CONNECT Colleges Bringing More Children a “Summer of Science”

April 29, 2015 – Over a thousand of the region’s school-aged children will engage in enriching science and technology programs this summer, thanks to the public colleges and universities in Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

Would your daughter like to learn how to pilot a plane? She can, at Bridgewater State University’s ACE Aviation camp in New Bedford. Perhaps your son would like to explore robotics and game design: he can nurture his interest at a camp sponsored by UMass Dartmouth’s Computer and Information Science department. Or, maybe your son or daughter would like to participate in Bristol Community College’s Kids College, where “Cookin’ up a Storm,” Lego Engineering and Minecraft are offered.

Massasoit Community College’s session, “Look What I Created!” is a program which strives to inspire scientific imagination through creative and challenging projects, such as designing and building a simple machine, or studying the habitats where local animals live. Cape Cod Community College is offering, “Maker Movement,” where activities include: Battery basics, Junkbots, simple circuits, and 3-d printing.

Dr. Stacey Kaminski, executive director of CONNECT, shared, “The Summer of Science programs were initiated by the Presidents and Chancellor of our institutions because they see a clear connection between students having experiential experiences with science at an early age, and their ability and interest in majoring in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) in college.” In addition, the CONNECT CEOs believe that when students spend time on a college campus, it is a prime opportunity for building a “college-going culture” in Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Most programs offer scholarships to families unable to afford regular tuition.

CONNECT is a partnership of five public institutions of higher education in Southeastern Massachusetts: Bristol, Cape Cod, and Massasoit Community Colleges; Bridgewater State University; and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. More information about the Summer of Science programs, including dates, costs, and age groupings, is available on the CONNECT website: www.connectsemass.org/summerofscience.html.

For Massasoit-specific information, please click here.