Sherman kids jump into physics at OSU Sherman County Extension STEM camp

From OSU Extension Services, Sherman County:

By Cindy Brown

Pirates and athletes were the focus of three STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) youth enrichment day camps hosted this summer by OSU Sherman County Extension in Moro. With local grant funding, kits were ordered from STEMfinity, an online company with an excellent STEM curriculum on many subjects for youth.

A STEM Pirate Camp was held July 24-27 at Sherman Extension, sponsored in part by the Sherman County Cultural Coalition. This pirate-themed camp included learning the parts of a ship, building all sorts of ship-related projects using Lego-style blocks, choosing a pirate team and crew positions, learning about buoyancy and load capacity, drawing a treasure map, tying knots, creating a sea shanty song, and playing pirate-themed games. A total of 24 individual youths were at this camp, with a total attendance of 78 for the four-day camp. Three youth helpers assisted with the camp.

Two sessions were held at a STEM Sports Science enrichment day camp. Monday, July 10 through Thursday, July 13 and then Monday, August 7 through Thursday, August 10 at the Sherman County School. This camp was targeted for kids who just finished grades 1-4, and sponsored in part by the Sherman County Educational Foundation.

Activities include exploring the differences in how a wide range of balls look, drop and bounce; staying balanced; throwing and catching; kicking and rolling; jump ropes; parachutes and juggling; long jump and high jump; running; stretching; and an end-of-camp sports celebration.

A wide variety of scientific concepts were explored including force, motion, gravity, momentum, inertia, and more. A total of 44 individuals participated in the camps, with a total attendance of 136. Teen helpers included Sherman 4-H members, Sherman OYCC crew members, and a teen employee of Wasco County Extension.