WSU-R Riverside STEM Camp

WSU-R Riverside STEM Camp

Winona State University-Rochester hosted the fourth annual STEM Camp July 22-25 at Riverside Elementary in Rochester.

Two hundred twenty students in kindergarten through fifth grade participated in this summer enrichment program. Each student was enrolled in two courses and engaged in hands-on learning activities that ranged from studying live fish to exploding rockets to participating in an archaeological dig.

A total of 18 courses were offered, each designed and facilitated by students in WSU-R’s undergraduate education program and Graduate Induction Program, as well as recent graduates of the programs.

The STEM Camp has grown exponentially since its inception in 2010, when 47 students were enrolled in the camp, said coordinator, Joel Traver, Employment & Induction Coordinator for WSU’s College of Education. “Our focus is to provide STEM enrichment for the Riverside summer school students in a way that’s fun and interactive. It’s like school, but with a little extra pizzazz.”

Mentorship is another important aspect of the camp, said Traver. WSU alumni like Riverside teacher Malachi Johnson and Gage Elementary teacher Tim Coleman return year after year to share their experience and serve as mentors to current WSU students.

For more information, call the WSU Office of Communications at 507-457-5024.