Building Branches of Success with STEM, Science Summer Camps

Summer Camp has become more than just s’mores and sleeping bags. Kids today have expansive options for all kinds of enriching experiences to fill their summers with wonder and learning in a fun environment. With current health considerations, changes in camp schedules may occur, so please contact camps directly for the most up-to-date information.

By Kelsey Asher

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Brandon Hall School STEM Summer Camps

Brandon Hall School offers many creative, educational experiences for students to plug into this summer. Visit brandonhall. org for the full list.

Rockets and Robotics STEAM Camp

June 6-24 and July 5-22. This is a three-week long camp with a boarding or day camp option.

Led by program creator and Brandon Hall School Forensics/ Robotics teacher Greg Morris, this camp will cover several topics that align with the national science standards and contains

Wesleyan School Summer Camp

several hands-on activities.

Rocket week is week one of the camp schedule. During this portion, students learn technical details of rocket building and design multiple rockets that will be launched at the end of the week. The week includes a visit to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Week two focuses on robotics. Students will learn how to design, build and code competition robots for the VEX robotics league. Students will work hands-on with state-of-the-art technology to develop a robot that can accomplish simple to very difficult tasks. This camp will challenge young engineers to problem solve and find alternative options to overcome design flaws. This week includes a visit to the TELLUS science museum to see examples of mechanical innovation exhibits and a planetarium movie they have that features rockets and space travel.

Week three combines rockets and robotics to design mobile launching platforms with robot recovery vehicles to retrieve spent rockets. Students create video presentations about their designs for rockets and robotics throughout the camp duration to share on the last day.

Spanish Language Immersion Camp

June 20-July 1 and July 5-16. Boarding and Day Camp options are available.

Summer is a great time to improve Spanish speaking skills! This Spanish Language Immersion Camp welcomes students from around the world and allows students to live and learn Spanish in an experiential program. This program is a certificate-based, individualized curriculum and follows ACTFL standards. Students will be fully immersed in Spanish speaking, reading, writing and listening to help them hone their skills both inside and outside of the classroom.

Students will balance academic classroom study with daily cultural and educational experiences around the Atlanta area. Spanish Language Immersion is an intensive program, which helps students refine their communication skills and prepares them for future success. This camp accommodates students at all levels of Spanish-speaking.

Wesleyan School STEM Summer Camps

For more information, visit wesleyanschool.org/programs/summer-camps.

June 13-17 XTreme STEAM: Minecraft Edition: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for Rising K to Rising 4th STEM—Engineering Design: 9 a.m.-12 noon. for Rising 5th to Rising 8th

June 27-July 1 Minecraft Camp: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for Rising 5th to Rising 8th

July 11-15 Minecraft & Lego Robotics: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for Rising 5th to Rising 8th STEM—Biomedical Science: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for Rising 5th to Rising 8th

July 18-22 L.E.G.O. Adventures: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for Rising K to Rising 4th Brushing Up on Academics: 9 a.m.-12 noon grade specific review for Rising Pre1st to Rising 5th Study Skills Boot Camp: 9 a.m.-12 noon for Rising 6th to Rising 8th

Greater Atlanta Christian School Spartan STEM Summer Camps

2022 camps will run from June 7 to July 30, with seven weeklong sessions available. Visit greateratlantachristian.org/ summer-camp/summer-camp for detailed information.

Chess Camp June 6-10 and June 20-24. 9 a.m.-12 noon. For 1st to 5th graders.

Chess Camp has a fun, friendly spirit and it’s a great way to keep the brain sharp during the summer while having a real blast! Chess Camp is a super-fun, high-energy chess experience in which kids ages 5 to 12 celebrate a new chess tactic each day.

Physical Science Boot Camp July 18-22, 9 a.m.-12 noon. For 8th graders.

Aviation Focused STEM Summer Camp

June 13-17, with a free Young Eagles flight on Saturday, June 18. 7th to 12th grade students may apply.

For more information, please visit eaa690.org/summer-camp. Contact Gay Roberts, Camp Registrar and Administrative Coordinator at summercamp@eaa690.org with any questions.

This unique program is held by EAA 690, a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association located at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Topics include Aircraft Construction Methods, Principles of Aeronautics, R/C Modeling, Helicopter Flight, Ground and Flight Instruction and possible visits to select facilities located at Briscoe Field.

The EAA Summer Camps were initiated in 2012 by Dr. Debi Huffman, an instructor at Fernbank Science Center and member of EAA Chapter 690. That first year was for ages 12 and 13, who would come to be known as Alpha Group. The second year the Chapter added Bravo Group for ages 14 and 15. The third year the Chapter added Charlie Group for ages 16 to 18. In the initial year of Charlie, there were only three campers — all girls. They were quickly dubbed “Charlie’s Angels.”

In all groups, the camp emphasizes STEM, aviation-oriented, hands-on activities. Activities planned for the Alpha Group are model aviation, building a sheet metal toolbox, introduction to composite construction for aviation, use of drones and an opportunity to fly a small drone through a competition course, and introduction to electronics.

Activities planned for the Bravo Group are advanced model aviation, introduction to airfoils and a chance to try their own design in a wind tunnel, use a simulator to fly a flight plan, build a sheet metal aileron section, use of drones and the opportunity to fly a small drone through a competition course, and introduction to welding.

The Charlie Group will be immersed in ground school education and flight training (three to four hours, depending on weather). On Friday afternoon, all groups will participate in a NASA/Mars activity by building a “Mars robot rover” and then “exploring Mars” terrain. ■

Birds, Flowers, and Gardens

Signs of Spring are everywhere in Peachtree Corners, and we welcome the sight! You don’t have to look very far to see flowers springing up, tree buds bursting with tender growth, colorful birds making their new homes, and evidence of eager gardeners. The vibrant energy of Springtime “Birds, Flowers, and Gardens” has been expertly captured by members of the Peachtree Corners Photography Club in this beautiful place we call home. The monthly meetings of the Club are open to everyone from beginners to pros. For more information about the Club, go to their website at https//pcphotoclub.org.

Scan QR to find out more about the club.

Birds, Flowers, and Gardens

Top row (artist, picture name) Jurgen Kohler, no title Anna Niziol, Blue Moon Brian Walton, This Color Suits You Well David Schilling, Peony Ants 01 Alfonso Caycedo, Buttonbush Flower and Bee Middle row, Jim Worthington, Moth Meal Tracey Rice, Happy Spring! Vipul Singh, Mama and Baby Bullfrog Richard Phillips, Spring Flower Cluster Jim Skurski, Flower Bottom row, Rafael Garcia, Slurp! Eric Richter, White Star Magnolia David Dunagan, Cedar Waxwing

Top, Vipul Singh, Spring Song Tracey Rice, Backyard Garden Richard Phillips, Early Fig Buds Jim Skurski, Flower Second row, Brian Walton, Sunflower Rafael Garcia, Bath! Eric Richter, Singing for a Mate David Dunagan, SummerTanager Third row, Alfonso Caycedo, Azalea with Swalllowtail Butterfly Jim Worthington, And Another Thing Anna Niziol, Pond Garden David Schilling, Spring Fourth row, Jurgen Kohler