Descriptions of the Core Courses Offered at Tech Trek 2023
Florida Atlantic University 2023 Core Courses:
Qualcomm Wearable Tech: Through the Wearable Tech project, campers will display their personal identities with circuitry, engineering and programming by designing an automated wearable technology representing their strengths, interests and values. Step-by-step instructions for setting up a microcontroller and how to use a breadboard • Hands-on coding and engineering challenges • Learn how to build an LED circuit, get it to blink and send Morse code, using a microcontroller power source •Connect a Servo motor and write code to control the motion.
Structural Engineering: Are you interested in civil engineering and building bridges? Explore the engineering design process as you research, design, and build a truss bridge out of balsa wood from your own imagination. Work with a partner to collaborate and build the most efficient bridge possible that will hold at least 5 pounds of weight.
Neuroscience: Learn basic science of the anatomy and function of the brain and nervous system. Activities will include a sheep brain dissection. The core course includes activities involving all the senses, exploring Neuroanatomy and neurotransmission along with virtual tours.
Marine Biology: Learn about marine animal morphology through the dissection of various marine animals. Become familiar with the importance of conserving our planet. Take a field trip to Loggerhead Marine Science Center to explore sea turtles. Learn about careers that are available for future marine biologists.
Stetson University 2023 Core Courses:
Marine Science: Students will learn about a few different topics in Marine Science including how to make observations in science, marine science careers, ocean zones, and food webs, environmentally safe products, ocean waves and currents, and ocean acidification. Students will also explore careers related to marine science and biology.
Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab: Students will learn to code Arduino boards and servos and use the engineering design process to create an original piece of wearable technology. They will also explore Qualcomm’s Internet of Things and different careers that are offered by the company that brings us almost everything digital.
Environmental Science – Students will study human impact on environmental factors such as loss of biodiversity, ecological footprint and will explore the effects of sea level rise and the sustainability of self-created cities. Throughout their studies students will learn about careers that relate to each of their lessons to help protect our environment.
The Fantastic Dynamics of Flight. – The wonders of aerodynamics and now we are able to send aircraft into the sky will be discovered using the engineering design process, students will explore the basic principles of flight and how these principles relate to careers in the aerospace industry.
FAU Workshop Titles and Descriptions -June 19-23
DAY/Times: | Workshop Title/ Instructor Name: | Description: | Number of Participants : | |
Monday, June 19
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Rube Goldbergs Galore!-Kelly Homa | Girls will review and utilize the sciences that make a Rube Goldberg machine work. They use a complicated series of actions to simply move an object from one place to another. Combine these concepts to create a machine to complete a simple task using laws of physics and energy for a whole lotta fun!! | 16 Per session | |
Monday, June 19
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Find Your Fit
Harlee Goodfriend |
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16 Per session | |
Monday, June 19
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Chemistry is Fun-
Chitra Chandrasekhar |
Students will use a red cabbage juice indicator to test the acidity of common household materials. This will then be followed by a demonstration of how acids can cause damage to egg shells, sea shells, concrete, marble, etc.. This will lead to a discussion of use of fossil fuels, pollution of water, and acid rain, and how they affect the flora and fauna of a region. (must wear pants, closed toed shoes, and hair tied back) | 16 Per session | |
Tuesday, June 20
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
How a Bullet Journal Can Be Your BEST Life Hack! How?-
Leslie Grossman |
A bullet journal can be an incredibly useful life tool! By keeping a journal and planner, you can gain insight into how you’re spending your time, identify areas for improvement, and stay focused and productive. Come experience how this life tool can become YOUR BEST LIFE HACK! | 16 Per session | |
Tuesday, June 20
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Nature Based Science Apps–
Veronica Kelly & AR Marshall staff |
Join a park ranger from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to explore the great outdoors using different apps to study and connect with nature. Topics include bird and bird song identification, plant identification, and more. Participants are encouraged to download the Merlin app by The Cornell Lab and the Seek app by iNaturalist. Parents should review the terms and conditions of
these apps at their discretion. This program will be primarily outdoors. Participants should dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring plenty of water to drink. |
16 Per session | |
Tuesday, June 20
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Conservation/Archery
Maria Perez & A R Marshall staff |
Bows and arrows aren’t just weapons you see in movies- they are important tools that have been used in earliest civilizations! Today, they are used for hunting, conservation, and recreational sports. Join a park ranger from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and learn about this awesome tool and how hunting and conservation work hand in hand. Be prepared to work outdoors- participants will need to wear closed toe shoes and be able to pull back and hold 15 lbs comfortably. | 16 Per session | |
Thursday, June 22
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Flip Grid Fun in Action- Traci Jones | Learn how to use this great online video discussion tool to create personalized videos of your Tech Trek experience. Videos can be recorded as many times as needed before uploading, and can have the addition of emojis, text, stickers, and drawings. Time to create videos to share with your sponsors and supporters who made this week possible for YOU! | 16 Per session | |
Thursday, June 22
1:15-2:45 |
Ozobot Obstacle Course-Challenge Accepted-
Shannon Culp |
Students will use the Engineering Design Process to complete a challenge using their Ozobot and Color Codes. We will Define and Identify: Criteria(ex: using at least five color codes) and Constraints(ex: 30 seconds while avoiding obstacles) Are you up for the challenge? | 16 Per session | |
Thursday, June 22
3:00-4:30 |
Makey-Makey Music!-
Shannon Culp |
Make anything into a key! You can make a connection through anything that’s even a little bit conductive. Even a Banana Piano! You can also create inventions that combine conductive and non-conductive parts. You will draw your own instrument using a graphite pencil and plug it up to our piano app to play it. Are you ready to Make Music? | 16 Per session | |
Thursday, June 22
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Genome Editing
Bethany Stanhope |
A brief introduction to DNA, genome editing and applied uses. | 16 Per session | |
Friday, June 23
1:15-2:45 |
Flip Grid Fun in Action- Traci Jones | Learn how to use this great online video discussion tool to create personalized videos of your Tech Trek experience. Videos can be recorded as many times as needed before uploading, and can have the addition of emojis, text, stickers, and drawings. Time to create videos to share with your sponsors and supporters who made this week possible for YOU! | 16 Per session | |
Friday, June 23
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Drone Search and Rescue Mission- Shanna Mayberry | During the drone search and rescue workshop, students will have the chance to learn how to fly drones! Students will split into teams where they will be briefed on the mission and presented with design requirements from the customer. They will design their own soldier rescue mechanism and put their design to the test by seeing how many soldiers they can rescue from danger! | 16 Per session | |
Friday, June 23
3:00-4:30 |
Microbit Adventures
Cheryl Huey- |
Campers will use block coding to program BBC microbit to light up, detect movement, and make sounds. | 16 Per session | |
Friday, june 23
1:15-2:45 and 3:00-4:30 |
Energy 101-Empower Yourself!!
Shachi Mangoli |
This workshop will focus on multiple sources of energy – including wind, solar, and natural gas (just to name a few). Learn about how we convert resources into energy to power everything around us. We will feature women who have worked in the field across various technologies. Come with us on a virtual exploration of wind turbines and solar fields and at the end, join us for a fun solar robot activity! Campers can take their robot home and continue to experiment with energy! | 16 Per session |
TechTrek Stetson University Workshop Titles and Descriptions June 12-16 2023
MONDAY- June 12 1:15-2:45
TUESDAY- June 13 1:15-2:45 THURSDAY- June 15 1:15-2:45 |
Adaptation Stations Lisa O’Neal |
Students will experience what its like to try to survive in the world without specific adaptations and how this leads to evolution or extinction of species. |
15 participants |
MONDAY- June 12 1:15-2:45
TUESDAY- June 13 1:15-2:45 THURSDAY- June 15 1:15-2:45 |
Passive Solar Houses Laura French |
Students will use the engineering design to collaborate and build a solar house that meets the specifications of the STEM -based project presented to their group. |
15 participants |
MONDAY- June 12 3:00-4:30
TUESDAY- June 13 3:00-4:30 THURSDAY- June 15 3:00-4:30 |
Solar Cookin’ Kim Stears |
Students will learn how to use the UV rays from the sun to cook food with limited resources. |
15 participants |
MONDAY- June 12 3:00-4:30
TUESDAY– June 13 3:00-4:30 THURSDAY- June 15 3:00-4:30 |
Solar Panel Engineering Lisa O’Neal |
Using solar panels students learn how to engineer a generator to convert into mechanical energy. They will be presented a selection of supplies, a challenge and time to work as a team to make it work. They will also be given the opportunity to explore solar engineering careers as they relate to their projects.. |
15 participants |
FRIDAY-June 16 1:15-2:45
FRIDAY-June 16 3:00-4:30 |
Robots in Action Amy Monahan |
Students will explore the world of building and coding Lego Robots. They will be presented with multiple challenges to choose from. As a team they will work together to solve the real-world issue using their robot building and coding skills. |
15 participants . |
FRIDAY-June 16 1:15-2:45 |
Fly Lab
Dr. Kelly Rowland |
Students will study the life of flies in- depth. As they look into the life of these insects and all the miraculous things they do, they will explore the basic principles etymology and careers related to the study of one of the most important pieces of our environment–bugs! |
15 participants . |
THURSDAY- June 15 1:15-2:45 FRIDAY-June 16 1:15-2:45 FRIDAY-June 16 3:00-4:30 |
Flipgrid Nancy Yousseff |
Students will learn how to record exciting videos about their experiences at camp using the Flipgrid platform. Flipgrtd is a super interactive, user friendly, and fun for them to reflect and share their accomplishments, memories, and goals after their experiences here at Tech Trek 2023.. |
15 participants |
MONDAY-June 12 3:00-4:30
TUESDAY-June 13 3:00-4:30 FRIDAY-June 16 3:00-4:30 |
Heart Valve Replication Lab Akrisza Kemp-Brown |
Students will explore the science of artificially replacing heart valves in patients and how they function. They will builds 3-D model to simulate how the valve works when it is properly placed inside the human heart. |
15 participants |
MONDAY- June 12 1:15-2:45
TUESDAY- June 13 1:15-2:45 THURSDAY- June 15 3:00-4:30 |
Can We Solve It?
Irene Lincoln |
Students will learn about the science of forensics and how it has developed over the years. Then they will explore the science of fingerprinting and blood- typing before engaging in an escape- room game. |
15 participants at a time |
To see some of the 2023 Camp highlights go to https://flip.com/+txn8e2g0
.Contributions for the 2024 camps should be mailed to Tech Trek, PO Box 2938, Jupiter, FL 33468. Checks must be made payable to AAUW Florida Supporting Foundation, Inc, the sponsor of the camps. All contributions are income tax deductible to the donors. The funds raised will be divided between the two camps.