Saturday was the culmination of two weeks of science camp.  We have had a variety of experiences and really learned lots about ourselves and our interests in science, technology, engineering and math.  Even though we were nervous about making the presentation on stage in front of friends and family it was an excellent learning experience and gave us the confidence that we CAN do that kind of thing.  

 

Even though we are middle school students, we understand how much time and money went into putting this camp together.  We feel lucky to have been a part of it and want to say THANKS to the great counselors and OSU people who made it happen!!!  Of course special thank to the Exxon-Mobil and the Bernard Harris Foundation for giving us this chance.

Thanks also to Chester Bateman with the OSU College of Education and Sara Miller and Robin Galloway (the head nag) with OSU Department 4-H Youth Development for working on this blog; and a huge thanks to all our friends and family for reading and commenting daily!

 

We are looking forward to keeping in touch with each other through the corroboree website.  Through this method of technology we can continue lessons and keep learning and growing together.
 

Check in next year for more updates!

 

 

Evening campfires are a tradition at camp. It’s more challenging to pull off when on campus and we can’t build a real fire. Here counselor David and Ass. Director Stephen fired up our creative little log. High five to Alex Bourdeau for making the log for us.

To introduce skits and songs, the staff artfully performed their own silly improvised material.

POD 8 girls skit had zombies running amok

POD 8 boys featured Ethan reading complicated tongue twisters, while he was highlighted by back-up dancers

POD 6 girls Singer Azaria with the audience waving glow sticks

POD 6 boys Josh recovered quickly from his dramatic role.

POD 7 Creativity and imagination make great camp fire skits.

Pod 7 Mock American idol competition. These judges were kinder than the ones on tv!

 

Our last full day of camp was spent building mars modules, finishing our power point presentations and our posters. A few more creative touches and we are ready for Saturday

Camp coordinator Liz Johnson brought some of her roommates and herptile friends for us to meet. Liz has been essential to making our mission successful as she organized the details for campers. Counselor Tom is a Zoology major at OSU, who also knows these critters well.

Yesterday our teams build structures out of wood and tape. Today those structures got put to the test for engineering and design at the Hinsdale Research Center on the OSU campus. Some camper team’s structures held up longer than the Staff’s model – another proof that our generation is pretty darned smart!

there are many cooperators doing research at the wave tank

structures were solidly attached to the ocean floor before the waves hit them

Floating debris was sadly collected

Everyone left high and dry – headed back on our Mission to Mars

A live podcast and video were made by camp Executive Director Virginia Bourdeau, and Chester Bateman, the genius behind this blog’s creation.