This summer the SASDI office hosted a STEM camp for Chicago Public School students. Summer STEM Launch brought together 35 students from 5 Early College STEM Schools (ECSS), as well as two military schools–Rickover Naval Academy and Marine Leadership Academy (formally Marine Math and Science Academy). Students learned more about the innovative STEM fields, gained exposure to careers in the navy, and became acquainted with campus life through workshops, lectures, leadership training, and field trips. Over the course of camp we saw the students’ curiosity and creativity grow, teamwork skills develop, and friendships form. Summer STEM Launch was a great way for students to not only learn more about STEM and the Navy but also make friends from new schools and from different parts of the city.
Check out what we did!
Field Trips!
- Great Lakes Naval Base
Students explored a naval base accompanied by Commander and visited the nautical navigation school, the flag-training facility, and went on a ship-in-a-bottle training tour. - Iron Oaks Adventure Center
At Iron Oaks students learned team-building skills while participating in fun, outdoor activities such as rock-climbing and crate-stacking! - Tall Ship Windy Discovery Sail
Students learned the physics of sailing during a Tall Ships Discovery Sail on Lake Michigan. - The Pritzker Military Museum and Library
At the Pritzker Museum and Library students viewed artifacts from different military eras and learned more about the history of the United States Military.
Workshops!
- Monkeybars Hackathon
During the Monkeybars Hackathon students worked in small groups to conceive and iterate an idea for a mobile application - Wind Turbine Prototyping
Students worked together to design and test wind turbine blades in order to make the most energy-productive prototype - Life Mapping
Dr. Jeremy Watson, from the IIT Leadership Academy, led students through a life mapping activity – allowing them to conceptualize their dreams and aspirations. - Scratch Computer Programming
Instructors from IIT Computer Discovery Camp led the students through a tutorial of computer programming and allowed them to modify a computer game using their knowledge of Scratch. - Laser Cutting
Students toured the IIT Idea Shop and learned how laser cutting works and the possibilities that this new technology has unlocked. - Design Thinking
Dr. David Gatschell from Northwestern led students in a design-thinking workshop during which they came up with a solution to a common shopping problem.
Click HERE to see more pictures from Summer STEM Launch
We are excited to roll out year round programming for the STEM Launch students this FALL!