocamp
Director
UNT Computer Science
and Engineering
Elizabeth Halweg
IT Instructor
Fox Valley Technical
College
Reaching Future Students with
STEM Summer Camps
Learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of
planning and conducting successful STEM Summer
Camps.
This session will use existing programs to provide a
framework and resources for you to design your own
STEM Summer Camps and Workshops.
Discuss materials, costs, equipment, recruiting and other
aspects of camp planning and production.
Why do you want to host a
summer camp?
To educate
To recruit students
To retain students
To create awareness of our programs
To create a positive image in our community
To benefit the school hosting the event
To advance the state of the art in STEM
education
To have fun!
Planning Your Camp
Demographics
Age what will be the age/grade limitations?
Gender consider a girls-only option for middle and high-school students
Race grant funding may be available for targeted populations
Theme For Your Camp
Science sampler
Week-long project (design & build a robot, make a model race car, etc.)
Theme-based activities (computer science, biology, aerospace, etc.)
Resources
Lego Education
National Girls Collaborative Project
PBS (SciGirls, Design Squad)
NASA
Hobby store science kits
Funding
Costs
Printing/advertising
Staffing
Supplies
Hospitality/snacks
T-shirts/name tags
Revenue/Resources
How much to charge participants
Youth camps range in price from free/low cost to several hundred
dollars per week
Consider offering financial assistance to low-income families
Seek out partnerships
In-kind donations of supplies
Volunteer instructors/staff
Look for grant opportunities
Funding (continued)
UNT
Technology Workforce
Development Grant funded by the
CB and the Texas Engineering and
Technical Consortium (www.tetc.us)
Motorola Foundation
Innovation Generation grants
RGK Foundation
Texas Workforce Commission
Dallas Womens Foundation
The CB
Camp Fees
College and Department Funds
Alumni
Texas (and US) Girls Collaborative
Camp Fees
FVTC
Plexus
Associated Bank
Womens Fund of the Fox Cities
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (Power
of Manufacturing)
FVTC
Camp Fees
Recruiting
Finding staff/volunteers
Network to find resources from local businesses
Ask instructors from your institution
Partner with other schools or community organizations
Advertising your camp to prospective participants
Posters/flyers
Distribute to local schools (both public & private)
Post around campus
Local businesses/buildings that have bulletin boards (churches,
chiropractic offices, grocery stores, YMCA, library, etc.)
Email
Past participants
Area high school and middle school counselors
Contacts from local youth organizations: Girl/Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls
Clubs, homeschool networks, etc.
Recruiting (continued)
Websites (www.fvtc.edu/summercamps)
Publications
Newspaper article, camp guides,
School course guide, after school groups
School magazine, websites, flyers
Publicity Buzz
The more the better!
Radio stations, Web, Print and TV
Online community events calendars
Community events (booth at science fairs, summer activities fair,
etc.), teachers,
Boys and Girls clubs
Flyers dropped off at counselors offices
Outdoor signs on campus
Word of mouth this is often the most effective means of recruitment!
Recruiting (continued)
Tracking
Where do they go
What do they do
What does your college want you to record
What does this have to do with
Recruiting?
Direct Recruiting
Albeit delayed!
Interested students are retained on mailing lists and
other follow-ups
Tracking
Where do they go?
What do they do?
Publicity/Buzz
The more the better!
Local and national
Web, Print and TV
Example
Publications
Tips for Event Planning
Selecting the dates:
Check local school district calendar for dates of regular session and for summer
school
Research other community events/camps (what else might conflict?)
Location/Setup:
Make room reservations as needed
Consider facility needs such as table space, A/V requirements, outlets, etc.
Is there sufficient parking? Will staff need parking permits?
Food (if snacks are going to be provided):
Try to focus on healthier but kid-friendly options like muffins, string cheese, fresh fruit,
chips & salsa
Offer a variety of choices and be considerate of participants with food allergies or
limitations (Many children in middle/high school have braces and arent supposed to
eat excessively hard, crunchy, or sticky foods. Also, many schools and daycares now
have no peanut policies, since this is such a common allergen.)
What kind of resources do you
need?
Materials
Supplies
Computers
Student workers or faculty (volunteers)
Food and drink
Prizes
Advertising
Speakers and entertainment
Safety
Consider drop off/pick up procedures (require a grownup to
accompany students to/from the main meeting room each day). Call
unexcused no-shows.
Have emergency contact numbers/special needs/allergy information
readily available should staff need it
Provide safety equipment as needed (safety glasses, gloves, etc.)
Require that students wear appropriate clothing in lab/manufacturing
environments (close-toed shoes, long hair tied back, etc.)
Make sure activities are age-appropriate
Things to think about
Liability insurance
Medical information and medicines
First aid kits
Youth Protection Training for Staff
Background checks
Drop off and Pick up
Contact information
Resident camp issues?
Backup staff and overlap
Speakers
Entertainment
Key Elements of a Good Camp
(IMHO)
A large, but manageable group
Staff with good people skills
A Theme
Good food
Variety of activities
Play Time
Projects and Presentations
Team Activities
Entertainment
Something for the Parents
Fun and Laughter!
Partners and Supporters
UNT
Girls Scouts of America
Apple Computer
Parallax Corporation
Lego
The Stewpot
ISDs
Collin College
El Centro College
UNT Dallas Campus
UNT PDI
CISCO
FVTC
Girls and Boys Club
Robotics Education &
Competition (REC)
Kimberly Clark
Plexus
McCain Foods
Associated Bank
Georgia Pacific
FVTC Case Studies
FVTC Case Studies
UNT Case Studies
What are these?
A one week engineering experience for young women (and now young men
too!) entering grades 7 thru 12
Actually a group of camp activities including
Robocamp
Advanced Robocamp
XBOX Game Development Camp
AppCamp (new)
CSExperience (Programming)
Enginuity! (Engineering Design)
Grandparents University
SuperCamp (new)
Completing its 9th year of operation in Summer 2013
Facilities are mobile, and curriculum is modular to facilitate mini-camps and
on-site camps at a variety of locations
Engi neer i ng
Ac hi evement : St ar
Robot Sent t o t he
Sun!
Other
National
Headlines
Robots
Gone
Wild!
Global
Warming
No Longer
a Threat
The Age of A.T.O.M.
Atomic
Technology
Of
Machines
Group of Female Engineers
Succeed in Creating Worlds
Fastest Computer Using
Atomic Technology
Science in Motion!!
A Sticky Situation!
New Suction Tires Overcome Ice and Water on Roads!
Home Values
Rise in Antarctica
Page 60
Page 38
Asimo to Mars!
Page 16
New Robots leave
hairdressers without a job!!!
Team of female inventors
make things easier for
everyday life
Having fun
Anecdotal Comments
It opened my mind to considering this as a
career Student
Yes, I understand more, and I am even
taking a course in robotics, now. Im actually
passing. Student
Yes it affected what I wanted to major in. I
wanted to first major in business, now I want
to major in computers Student
Yes I have been much more interested in
science since Robocamp Student
I had already known I was interested in
math and science, however, my experience
at Robocamp further enforced my decision. It
also made me think that engineering would
be an ideal field to study Student
Most definitely. My high school requires us
to take one credit of computer science and
this camp helped me choose which course to
take. I am also more aware of what people
are talking about when they discuss robotics.
Robocamp further strengthened my interest
in math and science Student
Yes, her grades improved greatly in math
and science Parent
the program gave her additional confidence,
particularly because it was an all-girls class. Besides
being female, she is also quite naturally introverted,
so activities like this do help a great deal. I think it
has given her confidence and a sense of direction.
Parent
She now tries to think thru the problems rather than
just solve them Parent
She, as of right now, is planning on going to
college. No college has been chosen but she is
interested in engineering because of last years
camp!! Parent
Math was never an easy subject for her, but since
last years camp, she has been determined to learn
all the math she can. She is EAGER to start
Algebra. Parent
In the past, Sam always felt like math and science
were for smart kids and that it had to be boring.
Camp changed some of these stereotypes for her.
Now that she does not see these subjects as an
opportunity to fail, she is better able to focus her
efforts and succeed. Parent
Yes. This year she has A/Bs in math and science.
We believe that she finally figured out that she CAN
do it so as a result she listens and tries harder -
Parent
Want to learn more?
We will post some resources on the CTC
website and Wiki
We have camp materials available to
share!
Contact us
David david.keathly@unt,edu
Elizabeth halweg@FVTC.edu
Questions?