Community-Oriented Design Project
The design project is the major focus of the program. The campers meet with a customer from an organization in the Worcester community to learn about a carefully pre-selected problem or need of the customer. During the two-week program, they work in teams of ten to develop a solution to the problem, with the support of the entire staff. Engineering roles are explained and assigned to each team member so that the problem can be divided and worked on by the entire team. They present their solution to the customer, who will implement their plans after the conclusion of the program.
To give an example of a design project, in 2002 one team of ten girls helped its client, Girls Inc. of Worcester, with a problem it was facing at the swimming area of its Camp Kinneywood facility. The swimming area is in a pond that is located in a valley and surrounded by many trees. The water quality is often poor because of the dirt, debris, and leaves that collect in the pond. Each year to get ready for the swimming season, the swimming area has to be cleaned by hand. The Camp Reach team talked with experts and developed creative ideas for a permanent solution to the problem within a reasonable cost. Read about other past design projects.
Follow-Up Events
Campers are invited back during the following academic year to see their plans put into action. It is important that the campers and their families realize that coming to these events is important. The expectation is that the camper comes to the two-week program AND the follow-up events.
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