Worcester Academy: Summer Science Camp Recently Updated

The Worcester Academy Science camp is designed to excite, engage and motivate young people interested in science. The camp allows children to explore how science helps solve problems in a real-world context.

Each day Design Teams will be given a new Design Challenge to solve.  Using both the Engineering Design Cycle and a Design Thinking approach, participants will ideate, build, test, and iterate solutions to these novel problems.

Sample design challenges might include:

• How might we construct a tower that can withstand hurricane-like conditions?  
• How might we create an environment to keep reptile eggs alive in transit?   
• How might we clean up an aquatic ecosystem after an oil spill?

Participants will tackle these Design Challenges in the newly renovated Kingsley Laboratory building.  Each Design Challenge will be structured in a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) format in which participants will (1) learn about the science behind their challenge, (2) apply the science through the design of a solution, (3) test their design through the collection of data and feedback, (4) re-design using test results and feedback, and (5) explain the scientific reasoning behind their solution(s).  The camp will conclude with participants returning to their favorite Design Challenge to present in a symposium where learners will share with family and friends.