Chicago Public Schools STEM Summer Camp

We will create STEM summer camps for young students in Chicago Public Schools at local universities with college-aged conselors. Students will be exposed to STEM topics including 3-D printing, robotics, and video game animation. These summer camps will enable students to explore academic possibilities and continue momentum in school.

Seeking to expose young students in Chicago Public Schools to college-educated role models and education outside of the students' immediate community, we will create STEM summer camps at local universities supervised by college student mentors.  Students will be exposed to STEM topics beyond classroom learning including 3-D printing, robotics, and video game animation that are informative, engaging, and fun. These summer camps will create spaces for students to explore academic possibilities in a new context and continue momentum in school throughout the elementary years.

Our solution seeks to solve challenges related to a lack of student engagement after third grade in many Chicago Public Schools leading to poor academic performance thereafter and a resulting lack of preparedness to participate in an increasingly technologically advanced workforce.  Students lack exposure to college-educated role models and opportunities for education and growth beyond their immediate community.

Summer camps will ignite students' curiosity and excitement for topics that they did not previously associate with school and the classroom, like video game animation.  Using this experience as a launching pad for continued engagement, college-aged  counselors at the camp will continue to mentor and support the students as they continue elementary education.  Extracurricular clubs, such as robotics clubs, can serve as a touchpoint for students to continue the education that STEM summer camp introduced,.