STEM camp seeks to inspire students

Apr 30, 2023

Hardin County Schools is keeping the learning going this summer through a week-long STEM camp this week.

Around 600 students across seven elementary schools and five middle schools are learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the camp.

This year's camp was sponsored by the district, a $25,000 donation from Candela Renewables and Department of Defense Education Activity grants.

Brandy New, HCS director of innovation, said this is the third year the district has put together these summer STEM camps.

New said elementary school students are focusing more on simple machines and circuits, and middle school students focus more on science experiments, motors and electronics.

She said the point of the camp is to give students a chance to work on STEM projects without any pressure of grades, and possibly find a passion in the field they’d like to pursue in the future.

Amanda Patterson, library media specialist at Vine Grove Elementary School, was one of the school employees working Wednesday with third, fourth and fifth grade students.

She said the theme of the camp is to utilize storytelling with social emotional learning along with the STEM projects. She said on the first day, students made cars using cardboard, wood and bottle caps.

Students were beginning their two-day STEM project, which was the creation of automata boxes, a box of gears and levers that make sticks that are coming out of the box to move.

"They surpass our expectations," Patterson said.

Liz Hartlage, camp coordinator at East Hardin Middle School, said Wednesday students were busy working on assembling carnival games and low-scale rides using small motors, cardboard and wires.

Hartlage said students also have been learning more about renewable energy in the process.

On Friday, parents will see a showcase of the various games students created.

Hartlage said students also participated in a mock Shark Tank-type pitch presentations Tuesday where they came up with an idea and attempted to sell it.

Patterson said heard one student say to another, "I didn't know that this was going to be this fun."

She said she likes seeing students try and understand why their initial design didn't work and find the solution, and let them use their critical thinking skills instead of having their hand held.

"It gives them that chance to try and fail," New said.

New said because of the district not being able to use ESSER funds that were provided because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will need to find new funding sources to keep the camps going next summer.

Andrew Harp can be reached at 270-505-1414 or [email protected].

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