New Summer Camp Challenges Students to Make and Create

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There’s an inventor in all of us. That’s what students entering fifth grade learned this week in Mansfield ISD’s inaugural Maker University.

The university featured five different colleges: film, robotics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and graphic design. Participants chose two of those colleges to focus on for the week.

“We wanted our campers to make things and create things using some of the tools that are unique to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Jeremy Beckwith, the camp administrator.

Students in the robotics college built robots and drone remotes.

Students created commercials, programmed remotes for drones, constructed gliders, made slime and printed on 3-D printers, to name a few.

Although there was much to learn, Beckwith said fun is the primary objective of the camp.

“We want the kids to have a good time while they’re here,” Beckwith continued. “We wanted them to let their imaginations run wild in whatever choice they have. And that’s the other big thing. We gave them choice.”

Katelyn Castro, an incoming fifth-grader at Della Icenhower Intermediate School, said the camp stretched her mind and provided her with new ways to solve problems.

“It gives you more challenges,” she said. “And it’s very entertaining, compared to just sitting down at a desk and working on papers, because you’re actually in the action.”

Maker University was held at the Jerry Knight STEM Academy from June 18 through June 22. The camp capacity was 100 students.

Students Explore STEM Topics at Summer Camp

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Hundreds of Mansfield ISD students spent part of their summer experiencing that science can be fun and interactive.

MISD’s Science Camp allowed kids entering grades 1 through 5 to engage in hands-on labs and experiments while studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“The children get an opportunity to really enjoy school in the summer with science,” said camp administrator Daniel Beauford. “It’s very much a camp feel.”

One of the most popular activities was a lockbox escape room, in which students solved puzzles and received clues to unlock boxes and get a prize.

Students also tinkered with circuits, played with robots, launched catapults and built putt-putt golf courses with recycled materials.

Students enjoyed solving puzzles to open the lockboxes.

“In mini golf, I learned engineering,” said Genesis Hunter, an incoming fourth-grader at Willie E. Brown Elementary School. “It was fun, and we got to build things.”

This year, the district extended the science camp to two one-week sessions to accommodate more students. A total of nearly 600 students attended the camp.

Beauford said although the projects are fun, his goal is to teach students how each activity links back to STEM topics.

“Some of the time, they don’t even know what they just did, and then when you explain the science behind it, they’re like, ‘That’s what that was?’ So that’s pretty awesome,” Beauford continued.

The first camp session ran from June 4 to June 8. The second session began on June 11 and will wrap up on June 15.

On the last day of each session, the students show their parents everything they learned that week.

Organizers said they’re excited to see so many kids being passionate about science. They expect camp attendance to continue to grow.

MISD Camp Promotes Creativity and Collaboration

Mansfield ISD students entering grades 5-8 spent the week letting their imaginations run wild while building a spirit of teamwork. Create Camp is taking place July 24-28 at Legacy High School.

The summer camp is designed to allow the children to work with the four C’s—creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking. Camp coordinator Hope Hutchison said she decided to start the camp after working at the district’s science camp and seeing how excited the kids were to learn.

“I saw everyone’s enthusiasm, and I started thinking, ‘Maybe I should expand this idea to kids who like other subjects as well,’” said Hutchison. “Create Camp focuses more on STEAM, which incorporates the arts, as well as science, technology, engineering, and math. I’ve been doing Destination Imagination for more than 20 years, so this gives them a taste of that as well.”

MISD's Create Camp is in its second year. There are daily individual challenges and one comprehensive group challenge given to the children to teach them how to problem solve and think on their feet.

Students worked on their radio broadcast daily.

This year’s group project was a radio show. Students worked all week to create a comprehensive radio show, equipped with a story, live sound effects, cliffhanger and a breaking news bulletin. At the end of the week, the campers will perform the radio show for their parents.

“My favorite part is seeing the creative processes from the kids,” Hutchison continued. “These children didn’t know each other on the first day, but now they’re interacting and really working together to get this project done.”

Aaron Pradith was a radio announcer in his group. He noted that the camp helped him improve his social skills.

“This helped me break out of my shell more,” said the incoming fifth-grader at Della Icenhower Intermediate School. “It made me talk to my teammates more and make decisions together.”

More than 120 students participated in this year’s camp. Hutchison said she hopes her camp will inspire the students and teachers to start similar imagination clubs at their campuses.

“I know the district’s Vision 2020 plan states that students will participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities, and this is another option they can choose,” she said.

Kids Learn the Wonders of Water at Science Camp

When you’re having so much fun that you forget you’re learning, that’s what coordinators at Mansfield ISD’s summer science camp call a win.

Young scientists entering grades 1-5 participated in various labs and experiments focusing on this year’s camp theme—water. The topics covered ranged from conservation, hydroelectricity, pollution and purification.

“We try to combine keeping their education going and making them realize that education is not just sitting in a room and writing,” said camp coordinator Daniel Beauford. “They’re learning things without even realizing that they’re learning.”

Kids learned about the water cycle in one of the various sessions.

MISD Science Camp is being held June 19-23 at Brooks Wester Middle School. The program is in its fifth year and keeps gaining momentum. Last year, approximately 300 kids attended. This year, the camp maxed out at approximately 420 students.

“There’s a lot of kids here eager to learn. It grows every year, and that’s because of the different experiments and hands-on activities we provide. We have 35 of the best teachers in the district heading these science lessons,” said Beauford.

Incoming third-grader Jackson James said his favorite activity was creating an aquifer out of ice cream and toppings that he later got to eat. He said he learned some valuable information that he can share with others.

“I learned that 75 percent of our body is made out of water,” said the eight-year-old. “We’re also doing a PSA (public service announcement) to teach people not to waste water.”

As interest continues to grow in the camp, camp coordinators said they may need to expand the camp to two weeks to accommodate all the children. It’s a problem they said they’re happy to have.

MISD Camps Make Summer Learning Fun

Students dressed up in the conservation costumes they created.

With fashion shows being held, mysteries being solved, and neat projects being made, it was hard to believe that a science camp was in session.

More than 300 Mansfield ISD kids and teachers got the chance to experience that science is not boring.

“We say that science is fun, but science camp is amazing,” said Daniel Beauford, the administrator of the MISD Science Camp. “I love seeing the kids get excited about science.”

MISD Science Camp 2016 was held at Thelma Jones Elementary School on June 20-24. Students from kindergarten through third grade all toured different stations to learn real-life applications of science.

This year’s theme was conservation. The activities ranged from experimenting with alternative fuels and making water filtration systems to making lava lamps and using recycled items to create costumes.

A teacher demonstrates a homemade filtration system.

The science camp, which is in its fifth year, was planned by gifted and talented specialists from across the district who came together to create an engaging, hands-on science curriculum.

“Having high-quality summer learning opportunities is a commitment that MISD has made to help students stay on track to achieve their college, career and life goals,” said Marie Medina, program coordinator for advanced academics. “I am proud that we have so many educators who are willing to give up part of their summer to be there for the kids.”

Other than science camp, MISD also offers creativity camp; preparation for middle school math; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) camps; and college readiness courses.

View a full list of summer offerings here.

MISD Students Discover Possible Career Choices in Summer Camp

Maddie Campbell slicing the chicken quesadilla she cooked.

Mansfield ISD students entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grades got a chance to explore their future occupations this summer.

For the sixth year in a row, MISD held its Rising Stars Discovery Camp. The camp offers unique courses in areas like crime scene investigation, health sciences, video game design, graphics, American Sign Language, and culinary arts.

“I chose the cooking class because I love to cook and want to own my own restaurant one day,” said Maddie Campbell, incoming sixth grader at Donna Shepard Intermediate School.

No matter what class students chose, the goal was the same—exposing children to different career paths at an early age.

”Our camp showcases a few of the offerings that are available to students at the high school level,” said camp administrator Eric Holschuh. “Each section is representative of a course or career path available at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy.”

Keven Smith teaching a student about garlic.

Especially new this year was a course teaching young minds about the basics of agricultural science. Students enrolled in that program met at the new Ron Whitson Agricultural Center and learned hands-on about farming, fishing, and gardening.

“Those skills are essential for America,” said Keven Smith, Agriculture and Science Teacher. “Without us taking care of what we have, we will become less independent.”

“I liked tending to the animals and growing plants. Time flies when you’re having fun,” said Matthew Fuller, incoming 8th grader at Danny Jones Middle School.

Rising Star Discovery Camp was held from June 15 to June 25, excluding Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Holschuh hopes next year’s camp will bring in more students and subjects.

“The camp changes every year depending on teacher availability,” said Holschuh. “We open registration the Monday after spring break.”

View more images from the 2015 Rising Star Discovery Camp. For more information, visit the camp’s website.