STEM camp provides students fun week, college credits

Students enrolled in a recent week-long summer camp built and raced go-karts, designed robots and learned the ropes of unmanned aerial systems, among other skills in science and technology.While having fun at the Ignite Their Future STEM Summer Camp — which was sponsored by Idaho State University’s College of Technology Continuing Education and Workforce Training department — participants could also earn a couple of college credits. The department hosted its first summer camp last year, drawing 35 students in grades four through 12. This summer, the science, engineering, mathematics and technology camp had to be divided into two groups because a combined total of 108 children participated. The most recent camp was hosted June 10-14 for grades six through 12. Fourth- and fifth-graders attended during the prior week. Ryan Pitcher, associate director of curriculum and laboratories for the College of Technology’s Energy Systems Technology and Education Center, said the camp was first hosted last year and included both age groups in a single week.