STEM camp brings bubbles, ‘bots & more
SHERBURN, MN — Elementary students from across the area performed classic science experiments and high-tech robotics challenges at Martin County KnowHow!’s summer STEM camp, held June 26-28, 2023 at the Martin County West Elementary School in Sherburn.
Students entering grades 1 through 6 this fall enjoyed a variety of projects over the three-day camp, with the youngest children tackling science experiments, and older students building & programming different levels of VEX robots.
Scroll down to learn what these great groups of kids accomplished!
1st & 2nd Grade - Science Exploration Camp
“Eleven enthusiastic young scientists who will enter the 1st and 2nd grades in the fall attended Martin County KnowHow’s annual STEM Camp held June 27th and 28th at Sherburn Elementary School.
The campers performed many hands-on activities including making circular gliders, straw rockets, rubber band helicopters, antacid rockets, balloon bottles, wave bottles, slime, bubble blowers, and bubble solution.”
3rd & 4th Grade - VEX GO Camp
“During the first half of camp, 3rd and 4th grade students built a robot and learned how to program it to drive, recognize colors, and react to those colors.
The second half of camp, they built a robot to complete an Ocean Science Exploration course driving their robots themselves.”
5th & 6th Grade - VEX IQ Camp
“Seven students going into 5th and 6th grade from across the county spent three days building and programming VEX IQ robots to compete in a mini tournament using the VEX 2023-2024 Full Volume game.
Two teams worked together at a time to knock cubes off pegs, score cubes in goals, and park their robots in the endzone, before the one-minute timer buzzed.
Teams were led by members of the Fairmont High School Robotics team to build and program their bots for the tournament.”
Snack Break!
Each day’s abundant & outstanding snacks were provided and served by members of the Fairmont Early Risers Kiwanis.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!
Our STEM camp would not have been possible without these generous community organizations and individuals:
Martin County West Community Education & Recreation for publicity, registration, and facilities
Fairmont Early Risers Kiwanis for snacks
Martin County Area Foundation for a grant for the robotics kits
All of Martin County KnowHow!’s founding & additional supporters
Camp teachers Cindy Viesselman, Alicia Swanson, and Celia Simpson
1st & 2nd grade assistants: Laura Teveldal, along with Fairmont HS Robotics team members Amanda Poetter & Noah Vetter
3rd & 4th grade assistants: Martin County West HS Robotics team members Alaina O’Connor & Austin Espinosa, and Fairmont HS Robotics team members Emma Jerred & Kaylee Nelson
5th & 6th grade assistants: Fairmont HS Robotics team members Sam Grogin, Aiden Nelson, and Ben Moeller
And last but not least, our thanks to all of the students and their parents, grandparents, guardians, and mentors for their interest in and support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our community!