Just because it's summer doesn't mean that students will stop learning science, technology, engineering and math skills essential for higher education. Some summer camps are offering STEM-related programs that cater to students of color in an effort to improve the quality of their lives and produce a more diverse workforce.
Summer Engineering Experience For Kids (SEEK)
Summer Engineering Experience for Kids, or SEEK, is a three-week summer camp experience that immerses black students between the third grade and fifth grade into STEM fields through hands-on projects. SEEK is computer-based and is held from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM.
Participants will work alongside their peers on projects, which will be put in a competition attended by their parents. Aside from these hands-on activities, the children will be exposed to collegiate STEM students and African-American figures in the STEM field.
SEEK locations are held in states including Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and Philadelphia from June to August. There's a non-refundable $50 application fee for each student.
Black Girls Code
Black Girls Code engages young girls into STEM fields by providing them with hands-on and projects-based programs for 10 days. In this summer camp, black girls with ages between seven and 17 learn how to code and are exposed to computer science and technology.
BGC, which was founded by Kimberly Bryant in 2011, doesn't require students to have prior coding experience. Camp locations are held in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, New York City and Washington, D.C. Two-week camps cost $300 while one-week programs are for $150. Register here.
Stanford University's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH)
Stanford University's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy, or SMASH, is a college preparatory program for underrepresented students of color in high school. SMASH is free of cost and guides students into STEM education through demanding 5-week, 3-year summer programs.
In SMASH, students of color are exposed to rigorous coursework, mentors, role models and support networks consisting of other colored students. Even if the school year rolls in, SMASH scholars are still tied up in the program through monthly STEM activities and workshops. SMASH programs encourage students' critical thinking skills, civic awareness, leadership and sense of social accountability.
Manhattan College Summer Engineering Awareness Program for High School Students
Manhattan College's Engineering Awareness Program develops high school students' interest in engineering as well as science and SAT preparation. For 10 days, students are exposed to guest speakers in STEM fields and experiments in mechanical, civil, electrical, computer and environmental engineering.
The program prioritizes minority and female students from the 11th to 12th grades. Scholarships and financial aid are also on the cards for some pupils.
