Lena Shaw Elementary students return to Expanding Horizon summer STEM camp

For the first time since before the pandemic, the Cmolik Foundation’s Expanding Horizon summer STEM camp returned to SFU Surrey this summer, once again providing Lena Shaw Elementary students opportunities to learn about science, technology, electronics and math through engaging and fun activities.

More than 110 Grade 5 to 7 students participated in the camp in July, with 99 earning perfect attendance. The foundation committed $33,300 in mini scholarships called Tuition Passports to the students towards their future post-secondary educations.

The camp challenged students to design such projects as a contraption that could fly on a yarn line, a bridge that could support weight, a prosthetic leg and, most notably, anything their imagination could come up with using electric circuit motors.

“There was such positive and constructive chatter and energy during this activity,” said teacher Ashley McPherson, noting students used their imaginations to make moving cars, planes, boats, fans and more. “We even allowed the activity to go longer as originally planned as there was such high engagement.”

During the camp, Grade 6 and 7 students took a field trip to BCIT for other hands-on activities, including launching handmade rockets into the sky and cleaning up a mock oil spill. They also had the chance to explore future career opportunities, including testing out broadcasting equipment in the BCIT news studio.

“These fields were completely new to the kids and seeing the hardware and technology used in the labs and buildings was really captivating,” said camp leader Reilly Westwood. “Giving these kids this opportunity is humbling and thrilling at the same time.”

“The students most enjoyed being exposed to a university campus,” said camp volunteer and Cmolik scholarship winner Ria Laura, who is also a former Lena Shaw student. “It was the little things such as putting on lab coats in the chem lab to have a feel for what their future might look like. Things that really put them in the position of how they might see themselves in the future was something that I saw they enjoyed.”

The long-awaited return of the camp was an adjustment for many of the students, as they hadn’t had the chance to visit any of these campuses during the pandemic, with the camp proving to be a valuable opportunity for not just their learning but their personal growth.

“There were conversations that came up after the labs that would have never happened if not for those opportunities,” said teacher Armee Malig. “I spoke to kids about their dreams and aspirations after going into the chemistry lab or questions that came up about working as a geologist after the chocolate chip mining activity.

“It was great to just be at camp and spend time with our students in that environment and to teach and learn alongside them in a different capacity.”