Science Camp

Some of the most promising events involving the BSLC are the summer science camps. The science camps are week-long events designed to expose grade school students to many dimensions and fields of science. Two types of camps are typically held: a commuter day camp, Camp Invention (first through sixth graders) and an overnight camp, Survivor (fourth through 12th graders) allowing the students to stay in the dorms on campus. Survivor exposes the campers to different biological adventures. For example, they learn to work in teams and overcome fears on a ropes course at Challenge Country, learn survival skills in the woods, test the effectiveness of common household soaps in a microbiology lab, and spend a day canoeing and learning about the ecology of south Mississippi.

Camp Invention - SPARK! 

The Camp Invention program focuses on brain-powered activities and powerful projects that enhance creativity, teamwork, and inventive-thinking skills. Children entering grades one through six have fun as they participate daily in five activity-oriented modules promoting science, math, history, and the arts through creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Participants will construct life-sized clubhouses made of PVC piping, attempting to crack puzzling codes and solve a mystery in The Curious Cypher Club™ module, investigate polymer science and create their own bouncy balls to take home in the Bounce! An Atomic Journey™ module, and explore innovative survival traits of the planet’s W!LDest animals in the W!LD: Wondrous and Living Designs™ module. By popular demand, all Camp Invention programs include a module in which children participate in high-energy games that challenge their minds and bodies, as well as a renowned invention module, in which children upcycle pieces and parts of discarded household appliances and other donated materials to create new machines. 

Program participants are divided into age-appropriate groups that are each assigned an enthusiastic counselor to oversee and help engage them in the week’s activities. Qualified, local educators facilitate the curricula, ensuring that a staff-to-child ratio of 1:8 is always maintained. Each day of the program week, children rotate through five integrated modules that employ creative thinking to solve real-world challenges. Children learn vital 21st century life skills such as problem solving and teamwork through imaginative play. The program is directed by biology educator, Aimée K. Thomas, Ph.D. and taught by local top-notch educators. 

June 6 – 10, 2011 

Students entering 1st – 6th grade in Fall 2011

9 – 3:30 PM daily

Registration is $215 and includes a t-shirt and the entire curriculum. 

Early registration (before March 31st) $190

USM employee registration $190 (with special form obtained by emailing aimee.thomas@usm.edu)

See the website for additional savings! 

For more information or to register: Go to www.campinvention.org or call 1800 968.4332 

Survivor: Forensic Files

June 20 – 25, 2011 [Rising 4th – 7th Graders]

June 27 – July 2, 2011 [Rising 8th – 12th Graders]

The Department of Biological Sciences will host their Survivor: Forensic Files program in June 2011. Survivor participants will engage in surface and burial recovery, crime scene investigations, DNA analysis, and other forensic science techniques. They will also utilize skills and techniques learned throughout the week, including the understanding of insect development patterns to estimate elapsed time, identification of individuals from skeletal remains, and the analysis of blood splatter, bite marks, and fingerprinting to collect information and solve a problem. We will use various approaches to teach these content strands, always focusing on both experiential learning and group collaboration. The academic program we will offer features interactive indoor and outdoor lab-based activities. The participants will directly interact with USM faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students. This is your chance to encourage your child who is interested in the sciences to attend an exciting summer program where they will gain leadership skills, take part in friendly competition and get a head start on preparing for college.

The total cost of the program is $315 and includes room, board, a t-shirt, recreational activities and limited accidental insurance. To register download an application in PDF here. Register by April 30, 2011 to receive a $15 discount.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Aimée K. Thomas at aimee.thomas@usm.edu.