A Summer of STEAM Innovation and Learning for Ohio Youth
As Unprecedented Summer STEAM Camps End, Ohio Students Poised to
Explore Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math
COLUMBUS, OHIO – They created three-dimensional board games. Built “Lunar Landers” that could be used to land astronauts on the moon. Designed ScribbleBots and wrote messages with them. Created paper circuit cards that produced interactive art and illuminated messages. “Listened to Light” by uncovering hidden sounds using a solar cell.
All that and more is how more than 430 Ohio students, ages 3 to 14, spent their time this summer as part of Intel®Future Skills STEAM Camps, sponsored in partnership with STEM Next Opportunity Fund, the Ohio Afterschool Network, and Intel Foundation. Moonshot Ohio is a statewide initiative that is re-imagining who can engineer, who can build, and who can invent by bringing together programs, networks, and partners to create access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) learning through afterschool and summer programs.
Through this partnership, Ohio students – many from under-resourced communities – were challenged this summer with hands-on, real-world innovation projects that made learning fun while building their skills and confidence in fields that are in demand in Ohio’s workforce. The three summer camps were held in:
Marietta, in rural Appalachia, in late June, for K – 8th grade students. This camp was run by the Ely Chapman Educational Foundation in partnership with Marietta City Schools, Washington County Family and Children First, the Marietta Community Foundation, and the Mid-Ohio Valley community;
New Albany (Franklin and Licking Counties) for 3rd – 6th graders. The Eagle Summer Day Camp was held in July; and
Columbus, at Woodcrest Elementary School, in August for preK – 5th grade youth from this urban community.
All three camps used Intel® Future Skills, a design thinking learning experience platform that challenges students with hands-on, real-world projects.
“My favorite thing about the week was building the board games with the other kids in my group.”
-Nyla, third-grade student
“It has been fun to have visitors in my class and build new inventions.”
-Noel, first-grade student
“The activities we did made me feel confident and not give up.”
-Qua’zeir, fifth-grade student
“My favorite part of the Intel visit was working on projects. I love to invent so I got to do my own thinking when I was inventing.”
-Ciaro, third-grade student
“We made a game called Money Maker today. That was the hardest thing we worked on, but the robots were great too. Building something with my team was really great.”
-Jeremiah, fourth-grade student
“The thing that impressed me the most about the Intel Future Skills camp was the high level of student engagement throughout the whole day,” said Moonshot Ohio Coordinator Emily Morgan. “The Intel team was wonderful. They talked to the kids like engineers talk to other engineers, asking compelling questions about their designs and improvements. A lot of great engineering conversations were part of this hands-on, minds-on experience.” Eagle Summer Day Camp Lead Counselor Yusura Shegow agreed: “I noticed a lot of engagement, especially with the girls. Every day they come to camp and ask, 'What are we doing today? What are we going to build?’”
Intel Leaders Applauded the Camps
“Kids of all ages need experiences with design thinking if they’re going to succeed in our 21st-century world. The variety of hands-on Intel Future Skills projects opened the door for these kiddos to dream, draw, and build their way to an innovation mindset – something that will serve them throughout their lives.”
-Lisa, Intel Chemical Engineer
“I am grateful to have been there when these awesome students discovered the same thinking methodology (Future Skills) used by professional engineers and the world’s top innovators. It was incredible to see the spark in their eyes when they solved a problem – a true hallmark of an engineer.”
-Hans, Intel Chemical Engineer
“The Intel Future Skills projects are designed to combine technical with social-emotional learning to help students build their empathy, confidence, and communication skills—what we call essential skills. Empathy allows students to see the world from another person's perspective. These future engineers and innovators demonstrated their ability to solve problems and make the world a better place through compassion for others.”
-Jenny, Intel Chemical Engineer
“Ohio’s Future Skills summer STEAM camps were a phenomenal experience for the youth who participated. These camps brought STEAM to light in ways that built their confidence and helped them imagine a future in these fields,” said Teresa Drew, deputy director of STEM Next and director of its Million Girls Moonshot. “Giving students hands-on learning opportunities not only builds their interest in these careers but also encourages them to share their experiences and inspire other young people to pursue STEM learning. These camps excite young people to pursue the kind of technical jobs that are projected to power Ohio’s economy in the years ahead.”
“We commit to bringing more hands-on STEAM learning experiences to our youth as we build Intel’s workforce of the future, to improve the lives of every person on the planet”, said Laurie Horenstein Egger, Diversity Education Manager for K12 Education Initiatives. Moonshot Ohio initiative will follow up the summer learning experience with a fall 2023 opportunity offering an Intel®Future Skills pilot at ten locations across the state. The pilots will run from September through November of this year.
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About Moonshot Ohio
The Ohio Afterschool Network, a statewide organization that brings national evidence-based best practices and resources to afterschool and summer learning professionals across Ohio, is the active partner leading Moonshot Ohio. Because of its strong national, state, and local partnerships, the Ohio Afterschool Network provides resources and connections with speed and efficiency. Members of OAN are innovative, forward-thinking afterschool and summer learning professionals with a heart for youth and an eye on the future. They are leaders in the field who believe in providing high-quality programs for youth so that they can grow and become successful adults.
About STEM Next Opportunity Fund
STEM Next Opportunity Fund - STEM Next is playing a critical role in expanding exceptional STEM learning opportunities outside the classroom for ALL children everywhere. In September 2020, STEM Next launched The Million Girls Moonshot, which seeks to re-imagine who can engineer, who can build, who can make. It will inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next 5 years. It is joined by over 50 partners that have quickly turned Moonshot into a powerful movement for STEM equity.
Twitter: @STEMNext, @girlsmoonshot; Instagram: @girlsmoonshot
