By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Society and Science Camps this summer at University of Nebraska at Kearney aim to give middle and high school students a glimpse of university life and discover more about elements of natural science and social behavior.
Students will learn and work alongside UNK faculty on campus in a fun and scholarly environment with like-minded students. The camps allow students to explore new interests, ideas and careers in science, biotechnology, math, cybersecurity, health care, engineering, advocacy and social justice.
Camps begin in June and are open to seventh- through 12th-grade students. Camp topics include:
- Strategies For Social Change
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Rooting For The Future
- The Math of Chaos and Competition
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Movers, Shakers and Difference Makers
- Physics, Astronomy and Engineering
- Health Sciences
Residential camps will allow students to stay on campus in one of the residence halls. Extra social activities and evening events will be planned to limit downtime for campers. Commuter camps are designed to allow students to go home at the end of each day.
The summer camp series is sponsored by the College of Natural and Social Sciences.
To register, go to unk.edu/ScienceandSocietyCamps. For more information, contact Julie Campbell at 308.865.8566 or cambelljn@unk.edu
Upcoming UNK Society and Science Camps
Cybercamp
June 6 -10
Format: Residential
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 7, 8, 9, 10
Camp Director: Dr. Matt Miller (Department of Computer Science And Information Technology)
Explore a new field – cyber security, by learning these technology basics and how they work:
- Networking concepts and computer programming
- Problem-solving through introduction to computer engineering
- Critical-thinking skills to address and solve problems
- Computer architecture and embedded systems hardware
During down time, you will meet new friends, enjoy movies and game nights, and hang out in the UNK residence halls. The finale: Share with your family what you have learned at the camp showcase.
Tuition: $250 for residential campers and $200 for commuters
Strategies For Social Change
June 7-10
Format: Residentia
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 10, 11, 12
Camp Directors: Dr. Diane Duffin (Political Science Department) and Dr. Suzanne Maughan (Sociology Department)
If your goal is to make a difference in your community, this camp gives practical, how-to instructions for leading social change. Learn the techniques professional activists use to define social problems, identify solutions, mobilize followers, and communicate with policymakers, media, and the public.
By the end of camp, you’ll have an action plan to take home and implement in your community.
Tuition: $350 or $325 if registered before May 15
Agricultural Biotechnology: Rooting For The Future
June 11-16
Format: Residential Or Commuter
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 7, 8
Camp Directors: Dr. Paul Twigg and Dr. Julie Shaffer (Biology Department)
This camp uses fun hands-on activities and outings to help you understand the importance of plants and soils in agriculture. You will examine soil composition and microbes, plant reactions to the environment, genetically modified plants, and other topics.
Tuition: $300 for residential campers and $250 for commuters
The Math of Chaos and Competition
June 11-14
Format: Residential
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 10, 11, 12
Camp Directors: Dr. Derek Boeckner and Dr. Gerard Koffi (Department Of Mathematics And Statistics)
Google “fractals” and you see beautiful images and vibrant colors, but these art constructs are actually also mathematical constructs. They are objects that live between dimensions; they are neither 1D, 2D, or 3D objects but have fractional dimension (hence “fractal”).
During this camp, you will look at some of the basic fractals like the Cantor set and the Sierpinski triangle and see how something completely random and chaotic like rolling a die can eventually become very ordered if looked at in the right context.
Game theory is a branch of mathematics focusing on the application of mathematical reasoning to competitive behavior. You will learn how to use game theory to solve questions of social competition and analyze social networks of different populations while learning how to be skillful mathematicians and good strategists.
Day 1 of this camp will cover fractals and Day 2 will covers game theory.
Tuition: $250 or $235 if registered before May 15
Crime Scene Investigation Camp
June 12-14
Format: Commuter
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 9, 10
Camp Director: Sgt. Kyle Harshbarger (Kearney Police Department and Department Of Criminal Justice)
Today, everyone knows what “CSI” is. In this camp, you will learn the basic principles of criminal investigation, and be introduced to forensic evidence collection and analysis techniques — like fingerprints, impression evidence, microscopic evidence, and alternative light sources.
You will even investigate a mock crime scene on the final day of the camp. This camp is a partnership between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Kearney Police Department.
Tuition: $85 or $80 if registered before May 15
Movers, Shakers and Difference Makers
June 14-16
Format: Commuter
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 7, 8, 9
Camp Directors: Dr. Ben Malcyzk (Social Work Department), Dr. Suzanne Maughan (Sociology Department), Dr. Julie Campbell (Criminal Justice Department)
Do YOU want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to be involved in making our society more just? This summer camp is about more than changing your life, it’s about helping you make the world a better place. You can be a social justice warrior!
This camp will provide students with tools and ideas on how they can make a difference in the world. YOUth have the power to make the world great.
Tuition: $200 or $190 if registered before May 15
Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Camp
June 14-17
Format: Residential
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 7, 8, 9, 10
Camp Directors: Dr. Tim Reece and Dr. Diganta Dutta (Department Of Physics And Astronomy)
In this camp you will gain hands-on experience and problem-solving skills in Physics, Astronomy and Engineering. Learn about the Aug. 21, 2017 total solar eclipse, analyze electric circuits, study the physics of energy and motion, test material properties using a universal testing machine, and create 3D virtual structures with Computer Aid Design (CAD) software.
Fun social activities include an evening telescope-viewing sessions.
Tuition: $285 or $270 if registered before May 15
Health Sciences Day Camp
June 16
Format: Commuter
Grades: For Youth Entering Grades 11, 12
Camp Directors: Director Peggy Abels and Sarah Jones (Health Sciences Program)
This is an exciting day of learning about health sciences and careers in healthcare. You will learn about circulation and dissect a cow heart, spend time in a lab setting, tour the Health Science Education complex, and participate in simulations and case studies.
This camp will also be an opportunity to hear from healthcare professionals in a variety of fields and learn about Health Sciences at UNK. If you are interested in a career in healthcare, this is a great opportunity.
Tuition: $85 or $80 if registered before May 15
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Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
Source: Julia Campbell, 308.865.8566, campbelljn@unk.edu
