COSEY has developed a library of project-based activity kits with a sustainability theme (solar cell cars, wind power, oil spill clean-up, electricity generation and more) that will be used to engage 5th-8th grade students in multi-day summer camps to be held in communities throughout Oregon this summer. The outreach program is partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H programs, Oregon GEAR UP programs, and other extracurricular and summer camp organizations to expand opportunities in science and engineering education to diverse students across the state, focusing on programs with a track record for serving rural and underserved students.

Through this partnership, trained college student instructors are delivering summer camps over the course of two summers, and will reach approximately 700 students. The activity kits are rich with possibilities, including a mock oil spill activity in which students test substances that can remove oil from water, a homemade solar panel lesson in which student use titanium dioxide and berry juice to generate an electrical current, a computer design lesson in which students use innovative software to create a “green” dream home, and much more. The activity kits developed in this project will also serve as valuable long-term resources for out-of-school programs and educators who can borrow them through the COSEY lending library.

This project is a collaborative effort between youth outreach organizations at OSU, Boys and Girls Clubs in Corvallis and Salem, and 4-H International Summer Camps. The OSU organizations are: the Center for Outreach in Science and Engineering for Youth (COSEY) within the Office of Precollege Programs, the Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory and Saturday Academy. A camp schedule is below and more information about COSEY can be found on the OSU Precollege Programs website:

• Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis- June 21-23
• OSU Engineering Camp- June 28-30
• Sweet Home Junior High – July 5-8
• La Pine Middle School- July 12-14
• Boys and Girls Club of Salem Wipper Teen Center – July 19-21
• North Marion Middle School – Aug 2-4
• 4-H Latino Summer Camp, Salem – Aug 9-11
• Coffenberry Middle School, South Umpqua – Aug 16th-18th

The Oregon University System (OUS) and the Engineering and Technology Industry Council (ETIC) awarded OSU’s COSEY a $99,619 grant in 2009 for the two-year program, as part of their “Bright Future” grants aimed to increase pre-college engineering initiatives and programs for K-12 students. These grants are one component of ETIC’s goal to increase engineering and computer science graduates in order to meet state and industry needs for a highly-skilled, globally competitive workforce in Oregon.

Bruce Schafer, executive director of ETIC says, “We are very excited to support expanded hands-on activities for students in pre-engineering across the state this summer. Oregon’s industries need future innovators in science and engineering.  Exposing talented young people to the real-world applications in science can open their eyes to the fun, relevance, and many opportunities in science careers.”

The State 4-H Office is inviting Oregon middle school students entering grades 6, 7, and 8 in the fall 2011 to apply to attend the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC) this summer at OSU. All selected campers will be fully funded by scholarship.  There will be 48 youth selected to attend the program to be offered July 31 through August 11, 2011.  The camp promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and supports historically underserved and underrepresented students with limited opportunities.

The application involves completing an application form, writing a 250 word student essay, recommendations from Science and Math teachers and school test scores in math and science of at least a B average.  Information is available on line at http://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/summer-science-camp.  The application deadline is Friday, April 1, 2011.  A printed copy of the registration form can be requested from Camp Coordinator Andy Hoffmann by calling 541-737-4081 or email fourhscicamp@proaxis.com.

The two-week residential camp offers youth innovative ways to enhance their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are introduced to college life by living in a dormitory and attending classes that include problem solving, science inquiry, engineering principals, research, and communication skills. Students participate in a pre- and post-camp evaluation.  In 2010 evolution results showed that for the fourth year in a row, there were significant changes in camper science process skills from the beginning of camp to the end.  In addition, an increase in camper science interest and attitudes were found from pre to post camp.