Camp COMETS, a four-day camp designed to introduce talented middle school students to advanced concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in fun, creative and exciting ways, will be held at SUNY Fredonia on Aug. 8 to 11.
Participants will have opportunities to engage in daily projects/laboratories that simulate “real-world” situations designed to spur imaginative thinking and problem-solving. Team-centered projects highlight engineering and related fields for qualified students in the area entering 6th, 7th or 8th grades.
The camp will be conducted in Fenton Hall by faculty in the university’s Department of Mathematical Sciences. Student teams will be directed by camp counselors who are New York State-certified mathematics teachers.
Sample projects and laboratories include: SMADNESS – Best Guess, Jedi Mind Tricks and Bizz-Buzz-Bazinga; Aeronautical Adventures – gliders, copters, pod racers and jets; Energy Recreation – harness the sun, water, the battery and the atom; and Go Big or Go Home – apply physics and mathematics against the forces of gravity.
Each day of the camp, held from 8 a.m. to noon, includes two activity sessions, a break, competitions and a showcase of learning.
Parents are invited to participate in Thursday’s showcase as members of teams that typically compete against teams of student campers in anchor projects or activities held during the week. A grand prize awards ceremony will also be presented on the camp’s final day.
The cost of the camp to cover t-shirt and materials expenses is $75, though need-based scholarships are available for qualified candidates. The annual camp, held since 2012, is returning to an in-person format for the first time since 2019.
Contact Professor and Coordinator of Mathematics Education Keary Howard at keary.howard@fredonia.edu by July 30 to reserve a spot in the camp or for more information. Registration and payment must be received no later than August 5.
