Recharge, a STEM summer program offered by Camp Invention, kicked off the week today at Evans Middle School. With 100 campers, seven staff members, and 15 student assistants, students in grades K-6 are participating in five hands-on modules in an all-day program that ends Friday, including:
- Duck Chuck - In this high-energy adventure, kids build and test a device to launch rubber ducks across the world to visit famous landmarks, testing concepts like trajectory and velocity.
- Open Mic - Campers become creative entrepreneurs as they discover sounds waves in action as they take apart and rebuild a wireless microphone, and then their own extraordinary invention.
- Road Rally - Campers learn how to adapt as they design morphing vehicles that can travel across land, adding prototype elements for moving through air and water, taking inspiration from the animal realm.
- SolarBot - Using a robotic, solar-powered cricket, students experiment with circuits and energy while practicing empathy for real insects.
- Games - Students get physical during one module as they recharge their mental and physical batteries.
According to camp director, Breanna Dehrkoop, each module is developed by Camp Invention and provides differentiated activities for all students. Dehrkoop has been camp director the past five summers. She is excited with the new staff this year. "To have 100 students participate this year is awesome," she said. "It's great to have a camp in Ottumwa. We are one of only 14 camps in Iowa this year."
Student assistants from middle, high school, and college, provide teachers with additional help during each module while keeping students engaged. These Leadership Interns and Leaders in Training are also learning valuable skills as well as volunteer hours.
"There are not a lot of STEM activities during the summer in our area," said Dehrkoop. "I'm thrilled to be a part of this camp experience."
Camp staff includes Dehrkoop, Teresa Ahlf, assistant director; David Eaton, Alair Gregory, Gina Martin, Whitney Reber, and Heather Swanstrom, teachers; and Kari Bowen, associate.
