Photos by John Cross
Dyllan Sowers takes a long step on the bosun's walk.
Seth Peterson peers up at the ropes challenge course he was going to attempt as part of the ZAP Engineering Camp.
High above the ground, a ZAP Camp participant negotiates the multi-vine part of a challenges course at Minnesota State University.
Twelve-year-old Natalie Montgomery faced her fears and was hoisted up 50 feet on a wire. Then she was released, screaming the whole way down during the team-building exercise.
Who knew a science camp could be so fun?
Minnesota State University's Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence and Community Education/Recreation have gotten together for the second year to provide ZAP Camp, a series of science camps for kids in seventh and eighth grade.
"These camps fit their age, ability, and interest so well. It's such an important age group to teach these skills," said Melanie Schmidt, the Community Education and Recreation director.
Stephanie Zojonz, coordinator of ZAP Camp, also stressed the importance of teaching these skills to junior high students.
"They don't get a lot of engineering experience by this age.
Exposing them to sciences at an early age opens their eyes to possibilities, and this is the age where they lose their interest in science.
Hopefully this will keep them interested into their high school years," Zojonz said.
Earlier this summer, they ran a physics and engineering technology camp. This week is their last camp, a three-day engineering course where the students learn basics in a complicated field.
Grace Brosnan, 12, found the camp through community ed and is enthusiastic about the program.
"I really want to be an engineer. It's really helping me with my goals."
Brosnan was excited about their first day at camp where the students learned all about how a Stirling engine works and how to build one.
Mechanical and civil egineering professor Patrick Tebbe led the session and said the workshop taught the kids something very important.
"The thing about engineering is things don't always work the first time," Tebbe said. " Still, it's a positive experience for the right age group. They're learning about what they're interested in and having fun with us." "All of them are really engaged — everyone's getting something out of it," said Eric Hanson, a counselor and mathematics undergraduate student.
Garrett Cannon-Weeks, 13, from Le Sueur, said he particularly liked learning about harnessing solar energy. It was especially fun making s'mores out of a solar oven.
"It's cool that people get paid to store energy," Cannon-Weeks said.
The favorite of most students, however, was the ropes course.
MSU offers team-building exercises on their newly refurbished ropes course behind the Gage towers.
Sam Steiger is the first full-time director of the Adventure Education program,.
"They're very excited and engaged kids. It's important that they learn responsibility and teamwork," Steiger said.
"I want to be a doctor. Learning about teamwork and helping people has been cool," 11-year- old Sam Maertens said.
Montgomery, who's staying with family in Mankato and lives in Champlin, said she's looking forward to next year's camp.
"You get to meet new people, it's a fun experience. I like the ropes course."
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