Summer camps for children abound this time of year. But among the camps focusing on sports, crafts and music, one unique program is offered at The Challenger Learning Center.
Located on the Purdue Northwest Campus — but not affiliated with the college — the center is hosting 12 summer camp sessions for children ages 4-14. They are taught by professional educators and are providing kids with a scientific experience. Topics such as engineering, robotics, rocketry, and more are scheduled.
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“The camps are STEM-focused. We want kids to be able to pick and choose topics that they find interesting,” said Challenger Center Executive Director Rebecca Manis. “The sessions are also infused with problem solving, teambuilding and communication activities.”
STEM is a curriculum that’s based on the idea of educating children about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Educators believe that all four disciplines are relevant to the world.
Parent Nicole Dennison of Steger, Ill., agreed, as she signed in her son, J.P. Kulik, 10, on his first day attending the Rebels, Jr. camp.
“My son has a technical mind,” she said. “These camp sessions will be addressing many things he’ll need to know about his future career.”
Fourteen other youngsters joined Kulik at the first class as they learned about history, research and how to make a light wand, such as the type used in science fiction movies.
There were four steps to making the wand, Challenger Flight Instructor Greg Karas told the attendees. The properties of light was the first topic, followed by sanding the tube down to diffuse the light source, painting it and adding a battery source were included in the project.
In between the steps of the project, students were asked to choose an action figure from Karas’s collection of Sand People.
“When we have down time, you can research your figure, measure and weigh them and do some research to see what movies they’ve appeared in,” he added.
This was the first visit to Challenger Learning Center for Alexis Olson, 12, of Munster.
“Not a lot of girls are interested in space, but I am,” she said. “I know I’ll be learning a lot at this summer camp.”
Another one of the summer camps is an underwater astronaut training camp that teaches students how astronauts become “spacewalk ready” through scuba diving, according to Lisa Bates, Challenger Learning Center community relations specialist.
“Kids are able to dive and learn different skills similar to the training that real astronauts receive” she added. “The kids undergo basic scuba training and then test their skills during underwater exercises.”
The Challenger Learning Center has been offering summer camp programs since 2000. They are content-rich and allow students to truly experience specific topics they are interested in, according to Mantis.
“Summer camps bring a different mix of students from all over the region, and even outside of the region,” she added. “It’s a great time for kids to be kids and explore without the overall structure of a classroom.”
For more information about The Challenger Learning Center, call (219) 989-3250 or visit www.clcnwi.com.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.