Full “STEAM” Ahead!
Each year we get a chance to see history come alive with the annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This is a great event that draws over 100,000 people to Ohio’s oldest city, Marietta, our home. More importantly, it reminds us of the rich history of innovation in our region.
In the early 1800s, America saw its first steam-powered paddle boat traveling along the Mississippi River. Soon after that, this innovative transportation method was widely used along river passages to move people and manufactured goods throughout America, including Ohio — and right here in Marietta.
Innovation built the American industrial economy as we know it today and played a major role in developing our region. Today, Innovation is still alive and well in our region, and our schools are doing amazing work in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) as they prepare the next generation of innovators.
Over the summer, the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition (AOMC), along with Ohio University and the Appalachia Semiconductor Education and Technical Ecosystem (ASCENT), sponsored three summer camps. Students participated in the Switzerland of Ohio STEM CAMP, the Shenandoah STEM Summer Camp, and the Morgan Summer Tech Camp. In total, over 200 students participated, and the ages ranged from elementary school to high school. The camps were very successful and offered a wide range of activities.
Switzerland of Ohio STEM Camp
Contacts for the Switzerland of Ohio STEM Camp were Jennifer Bohach and Mark Romick. The camp welcomed approximately 45 Switzerland of Ohio Local School District students, who were led by a dedicated team of SOLSD teaching staff: Amy Griffin, Heather Jorris, Mark Moore, Rhea Pittman, Neil Ritchie, Bridget Stimpert, and Sheila Thomas.
During the half-day camp, students were divided into groups based on their grade levels and participated in a wide range of engaging STEM activities, including designing and constructing a circuit flower, assembling a Mars Rover using Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, programming and building a robot, and exploring the principles of simple machines.
The final day of the camp concluded with a visit from the Oglebay Good Zoo, providing the students with an opportunity to learn and touch various animals. Additionally, the students were given a tour of the Career Center's diverse program offerings, allowing them to gain insight into potential career paths.
Overall, the camp was a resounding success, fostering enthusiasm and curiosity among the participants. The District looks forward to STEM Camp in 2024, where they aim to further inspire and empower students in the field of STEM education.
Shenandoah STEM Summer Camp
Cindy Van Scyoc was the contact person for the Shenandoah STEM Summer Camp. When asked what she thought of the camp, Cindy said, “Students are engaged in learning how something works and making it better.”
It was very impressive to hear a group of elementary grade students engaged in serious discussions about basic engineering principles. Cindy was correct in her assessment that the camp was “all about the engineering process and lots of fun.”
The future looks bright for our region. These young scholars spent the summer becoming experts in the engineering design process, and they learned skills needed to 3D Model and print parts for their aerospace experiments. They also had an opportunity to build and code robots. The teachers and staff were amazing at keeping the students engaged and on track — and at the same time, everyone was having fun with technology!
Morgan Summer TECH Camp
Jim Johnson, the contact for the Morgan Summer TECH Camp, has been working with Mike Lawson and Jason Mardis for several years in building this successful summer STEM experience. The camp has grown over the years, and Jim Johnson said that the camp was designed to “expose Southeast Ohio students to new and upcoming technology” and that “most of these students would never get this experience if it wasn’t for the school.”
Students had an opportunity to use several technology tools, including programming; creating and editing videos; building and programming robots, electronics and circuits, and virtual reality headsets; using computerized flight simulators; undergoing computerized space exploration experiences; building and launching model rockets; operating 3D printing machines; and participating in an eSports competition featuring League of Legends, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, and Rocket League.
There was plenty of excitement in the air, especially around the eSports computers. Students learned how to strategically tackle a problem as a team. This is a much-needed skill in industry, and it was good to see students apply this skill early in life.
In observing the classrooms where the camp was taking place, anyone could literally see and feel the students’ great excitement and enthusiasm. These students were actively engaged in learning about and applying new technology. More importantly, they were having fun while doing it.
