Newswise — Forget about roasting marshmallows and telling scary stories around the campfire. Campers at the University of Missouri-Rolla are blowing up that stereotype as they handle explosives, launch rockets, build their own robot and design the future's roller coaster.
Summer opportunities at UMR include:
-- Explosives Camp. High school juniors and seniors from around the country will spend five days learning about explosives used in the mining industry for underground and surface blasting. Of course, the camp wouldn't be complete without some fireworks, too. The schedule includes lectures on safety, tours, demonstrations, and hands-on demolition projects.
"The students will get to handle explosives and shoot their own stick of dynamite," says camp director Dr. Paul Worsey, an explosives expert and professor of mining engineering at UMR. Campers age 16 or older can choose to attend one of two sessions, offered June 3-9 or June 17-23. Each camp will conclude with students helping Worsey shoot a fireworks display for parents.
Cost: $450, includes room and board.
-- Aerospace Camp. At this camp, middle school students build and launch rockets, participate in space flight simulation and use hand-held GPS devices. As campers learn about the history of flight, astronomy and space exploration, the kids will visit with Tom Akers, an astronaut who was aboard space shuttle Atlantis when it docked with the International Space Station in 1996. Akers is also a UMR graduate and mathematics instructor.
Although campers will have many hands-on experiences, including building a robot that can move forward, backward and pick up and drop a film canister, what most students will come away with is a new appreciation for teamwork. Students between the ages of 10 and 12 can choose to attend this camp July 17-19 or July 24-26.
Cost: $180, includes room and board
-- Robotics Camp. Students between the ages of 12 and 14 can take a behind-the-scenes look at robots in this three-day camp. Using the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System, campers will design, build and program robots while learning the basic structure of computer programming.
By integrating motors and sensors with a microcomputer, students will program their robots to respond to their environment, react to light, avoid obstacles and more. No robotics experience is required to participate, and all materials will be furnished. The camp will be held June 14-16
Cost: $335-385
-- Camp Invention. This science day camp for children entering grades first through sixth is filled with activities that foster creativity, teamwork and inventive-thinking skills. The nationally acclaimed program, held June 25-29 at UMR, will enrich the students understanding of science, math, history and the arts.
Campers will crash-land on an alien planet, perform crash tests, take apart home appliances, design new amusement park rides and more.
Cost: $180-199
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