Dist. 300 to expand summer STEM programs

Students in Algonquin-area schools will explore airplanes, rockets, robotics and more this summer. Community Unit District 300 is expanding its Summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Program because of increased demand, officials said.

Last year, the district conducted four one-day camps on airplanes and rockets, chemistry of cooking, robotics, and the science of sound for incoming third- through sixth-graders, and a separate science program for incoming seventh- through 12th-graders teaching the basics of scientific research. Response from the community was overwhelming, with 60 students enrolled per day in the four-day program.

"There was a waiting line for spots each day, which told us there is a high interest in this," Superintendent Fred Heid said. "We knew instantaneously that we had to expand the program."

Roughly 35 students participated last year, officials said. This year, in addition to the daylong camps, the district is introducing four-day STEM Academies on Lego and VEX robotics and "Journey to Mars" for incoming third through sixth-graders. Students will be building and programming robots to complete a task, learn about space exploration, rockets, and aerodynamics through experiments, and come up with solutions for how humans might travel to Mars and back.

In an expanded STEM Scholar Program, students not only will learn how to conduct proper scientific research working with an Elgin Community College professor, but also participate in business mentorships.

Students will form business partnerships to do science-related activities throughout the summer. Each class is capped at 25 students based on the amount of materials and seats available, but additional sections can be added as needed, said Terry Stroh, head of the science division at Jacobs High School. Registration for all programs begins Tuesday, March 15. Daylong camps cost $30 per class, four-day academies cost $120 each, while the scholar programs cost $150 to $300. All programs will be held at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive, Algonquin.

Heid said many of the larger suburban school districts are launching STEM programs because colleges and universities now are asking students considering careers in science and engineering what they have done in addition to coursework.