TechSplorers
Students entering grades 5-7 will be introduced to a variety of STEM areas ranging from computer coding and forensic science to kitchen chemistry, smart technology, and freshwater ecology, all through fun, collaborative, hands-on activities. This program is a perfect way to introduce younger students to a variety of STEM subjects, spark curiosity and build self-confidence as a STEM learner!
Two, one-week sessions of TechSplorers will be offered this summer. Daily activities and topics may be subject to change. Enrolling in only one session is recommended as topics and activities may be repeated across sessions.
TechVenturers
RC Cars: Trail to Track - Get behind the controls in this fast-paced, hands-on project! In RC Cars, campers use professional-grade off-road RC crawler trucks and on-road drift cars to explore remote-control engineering, design, and performance. Campers design and build custom routes—complete with bridges, obstacles, balancers, and terrain challenges—then put their creations to the test. Using RC crawler trucks, students navigate rock, dirt, river, and mud environments, solving problems and adapting their driving strategies as conditions change. The challenge continues on the track as campers transition to RC drift cars, learning advanced driving techniques such as throttle control and tandem drifting on a fun yet demanding course. Along the way, students gain practical experience tuning, maintaining, and caring for RC vehicles using professional tools and accessories. This program emphasizes creative thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on technical skills—all while delivering high-energy fun from trail to track.
Regenerative Medicine: The Planaria Project - Scientists are unlocking the secrets of how to regrow damaged human tissues and organs by studying organisms that naturally possess remarkable regenerative abilities. One such organism is the planarian, a commonly found flatworm with the ability to regenerate again and again. In this program, students will explore the foundations of regenerative medicine through hands-on laboratory investigations using planaria as a model system. They will examine the biological mechanisms that enable regeneration and apply the scientific method to design and conduct their own experiments. By manipulating and analyzing environmental conditions, students will investigate how external factors influence regenerative outcomes, gaining practical experience in experimental design, data collection, and scientific analysis while engaging with a cutting-edge area of biomedical research.
Optics - So much of how we experience the world is shaped by light. Over 70% of our sensory input comes through our eyes, but there is far more to light than just what the eye can see (yes, pun intended)! In this hands-on project, students will explore how light behaves as it reflects, bends, and passes through different materials, and how these ideas are used in everyday tools and cutting-edge technology like telescopes, cameras, and advanced microscopes. Campers will work with mirrors and lasers in safe, guided activities to see how light can be directed and focused. They will also use special filters to study how light waves line up (polarization) to reveal hidden stresses in materials and learn how scientists identify gases by studying the colors of light they give off. Through active experiments and real-world connections, students will build a deeper understanding of how light shapes both everyday life and scientific discovery!
Regenerative Medicine: The Bioinformatics Project -This program introduces students to bioinformatics—the fast-growing field where biology meets computer science. Participants will discover how scientists use computers, databases, and code to answer real-world biological questions. Students will explore what it means to “do biochemistry with a computer” by analyzing proteins, DNA, RNA, and even entire genomes using the same tools employed by researchers today. Through hands-on exploration, they will learn how biological data is obtained, stored, visualized, and interpreted to support advances in regenerative medicine, personalized medicine, and biotechnology. This project highlights career pathways in fields such as biomedical research, bioinformatics, data science, genetics, and computational biology—ideal for students interested in combining life sciences with technology to tackle tomorrow’s medical challenges.
Molecular Visualization Project: This project offers an exciting introduction to the invisible world of molecules! Instead of viewing molecules as flat diagrams in a textbook, participants will render them in 3D using a variety of modeling tools to explore how atoms and molecules move, bend, collide, and interact in real time. Over the course of the program, students will learn how molecular structure influences behavior by creating and analyzing models with hands-on tools, advanced software, and immersive virtual reality. Campers will deepen their understanding of molecular geometry, bonding, and structure while developing powerful visuospatial thinking skills that are essential in fields such as chemistry, biomedical research, materials science, and medicine.
Make it Glow - Have you ever wondered what makes a glow stick glow? In this project, students will use organic chemistry to create molecules that can emit light and explore their ability to “glow,” a property known as fluorescence. Fluorescent molecules are used across many areas of science and are especially valuable for making biological processes visible. Using these glowing molecules, scientists can observe details smaller than a single cell and even visualize entire organs, guiding surgeons during operations. Many modern fluorescent tools were inspired by the discovery of glowing proteins in jellyfish, which scientists have studied and modified to produce molecules that shine in every color of the rainbow. Participants will gain hands-on laboratory experience by preparing a series of molecules that resemble parts of these fluorescent proteins. Using instrumentation found in a chemistry laboratory to measure how molecules absorb and emit light, students will learn the process of fluorescence and how scientists use glowing molecules to study and understand biological processes. This experience introduces key concepts in chemistry and biology that are essential for developing cutting-edge technologies in academic research, industry, and medicine.
TechLeaders: Bridge to College
Regenerative Medicine: The Cryopreservation Project - This program offers students a hands-on opportunity to explore a critical challenge in modern biomedical science. Regenerative medicine holds tremendous promise for repairing damaged tissues and organs, but the cells and tissues used in these therapies must often be stored at ultra-low temperatures in liquid nitrogen (–196 °C) through a process known as cryopreservation. Ensuring this process is safe, reliable, and effective remains a significant scientific challenge. Integrating core concepts from chemistry and biotechnology, participants will investigate the principles of cryopreservation through laboratory-based experimentation and mentorship from university faculty and PhD researchers. The curriculum examines current limitations in the field, fascinating examples of cryopreservation in the wild, and foundational chemical and biochemical concepts, including properties of cells and water, freezing point depression, and protein structure and function. Students will also develop technical wet-lab skills and gain insight into the realities of biotech research. This program provides valuable exposure to a cutting-edge scientific discipline and a strong foundation for students considering future STEM studies and careers.
The Heat Equation: Studying Genuine Math, Physics, and Engineering - Students will explore how mathematics, physics, and engineering intersect to solve real-world problems in this immersive program. Participants will build a computer simulation from the ground up using MATLAB, a widely used programming language in engineering, to model how heat moves through space and time. Students will then validate their models by comparing simulation results with real thermal data collected using a thermal camera. Through this applied approach, participants will develop a deeper understanding of how abstract mathematical and physical concepts translate into practical tools for solving problems. Led by a mechanical engineering professor, the program offers a supportive learning environment and an authentic introduction to academic life as a student pursuing a STEM pathway. Participants will leave with new technical skills, a renewed perspective on high school mathematics and physics, and a greater understanding of the distinctions between undergraduate pathways in physics, mathematics, and engineering. Prior completion of Algebra I is required; no prior programming experience is necessary.
