STEM

STEM Saturdays

Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) topics are the focus of three half day workshops from November, 2011, to April, 2012.   A follow-up to Camp Reach, a popular summer camp at WPI, these STEM Saturdays are open to middle school-aged boys and girls—and their parents or guardians.  The STEM Saturdays program is generously funded by Intel.

Each session is led by a different Camp Reach teacher, who has been trained on the importance of gender parity in engineering, methods of encouraging kids to pursue STEM subjects, and hands-on teaching methods to redesign curriculum and deliver materials equitably to both genders.

While the kids focus on the academic module, parents and guardians will participate in sessions that outline the research on middle schoolers and STEM and how they can encourage kids to excel in these areas.  The events will include speakers, literature, and discussions on how to continue playing an active role in learning about and promoting STEM fields to kids.

Each program will conclude with a presentation by the kids on their day’s work.

The upcoming dates for STEM Saturdays are:  November 5, 2011, February 4, 2012, and April 7, 2012.  The cost of the program is $25 per Saturday, and financial assistance is available.  Please contact the Office of Diversity and Women's Programs at 508-831-5819 to request a registration packet.  Participants can register for ANY date, and participation in all dates is NOT required.