The MiniMinds summer camp helps the youngest of students discover the wonders of science
You’re never too young to learn about science and engineering. That’s why UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science created MiniMinds, a new summer learning camp for six-year-olds entering Grade 1 this year.
The camp is offered through the faculty’s GEERing Up! program, which aims to promote science and engineering to young students through hands-on learning. MiniMinds includes activities such as colouring flowers to see petals take on the hue of food dye and creating “flinkers,” objects that neither float nor sink but just “flink” in the water.
“At the end of the day, it is really rewarding to see kids excitedly tell mom or dad about what they learned that day and how much fun they had,” says Lauren Taffe, GEERing Up! instructor.
MiniMinds camps are smaller than other GEERING Up! programs with classes consisting of 20 children and four to five staff leaders, all of whom are UBC students.
Camps run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. with before- and after-camp childcare. MiniMinds starts July 7 at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
For more information and registration, click here
Stepping up to STEM
While MiniMinds focuses on youngsters who are starting their education, another new GEERing Up! program helps students entering Grades 11 and 12, as well as recent graduates, familiarize themselves with all STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. The MasterMinds program gives youth a chance to experience “a week in the life of an engineer” through interacting with faculty and students in UBC lecture halls and labs. Activities include computer programming, robotics design, microelectronics, chemistry experiments and lab tours.
MasterMinds starts July 7, 2014. Registration and other information may be found here
Contact: Jakob Manning or Tanjot Singh
Tel: 604.822.2858
Email: geeringup@apsc.ubc.ca
Video: GEERing UP! program
Other UBC summer camps
From scuba diving to strawberry science, UBC 2014 Summer Camps engage children and youth in programs ranging from playwriting and music to science, sports and farming. New this year is an option to build a customized camp week at UBC.
For more information about UBC summer camps, click here.
Scuba camp
Campers aged 8-12 learn diving techniques in the safety of the swimming pool, moving from the shallow end to the deep end as they gain skills and confidence. Camps start July 14.
For more information, click here
Contact:
Meghan McLeod
Tel: 604.822.1540
Email: meghanam@mail.ubc.ca
UBC Camps International
UBC Camps International offers cultural adventures for students from around the world who want to learn English as a second language. Campers aged 10-18 gain skills in creativity, motivation and cultural inclusiveness and participate in activity field trips. Camps start June 29.
For more information, click here
Contact:
Meghan McLeod
Tel: 604.822.1540
Email: meghanam@mail.ubc.ca
Farm Wonders
Hosted by UBC Farm, this camp lets kids check out chickens, frogs and vegetable-powered clocks as well as teaches them to prepare meals consisting of farm-grown produce. Camps start June 23.
For more information, click here
Contact:
Tamara Litke
Tel: 604.827.4048
Cell: 778.885.2115
Email: tamara.litke@ubc.ca
Phenomenal Physics and Astronomy Summer Camps
Young scientists entering Grades 2-10 will build rockets and robots, create a Martian habitat, eat ice cream made from liquid nitrogen and take part in other activities that demonstrate scientific theories. Camps will run during the period July 7-August 1.
For more information, click here
Contact:
Zack Eberwein
Tel: 604.822.3675
Email: camps@phas.ubc.ca