Rockets and Robots and Math, Oh My!

Have you ever wanted to build a sumo wrestling robot? Now you can, thanks to a program at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club that starts up Thursday.

Have you ever launched a rocket?

Built a sumo wrestling robot?

Did you ever wonder why bridges don't fall down?

Well if you are a high school student in Montgomery County, there is a free program focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -- or STEM -- available through the Olivet Boys and Girls Club at the Ricketts Community Center that can help you explore all those questions and more.

Professionals from two companies -- Montco WIB and Turner Concepts -- will meet with 15 to 20 students over eight weeks and be mentors helping to explore those subjects.

Open for students ages 14 to 18, the program begins on April 11 and runs through June 22.

Each group will meet for two hours every other Thursday  from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and every fourth Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ricketts Center, 640 Beech St.

The Saturday events will take place at Central Montco Technical High School in Plymouth Meeting.

Subjects covered include aerospace engineering; civil engineering, physics; mechanical engineering and robotics engineering.

Projects include:

• An egg drop that will showcase fundamental properties of physics; 
• A rocket project in which students will build model rockets in small teams and compete for best launch and innovation; 
• A rubber band car project that will enable students to see the mechanical action required to move an object, to understand the difference between potential and kinetic energy and to analyze how a vehicle is affected by motion and stresses; 

A K'Nex Bridge

• Building bridges using K'nex which will show how varied types of brides support weight and the differences between static and dynamic loads and;
• Robotics competition in which students will build a robot to compete in the Robot Sumo Competition where two autonomous robots face off on a circular platform in a high-tech version of the ancient Japanese sport of sumo wrestling.

Director Jan Burgess said Tuesday that seats are still available and students can sign up at the center.

For more information, call 610-945-1020.

Wanted: Junior Scientists for Free Fun

The G-STEM science program really allows kids to get their feet wet doing scientific field work...yeah, we went there.

Blogger's Note: We're helping to get the word out about a great FREE program that still has slots open.

It's run by the awesome folks over at Montgomery County Community College and gives kids real life field experience in environmental science. 

(Remember that the college is establishing an environmental science program at Riverfront Park and middle school kids who participate now may be able to enroll in the new program after they get into high school.)

Here's some information from Alana Mauger over at the college's west campus here in Pottstown:

In addition to taking field samples, students will also work in the lab.

Students, ever wonder what a scientist sees through the microscope lens in the laboratory or what actually lives in the water and soil around us? 

Montgomery County Community College is offering a free one-week opportunity from June 25-29 for Pottstown middle school students to step into a lab and find out.

For the second year, the College is hosting this free G-STEM — Green Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — camp at the West Campus in Pottstown, as the result of a $10,000 grant from TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank.

Students will get to do a variety of hands-on activities, including collecting water samples, gathering specimens and making observations during field explorations. 

In the laboratory, students can examine the miniscule life and microbial diversity that can only be seen with through the magnification of lenses.

At the conclusion of the week, the students get share their data and discoveries through Power Point presentations.

Did we mention there's also a FREE lunch? ....No that's not what this is.
This is Science stuff! Sheesh. You thought that was lunch...

“What makes this program truly unique is that it is done at a community college with middle school students within five days,” said Program Director Dr. Davi Gonzales. “Usually, these types of programs are done by research universities with much older students.”

To sign up for the program, contact your school counselor immediately, complete and submit the application form. 

The camp’s hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Lunch is provided.

If you are interested in science and the environment, this program is for you. For additional information, contact Dr. Davi Gonzales at dgonzales@mc3.edu or 610-718-1883.