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Science and Engineering Exploration Camps

Students participate at an activity at ScienceTrek.

This summer, Idaho State University's College of Science and Engineering, in partnership with the Idaho Museum of Natural History, Marshall Public Library, and My World Discovery Museum, will host a series of FREE STEM activities for K-12 students. 

Below are the activities that are currently scheduled. If you have a question about an activity, please reach out to the course facilitator.  All activities are in Pocatello unless otherwise noted.

Thursday, June 1

Time: 10 - 11:30 am

Age level: 2nd - 8th grade 

Title: Sound, Waves, and Music

Description: Learn about the science of sound, waves, and music. Build a wave machine and a variety of noisy but somewhat musical devices. 

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3,  785 S 8th Ave, Room 132

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist. cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Steve Shropshire at shrostev@isu.edu

Friday, June 2

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: 6th - 8th grade

Title: Nuclear Detectives

Description: What is radiation and where is it? Students will be nuclear detectives and find hidden radioactive sources.  They will also play the role of a nuclear reactor and create a critical chain reaction.

Location: Lillibridge Engineering, Bldg. no.: 7, 833 S 8th Ave., Room 14

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar at mldg@isu.edu

Thursday, June 8

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: K - 6th grade

Title: Let's Make Things Fly!

Description: We will make many things to fly and learn about how air can be moved to help things fly. 

Location: Idaho Museum of Natural History, Bldg. no.: 12, 1066 S 5th Ave

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist. cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Joshua Pak at pakjosh@isu.edu

Monday, June 12

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: 3rd - 9th grade

Title: Build a Water Rocket

Description: Build and launch a water rocket, redesign it, and launch again! Learn the physics of how to make a great water rocket and the basic principles of engineering and design.

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3, 785 S 8th Ave, Room 132

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Steve Shropshire at shrostev@isu.edu

Friday, June 16

Time: 11 am - Noon

Age level: 6th - 12th grade

Title: Experience VR

Description: The participants will experience VR environments in groups. 

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3, 785 S 8th Ave, Room 106

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 8

Have questions about the class? Email Farjana Eishita at farjanaeishita@isu.edu

Tuesday, June 20

Time: 10 - 11 am

Age level: K - 5th grade

Title: Solve Problems in Video Games

Description: Students will learn to solve problems in a game environment. 

Location: Lillibridge Engineering Laboratory, Bldg. no.: 7, 833 S 8th Ave. Room 234

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 10

Have questions about the class? Email Farjana Eishita at farjanaeishita@isu.edu

Wednesday, June 21

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: K - 12th grade

Title: Learn About Oxidation/Reduction

Description: Students will learn about oxidation/reduction chemistry and make a silver mirror ornament. 

Location: Idaho Museum of Natural History, Bldg. no.: 12, 1066 S 5th Ave

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 30

Have questions about the class? Email Joshua Pak at pakjosh@isu.edu

Friday, June 23

Time: 10 am - 11:30 am

Age level: 7th - 12th grade

Title: Explore Rocks and Minerals

Description: Participants will explore rock and mineral identification, including getting to take home a specimen.

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3, 785 S 8th Ave, Room 220

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist. cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 15

Have questions about the class? Email Shannon Kobs Nawotniak at kobsshan@isu.edu

Tuesday, June 27

Time: 9 am - 11 am

Age level: 7th - 12th grade

Title: Build a Robot

Description: Participants will build a mobile robot and learn basic programming to help it navigate a maze autonomously.

Location: Measurement & Control Engineering Research Center, Bldg. no.: 79, 325 E Putnam St

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 10

Have questions about the class? Email Anish Sebastian at anishsebastian@isu.edu

Tuesday, June 27

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: 7th - 12th grade

Title: Learn About Underlying Anatomy and Behavior of Animals

Description: Learn to interpret the underlying anatomy and behavior of animals revealed by the tracks and traces they leave behind. 

Location: Gale Life Science Building Bldg. , Bldg. no.: 65, 640 Memorial Dr

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: TBD

Have questions about the class? Email Jeff Meldrum at meldd@isu.edu

Wednesday, June 28

Time: 10 am - 11 am

Age level: K - 12th grade

Title: Learn about Pollinators

Description: Participants will learn about capturing pollinators, view a pollinator collection, learn about the major insect orders, and using tools such as Inaturalist for pollinator identification. Participants will use nets to capture butterflies. 

Location: Idaho Museum of Natural History, Bldg. no.: 12, 1066 S 5th Ave

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist.  cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Erika Stewart at stewerik@isu.edu

Monday, July 10

Time: 9 am - 10:30 am

Age level: 7th - 12th grade

Title: Learn Basic Python

Description: Participants will learn the basics of Python while at the same time exercising creativity in using Python to design their own artistic masterpieces.

Location: Idaho Museum of Natural History, Bldg. no.: 12, 1066 S 5th Ave

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Paul Bodily at bodipaul@isu.edu

Wednesday, July 12

Time: 9 am - 10:30 am

Age level: K - 12th grade

Title: Learn About Microbes 

Description: Participants will learn about microbes that live in water, view living specimens with microscopes, and learn how to build your own living ecosystem in a bottle.

Location: Idaho Museum of Natural History, Bldg. no.: 12, 1066 S 5th Ave

Registration: This section is full. Click the link to add a participant to the waitlist. cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Jack Shurley and Anirban Chakraborty at shurjack@isu.edu or anirbanc@isu.edu

Thursday, July 13

Time: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Age level: 9th - 12th grade  

Title: Build a Video Game in Python

Description: Students will learn to solve problems in a game environment. 

Location: Lillibridge Engineering Laboratory, Bldg. no.: 7, 833 S 8th Ave., Room 234

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 12

Have questions about the class? Email Farjana Eishita at farjanaeishita@isu.edu

Thursday, July 13

Time: 10 am - Noon

Age level: 6th - 12th

Title: Learn About the Connections Between Magnetism and Electricity

Description: Learn about the connections between magnetism and electricity by building your own electromagnet and motors.  There will be lots of cool activities and demonstrations. Sparks will fly!

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3, 785 S 8th Ave, Room 132

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 20

Have questions about the class? Email Steve Shropshire at shrostev@isu.edu

Friday, July 14

Time: 1 - 2:30 pm

Age level: 6th - 12th grade

Title: Create Earthquake Maps of Idaho

Description: Students will create earthquake maps of Idaho and correlate them with faults. Plus, students can share online links with friends and family. 

Location: Physical Science Complex, Bldg. no.: 3, 785 S 8th Ave, Room 232

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 14

Have questions about the class? Email Carrie Bottenberg at carriebottenberg@isu.edu

Thursday, July 20

PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY IS IN IDAHO FALLS

Time: 9 am - 11 am

Age level: 7th - 12th grade

Title: Build a Robot!

Description: Participants will build a mobile robot and learn basic programming to help it navigate a maze autonomously.

Location: Bennion Student Union, 1784 Science Center Dr

Registration: cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/cose-science-engineering-exploration-see-camps/#enroll

Max # of participants: 10

Have questions about the class? Email Anish Sebastian at anishsebastian@isu.edu

PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY IS IN IDAHO FALLS