What do video games, Lego and pop bottle rockets have in common? The ability to inspire young minds to explore the fascinating world of engineering and technology as part of an interactive and entertaining summer camp at Carleton University.
In early July, Carleton’s research intensive Faculty of Engineering and Design launched its nationally recognized annual summer camp series for school-age children, Virtual Ventures.
Over the course of eight weeks Carleton students lead a variety of week-long educational day camps that enable kids to learn more about computers, engineering and science in fun and engaging ways. All instructors are current students and the camps are divided by grade level so that each child is able to learn at an appropriate pace.
Having Fun with Engineering and Science
The long-running program is entering its 22nd year, and the results speak for themselves. “Some of the instructors today were originally campers,” said Kelsey Doerksen, one of two Virtual Ventures program coordinators.
Demand for the popular summer camp is consistently high, with registrations for the entire season already nearing capacity, despite the addition of extra classes. As a result of its game design camp filling within 24 hours of registration opening, Virtual Ventures decided to add an additional two weeks of the camp to its program.
Camps take place in the Minto Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering and use labs and spaces in the Mackenzie, Canal and Herzberg buildings.
The summer camp program can be divided into two areas: regular co-ed camps and specialized camps.
“Regular camps are focused on engineering and technology, for engineering that includes areas such as civil, mechanical, electrical,” said Lauren Kelly, another Virtual Ventures program coordinator. “With technology, the campers are learning about things like Adobe software, coding and website building.”
Specializing in Computer Animation and Game Design
In addition to their regular camps, Virtual Ventures also offers specialized camps that focus on specific topics such as computer animation, game design and hands-on engineering. Specialty program Virtual Ventures Connections is a free summer camp open to aboriginal youth focused on science, engineering and technology and how these fields can relate to their traditions and communities.
While most camps are co-ed, Virtual Ventures’ award winning girls’ program is also running this summer. Students can enroll in all-girl camps such as Girls@VV Junior, Girls@VV Senior and Codemakers Girl Junior. Virtual Ventures’ girls’ programs have been nationally recognized for their efforts to increase female participation in the fields of science, technology engineering and math.
It’s not likely that demand for these camps will abate any time soon. As Kelly says, “We are already getting emails for our fall and winter programs.”
By: Elizabeth Murphy