Engineering Summer Camp

I first became excited about engineering when I attended a two week summer camp for girls called EDGE (Educating Girls for Engineering). EDGE campers learn about the different types of engineering from speakers and exercises like making a bridge with gum drops and toothpicks. The best part of this camp was when we formed small teams and created a toy that was specially designed for a child with a disability. We were able to meet with the child and/or their care taker, learn what they liked to do, what they were able to do, and learn about the child we were helping. My team member and I were assigned a little girl with spina bifida, a developmental congenital disorder, which causes muscle weakness and neurological complications. The little girl we met with couldn't talk but she liked the sound of music. She could only move her thumbs and squeeze her inner thighs.

My team member and I created a toy just for her. It was a pillow we cut to fit between her legs with a pressure sensor inside. On top was a musical keyboard with the alphabet. We rearranged the circuitry and installed switches and LEDs on the keyboard so when she squeezed her legs together the keyboard sang a song, and when she pushed the buttons with her thumb a group of LEDs lit up.

^{Young Chelsey engineering stuff and the final product (I'm on the right).}

It was exceptionally gratifying when we were able to give our toys to the kids. Ours wasn't perfect, although I don't remember exactly what was wrong with it. I do remember that she was able to make the lights light up with her thumbs. I remember some of the other kids playing with their personally designed toys and I remember thinking that engineering can make the world a better place.

Where I'm going with this is that I don't think I would have gone to school for Biomedical Engineering without attending that summer camp. Sure, I was on summer break, so I could have been watching TV or laying by a pool, but I was up early every morning, taking classes, doing experiments, meeting professionals, and brainstorming solutions to real world problems.

^{Image Credit: iridescentlearning.org}

There are so many opportunities available for kids to get this type of hands on experience during the summer. CNN featured an online summer camp for maker kids that offers Google+ hangouts as well as in-person meetings but a quick Google search came up with dozens of options that fit every interest. Here's a list of summer programs in NY alone!

So encourage a child in your life to learn about engineering g this summer and find a summer camp near you!