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QuantHub is proud to announce that Hunter Cain of Jasper Jr. High School and Brileigh Vanderver of Arab Jr. High School have been awarded STEM camp scholarships to attend the CyberCharged Summer Camp at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. This opportunity promises an exciting and educational experience filled with hands-on learning and innovation.
CyberCharged Summer Camp Overview
Monday: Civil and Environmental Engineering
The week kicked off with a focus on civil and environmental engineering. Campers were introduced to the National Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Grand Challenges, as well as the Gates Foundation Toilet project. They engaged in environmental experiments by designing and creating a landfill to test its impact on groundwater. Additionally, they designed an air filter and learned about strategies for cleaning the air we breathe.
Later in the day, campers explored structural engineering concepts by learning about different shapes and their strengths. They built trusses to test these shapes—ask them which shape proved to be the strongest! The day concluded with a tall tower challenge.
To add a creative twist, students were divided into teams for the “zombie got my leg” design project. They began scavenging for materials, immersing themselves in an apocalyptic scenario.
Tuesday: Energy, Conservation of Matter, and Chemistry
On Tuesday, the focus shifted to energy, conservation of matter, and chemistry. Campers learned about the states of matter and the conservation of matter. They discovered how fireworks get their colors and conducted experiments to see flame colors firsthand.
The day included exciting demonstrations of energy and chemical reactions, such as creating and measuring mentos fountains and elephant toothpaste. The campers also learned about propulsion—ask them what they used for fuel! They built wind turbines and measured the voltage they generated. The zombie project continued with activities at the barter table.
Wednesday: Electromagnetism and Materials
Wednesday was dedicated to electromagnetism and materials, with a continued emphasis on the zombie project. As a mid-week treat, campers visited FLOW Supreme Air Sports, a facility offering unique trampoline and aerial sports activities. This break was well-deserved after two days of intense engineering design, building, and testing.
Campers traveled by school bus to FLOW, where they received socks provided by the facility. They enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to jump and play games in the non-jumping area, recharging their energy for the rest of the week.
Thursday: Computing and Cybersecurity
Thursday focused on computing and cybersecurity, with more time dedicated to the zombie project. Campers learned about programming and the components that make up a computer. They delved into network security and man-in-the-middle attacks—ask them if they got hacked!
The remainder of the day was spent finalizing their zombie projects and preparing for the race, culminating an exhilarating and educational week.
Hunter Cain and Brileigh Vanderver had an incredible time at the CyberCharged Summer Camp, thanks to the scholarships awarded by QuantHub. They return with new knowledge, skills, and unforgettable memories. QuantHub is committed to providing opportunities that connect data literacy skills to real-world applications.