This summer, Whitehall-Coplay School District held its first STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) camp for rising fifth- to eighth-graders. The camp was held 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 11-15 in the high school library and was run and directed by Tony Pangaio, sixth-, seven- and eighth-grade computers and business teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, and Dave Stauffer, WCSD’s instructional technology coach.

Students participated in various activities and challenges involving everything from computer programming to electronics. Some activities included:

• Construct a Kinex roller coaster as well as design their own virtual theme park

• Explore computer programming/coding through a program called Scratch

• Create their own melodies and music

• Program robots to move, turn and talk

• Explore gyroscopes, electronics and circuits

• Design and build towers

• Mind-bending puzzles and games

• Build their own remote controlled vehicles

From all accounts, the camp was a huge success, and the kids had a blast!

WCSD will look to grow the camp next summer. Anyone interested should keep a lookout for more information next spring.