52 K-12th grade students dove into a full week of hands-on activities at our Spring Break Camps last week at the STEM Learning Center at Bethel New Life and Michele Clark High School.
School break camps are always free to our students, and feature opportunities for our most engaged explorers to dive even deeper into STEM topics with daily activities and field trips than they otherwise get to experience in our afterschool programs! Many of our participants report that they would be at home unsupervised and/or in charge of younger siblings if they did not have access to PE programs, including Spring Break camp. Field trips featured this Spring Break included exploration of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Farm on Ogden, a project of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Read on to learn about the different camps and activities students participated in!
Insects and Spiders
Students examined insects under microscopes and enjoyed lessons about insect anatomy, diet, and predators! In the first two days of camp, students studied crickets and built habitats for their crickets to learn about how they survive; in the final two days of camp, students learned about ladybugs and their habitats! Students made insect-themed crafts with the help of Rush REACH and visited the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Wednesday to complete the “Habitat Explorers” workshop on the grounds of the museum.
Weather
Kindergarteners to Second Graders at our Spring Break Camp at the STEM Learning Center at Bethel New Life learned about seasons, their causes, and why the weather changes throughout the year. They learned about rain, and engineered umbrellas. Later, they built thermometers with the help of weather-themed puppets! Many of our new STEAMbassadors were able to shadow experienced teachers during this camp and gained hands-on knowledge about their roles.
Minecraft Education
Students in grades 3rd-8th explored the intersection of programming and gaming as they tackled virtual escape rooms and puzzles. From block coding challenges to AI adventures, students honed their computational thinking skills while unraveling the mysteries of species extinction and biodiversity loss. This hands-on experience was enhanced by a field trip to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where students delved deeper into animal conservation. Each activity the students worked on was in relation to the activities they were doing during Spring Break Camp.
Junior Chef
Throughout the week, volunteers from the University of Illinois led students through a comprehensive culinary program. They covered essential skills such as proper handwashing techniques, measurements, and the importance of healthy food choices. Each day featured a different recipe, including Strawberry French Toast, Hawaiian Sandwiches, Chicken and Fruit Salad with Whole Wheat Crackers, and Eggs Ole. The hands-on sessions not only taught cooking skills but also emphasized food safety and nutrition. At the end of the week Students were rewarded with an apron, recipe book and certificates of completion.
Forensic Sciences
Our 6th-8th graders embarked on an exciting journey to learn about fingerprint identification and collection methods. Through hands-on activities and engaging multimedia presentations, students explored the intricate process of gathering crucial evidence at a crime scene. They even put their newfound skills to the test in a mock crime scene investigation, analyzing blood splatter patterns and piecing together clues to solve the mystery.
Robot Coding with Cozmo for 3rd-5th Graders
Our 3rd-5th graders embarked on a coding adventure, learning to program an adorable robot, Cozmo, to navigate through mazes and overcome obstacles. Using simple coding commands, students designed paths for Cozmo to follow, challenging their problem-solving skills while gaining a basic understanding of coding principles.
Environmental Advocates
At Michele Clark High School, students interested in environmental science and activism learned about a range of environmental issues like climate change, environmental racism, ocean acidification, air pollution, and food sustainability. This camp featured both activities and discussions of the material, to help students get the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to identify and address environmental issues in their own communities. During the week, students took field trips to the Shedd Aquarium and the Community Farm on Ogden!
Enriching educational activities, like those our students participated in during Spring Break, wouldn’t be possible without the tireless effort of our volunteers and the generous contributions of our funders. To keep these experiences accessible for Chicago students, consider how you might volunteer with Project Exploration!