The science of summer at STEM Camp
YMCA offering alternative camp experience; additional week added to schedule
This article is brought to you by Community First Bank of Indiana.
Summer camp is something many kids get a chance to experience at least once in their lives, but how many of them get to conduct scientific experiments at camp? Thanks to the Kokomo Family YMCA, this opportunity is a reality.
The local YMCA is offering a STEM Camp through July 18 at its Camp Tycony facility at 917 Malfalfa Road. According to Sports and Recreation Director Mark Sutton, the camp is a unique experience.
“STEM camp is obviously something different outside of the normal camp,” said Sutton. “They do different activities. They're building like volcanoes and doing egg drops. It's an outlet for kids that they are not used to. If they want to do something else -- get their hands on different activities -- that's what it is.”
Volcanoes and egg drops?
The volcano experiment is familiar to anyone who remembers the old “Brady Bunch” episode where Peter’s baking soda and vinegar experiment ended in a mess for Marcia and her friends. The egg drop is exactly what it sounds like. The kids have to design a method to drop an egg without it breaking.
“The kids’ imaginations run wild,” said YMCA Director of Community Development A.J. Edwards. “We had one kid who created a cardboard structure and tied it to a type of parachute. We dropped it off our deck, and it settled to the ground. It was perfect. That's one of our best activities.”
Normally, STEM Camp is offered just a couple weeks in June and July. However, due to the popularity of the camp, the YMCA has added a week to the schedule. Kids ages 6 to 14 can be registered for camp this week or next. And best of all, while the camp typically costs $50 per week, thanks to grants from United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties and NIPSCO, kids can attend STEM Camp for free.
“We're really grateful for all of our community partners,” said Edwards.
STEM Camp runs alongside the regular programming at Camp Tycony, and there is some overlap, Sutton explained. The STEM campers are welcome to participate in some of the standard activities, but the focus is on the unique offerings of STEM Camp, he said.
And, with such a variety of unique experiences available, STEM campers will have no shortage of fun learning opportunities.
“They do balloon-powered cars; it's always one of my favorites,” said Edwards. “We do solar ovens with pizza boxes, and they learn how to cook food. We also do a lot of general science experiments, like, how many drops of water can you fit on a penny?”
Still, this is an outdoors camping experience. As such, Sutton advises parents to send their children in the appropriate attire.
“So, you’ll want closed-toe shoes, and we always tell the kids to wear clothes that their parents won't mind getting dirty,” said Sutton.
Registration for STEM Camp is open now for this week and next week. But speed is of the essence. Sutton said that registration can be completed through the YMCA website or by visiting the front desk at the YMCA in downtown Kokomo.