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EXPLORING SCIENCE
An all Girl's (and Boys) Science Camp
In Summer 2006, a partnership between the Fast Forward Community
Technology Center, the City of Columbia, and the University o f
South Carolina created a model summer camp program that merged hands-on
science with technology and personal
development skills for middle school girls. This project was funded
in part by a generous gift from the Women in Philanthropy who helped enable the campers
to participate at no-cost. In 2006, we were able to conduct three,
1-week camps that were each comprised of ~ 20 campers. In 2007, the
summer camps were expanded to include all day camps for boys as well. Daily
experiments that focused on the local environment, journal keeping,
scientific reading and play made each day a new
experience. Each camp culminated in a visit from USC  women scientists
(mixed gender for the boys) to give
students the opportunity to talk about possible careers in science and ask
questions about science, being a woman/minority scientist, and life in general.
In addition, the students created a garden that they added to each week, leaving the Mays Park
neighborhood with a token of their appreciation at the end of the summer. Below are pictures,
journal entries, and other information regarding the science camps.
Science Camp Curriculum &
Schedule
Camper journal entries
Pictures of campers at "work"
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