Hands-on STEM camp gets students excited about careers

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Dozens of HISD elementary and middle school students spent the first month of the summer break at a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) camp at M.C. Williams Middle School.

Campers, who are in grades 2–8, had daily team-building sessions during the program, which ran from June 2–26. They also learned how to code video games, and built rockets that they launched on the last day of camp.

Many special guests stopped by to talk to students about STEM careers. Pilots, nurses, and engineers met with the students over lunch on Wednesdays, and industry partners from AT&T, FSG Electrical Illusion Institute, Harbor Alliance, iMagine That Filmworks, STEM UP, Texas Organizing Project, and WTS International were on hand for a career day.

The students took a few field trips to get hands-on experience, too. They went to Challenger Seven Learning Center in Webster to study various environments and habitats. They also went to Seabrook to test water samples to determine water and air quality.

This was the second year of the camp, which is funded through the Magnet Schools Assistance Grant.

“Students were so excited about these projects that they have already signed up for the program next summer,” said Grant Development Manager Jennifer Todd.

Parents who would like to sign up their child for next year may email STEM Coordinator Zanovia Gatson at zgatson@houstonisd.org.

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