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The Summer STEM Camps addresses the summer learning loss and help children understand STEM concepts using an interactive curriculum and field experiences. The camp for 2012 will consist of three camps and an accelerated UT PREP Camp pending funding. These camps are not open to the general public but are formed in cooperation with specific campuses in Austin. Rising 4th and 6th grade students will come from Wooten elementary in 2012. Students are nominated by their teachers to participate in the camp.
UTeach is currently seeking funding for multi-week STEM prep camps. These camps are designed to address the issues of diversity in STEM fields. 7th grade students will come from Kealing and selected schools. UT PREP is based on the successful TexPREP program (http://www.prep-usa.org/portal/texprep/), which is designed for seventh through tenth grade students when the full program is established. Through these camps, UTeach hopes to create a pipeline to STEM careers for historically underrepresented groups.
The camp curriculum is prepared and led by College of Natural Sciences students and faculty. Teachers from some of the partner schools participate in each lesson. Lessons are taught using hands-on, inquiry-based learning techniques that include field trips to research labs, wildlife/nature areas, and other appropriate locations to demonstrate application of STEM material. Each camp includes and goes beyond the TEKS to meet the College Readiness Standards. Camp attendees are evaluated at the end of each lesson to test their understanding of the material.
Participation in the Summer STEM Camps has shown that students of all backgrounds can learn at advanced levels and meet rigorous standards. The Summer Camp has proven so successful that it has migrated off the UT Austin campus. New Braunfels ISD has now replicated the UTeach Summer camps for four years.