°®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ

07/14/2015 2:20 PM

Sixty junior high girls tried science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers with activities at the 4G STEM camp hosted by °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ in June.

The camp, a collaborative between °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ, the University of Illinois Extension and Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, sought to increase workforce diversity and to engage central Illinois’ next generation of STEM workers.

Dr. Sherri Morris, co-director of °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s Center for STEM Education, said the camp targeted junior high students because research shows girls are much more likely to pursue male-dominated STEM careers if they’re exposed to opportunities before high school.

Additionally, she hoped the camp would encourage future STEM majors to stay close to home when they start careers as central Illinois faces a shortage of STEM-trained workers.

“If you look at the workforce, it needs diversity,” Morris said. “We need experiences like this to encourage girls to stay in STEM fields. If we’re supportive of girls in these experiences, they will feel encouraged to go on in those areas. We’ll be able to show them that they can succeed in STEM fields and increase the likelihood they will pursue these opportunities in high school, college and as they enter the workforce.”

As part of the experience, students experienced technology careers on campus and in the community. Campers tried 3D printing and video game design on the Hilltop, then they ventured to sites such as the Jump Trading Center and USDA Agricultural Research Service to learn about other intersections of science and technology.

Campers were mentored by a number of °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ students who shared their knowledge and passions with the youth. Payton Orr ’16, an interactive media major from Louisville, Kentucky, wished she would have experienced a youth camp like this.

She said the camp environment gave students confidence and creativity to chase dreams in fields they might not have considered.

“I didn’t think about games design or STEM as career paths with security, yet STEM has some of the best careers you can go into, Orr said. “If more camps like this were available, students would see opportunities and would be more interested in the fields.”

In addition to reaching students, the camp reached local STEM teachers. Four junior high educators participated in the week’s adventure and 30 teachers attended a two-day workshop that showed how to make STEM careers accessible to youth.