9/7/2011
In July 2011, both chaos and learning were heard from inside the multipurpose room of the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) at the University of Illinois. Kids ages six...
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By: Danyelle Michelini
In July 2011, both chaos and learning were heard from inside the multipurpose room of the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) at the University of Illinois. Kids ages six to 14 were learning about math, technology, engineering and entrepreneurship.
The Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) at the University launched its first summer camp for kids to conduct experiments, expand their creativity, and learn real world applications of engineering as well as other fields.
Brain Fitness Fridays (BFF Camp) is a place for kids to exercise their minds by opening their eyes to new fields of study while still giving them outlets to be kids and exert their kinetic energy.
The kids weren’t the only happy campers, as parents also offered positive feedback with one parent stating, “The presentations were highly engaging. We greatly appreciate everyone's time in putting together activities for the kids. (Another great event from the TEC! Always impressed with the organization and thought put into your events. Thank you!).”
This year, BFF campers engaged in field trips to two solar houses on campus, where they learned about solar energy and sustainability. They were shocked to find that efficiently conserving energy required much thicker walls than an average house.
Campers also ventured to the Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), a community hub for designing and creating prototypes. Kids made key chains using 3D prototyping printers and were able to see the fabrication process from start to finish.
TEC Director, Andrew Singer, showed campers how to manufacture and decorate their own toy hoops. Singer taught campers about the laws of physics, centrifugal force, natural frequency and good old fashioned competition. While he held his own during the hooping contest, he was ultimately beat out by a 7-year-old camper.
Mechanical Science and Engineering Visiting Education Coordinator, Joe Muskin, led a day of activities working with Nano-Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems (Nano-CEMMS), where they learned about nano-particles and their many applications.
To give the kids a better sense of how challenging working with nano-particles can be, Muskin fit them with oven mits and directed them to put together a small car made of Legos. Campers were stunned at the difficulty of the task and quickly realized the similarities between their conquest and working with real nano-particles.
In addition to this, campers learned about silver nano-particles and their anti-microbial properties. They also worked with gold nano-particles to learn and how they are used in cancer research.
A camp favorite, the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment allowed kids to get hands-on experience with chemical and physical reactions. While kids were picked up that day stickier and sweeter than they had been dropped off that morning, not one complained after watching fountains of Diet Coke spewing from various sized bottles.
Led by one of TEC’s Adjunct Professors, Brian Lilly, campers also built roller coaster tracks out of tinker toys, duct tape and card-stock paper. They worked in small groups to design roller coaster layouts and executed their ideas using a marble to ride the course.
Giving points for curves and loops allowed the kids to learn about infrastructure and the properties as well as limitations of their building materials.
The camp also had guest appearances from Lynford Goddard, an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and Ariel Moctezuma, a graduate student in ECE, studying under Professor Naresh Shanbhag.
Goddard taught the kids about statistics and algorithms with hands on sports games and a card sorting activity. Moctezuma and his team of helpers taught them about circuits using snap circuit kits that the kids really seemed to enjoy and excel in.
TEC certainly hopes to add this camp to their yearly agenda of activities and programs. “Being able to reach out to a younger population and get them excited about engineering, entrepreneurship and science has been the highlight of our summer,” said TEC’s Marketing Specialist and Camp Coordinator, Danyelle Michelini.
Additionally, the Center offers on-site and online certificate programs for education and professional development with courses in entrepreneurship, business, and commercializing technology. For more information about TEC and the programs they offer, visit their website: tec.illinois.edu or email Danyelle Michelini at dmichel2@illinois.edu.