Northern Lehigh students to pick up some STEAM at summer camp

Summer break will never be the same for elementary students in the Northern Lehigh School District.

That’s because during a two-week period, students entering third through sixth grade in the 2018-19 school year will be able to participate in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics summer camp.

The camp will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 18-21 and June 25-28 at Slatington Elementary School. Campers are expected to attend each day of camp in its entirety.

Tim Weaber, a computer science teacher at Slatington Elementary, said there is a significant amount of research that suggests students in the United States are underperforming in STEAM fields.

The past decade has seen an increase in STEAM education and programming at all levels, and Weaber said STEAM jobs are expected to grow twice as fast as other fields, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The STEAM summer camp will provide students with student-centered, project-based, and inquiry-driven STEAM opportunities to investigate careers, conduct experiments, and expand their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, according to Jennifer Butz, STEAM camp coordinator.

Students will do 3D printing, robotics, engineering, coding, rocketry, circuitry, visiting the Da Vinci Center and more.

“We’re excited about it,” Weaber said. “Everybody can register online.”

Butz said there is overwhelming evidence that a quality STEAM education is vital if students are to learn 21st century skills for 21st century jobs.

“These skills, which include problem-solving and collaboration, in addition to the specific skill sets of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, are greatly needed in the modern workforce and will only increase in desirability over time,” Butz said. “The addition of STEAM-oriented learning at the elementary level is the best possible way to prepare our students for the job market they will inherit.”

As a result of an Education Improvement Tax Credit program, The Neffs National Bank allocated $20,000 to the Northern Lehigh Education Foundation to fund a new educational program.

The Neffs National Bank selected a grant proposal for the STEAM Summer Camp that was written by Slatington Elementary teachers.

Superintendent Matthew Link thanked The Neffs National Bank, whom he said was very generous.

“We’re very much excited about this,” Link said. “We’re very appreciative to Neffs Bank.”

Butz said the student attendance goal for the first year of the STEAM summer camp is 50 students.

As of Tuesday, Butz said that 19 students had already enrolled.