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). 

  • Camp Invention is a week-long summer enrichment program for children entering grades one through six The Camp Invention program instills vital 21st century life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork through hands-on fun.
  • Survivor allows 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.
Survivor 2012 Logo

2012 USM Camp Invention - ENVISION

  • June 4 - 8, 2012

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.

In this summer’s Envision program, children will experience five different modules.

  • In the Inventeureka™ module, children will venture on the Ci6000 Space Modulator Time Machine for a fantasy adventure.
  • Children will build their own inventions and learn to adapt certain features for various situations.
  • Participants spend their time navigating an island via upcycled ships and learning the power of combining magnetism and electricity during the Magnetropolis™ module.
  • In the I Can Invent: Balloon Burst™ module, children will design balloon bursting machines, while learning the importance of gears, motors, springs, and magnets.
  • Finally, in the Action and Adventure Games™ module, a participant favorite, children will combine physical activity and creativity during fun, energetic games. Games are based on children’s ages and ability.

Age-appropriate:

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 educators:

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.

Camp Invention Dates:  June 4 - 8, 2012

  • Students entering 1st – 6th grade in Fall 2012

  • 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily

Registration for 2012 USM Camp Invention - ENVISION:

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

Early bird discount registration:

Click here for registration form: usmcinvention2012_early.pdf 

USM employee registration $185 (with special form obtained by emailing aimee.thomas@usm.edu)

See the Camp Invention website for additional savings!

For more information or to register:

Go to www.campinvention.org or call 1-800-968-4332.  

 

 

 

2012 Survivor: Young Naturalist CampSurvivor 2012 Logo

  • June 24 – 29, 2012 [Rising 8th – 12th  Graders]

  • July 8 –13, 2012 [Rising 4th – 7th Graders]

The Department of Biological Sciences will host their Survivor: Young Naturalist Camp this summer.  Survivor participants will engage in different activities focused on a wide variety of nature and science topics. 

This will include:

    • forensic science,
    • marine biology,
    • aquatic ecology,
    • wildlife biology, and
    • zoo education.  

Hiking, zoo visits, and more:

Participants will enjoy canoeing Black Creek, learning about marine ecology, hiking through the woods at the Lake Thoreau Environmental Center and going to the Hattiesburg Zoo. 

Indoor and outdoor laboratories:

The academic program we will feature interactive indoor and outdoor lab-based activities.

Interaction with university faculty:

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 natural 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.

Registration for 2012 Survivor: Young Naturalist Camp

The total cost of the program is $315 and includes

  • room,
  • board,
  • a t-shirt,
  • recreational activities and
  • limited accidental insurance.

Early bird discount registration:

Register by April 30, 2012 to receive a $15 discount.

Click here for registration form: usmsurvivor_2012.pdf

For more information:

Please contact Dr. Aimée K. Thomas at aimee.thomas@usm.edu.