Wheelock College Expands Early College and Career Access Opportunity through its Newly Launched STEM in the City Camp

As the demand for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is growing rapidly, Wheelock College is expanding its programing to help students develop interest, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in today’s global economy.

Wheelock’s STEM in the City Summer Camp for rising 8th and 9th Graders will take place on the college’s Boston campus July 6-10, 2015. This camp experience will provide hands-on learning that links STEM curriculum to the real world. Each day of this fun and innovative camp will feature an excursion to a Boston-area company, organization, or field site that highlights a variety of STEM disciplines and a related classroom lab activity. Possible sites include Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and companies in STEM related fields. In addition, campers will begin to explore college life and academics through campus tours and discussions with college students and staff.

According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while others are growing at 9.8%. With early exposure to STEM, students can be better prepared for in-demand careers in STEM fields, such as biomedical engineering, network systems and data communications analystsis and biochemistry and biophysics. We want camp participants to learn about stem as well as interact with the professionals who use STEM in their careers. STEM in the City is an experiential learning experience that will help to ensure participants visualize the value and contributions of STEM careers to our global economy.

“As educators, we are constantly reminded that the United States is lagging behind other countries when it comes to STEM education,” said Dr. Ellen Faszewski, professor of biology and co-chair of the Math and Science Department at Wheelock College, who is leading the STEM in the City camp. “We need to provide real-world and hands-on experiences for our youth to introduce, attract, and maintain their interest in these fields. Through this camp, students will embark on a variety of exciting field trips, allowing them to make connections between what they are learning in the classroom and how they may envision themselves as future professionals.”

This camp expands Wheelock’s summer STEM offerings for youth. In partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, the MGH Youth Scholars program offers a STEM camp at Wheelock College for rising 10th grade Boston Public School students.

For elementary-age students, the Wheelock College Aspire Institute offers a free first-of-its-kind mobile-accessible web application to engage elementary-age students and their families in family-friendly STEM activities. The activities are low-tech and offline, with the goal that any family can use this resource to strengthen their child’s love of STEM learning. The activities are designed to increase a child’s excitement about STEM now, and to develop his or her interest in a STEM career in the future. For more information and to sign up for the STEM Activity Application, please visit: http://stem-app.wheelock.edu/

For more information on Wheelock’s STEM in the City Summer Camp, please visit Wheelock.edu/stemcamp