Corporate Area Students To Take Part In SRC Summer Camps

Over 50 students from the Corporate Area will be engaged in two summer camps being staged by the Scientific Research Council (SRC).

The first camp will be held at the Parade Gardens Stem Centre from July 24 to 28, and the second will be held at the SRC from August 8 to 11.

Both camps will seek to engage students entering grades four to six in non-traditional Science and Technology education and will be hosted under the theme: ‘Environmental Stewardship’.

Coordinator of the Science and Technology Education Unit at the SRC, Amanda McKenzie, said “the camp’s theme is strategic, as recent occurrences related to poor solid waste management, which has contributed to flooding in some areas as well as the outbreak of vector-borne diseases, reiterates the importance of good environmental practices.”

The camp, which is free to students from Parade Gardens, Southside and surrounding areas, will see students from schools such as St. Michael’s Primary; Holy Family Primary; North Street Primary; Excelsior Primary; Calabar Primary and Junior High; St. Aloysius Primary; Jessie Ripoll Primary and Half-Way-Tree Primary participating.

“The Council recognises that throughout the summer period it is difficult for parents to find wholesome engagement for students, [so we try to assist],” Ms. McKenzie said.

She noted that the SRC will provide all materials for the experiments; stationery and refreshments.

Students will participate in activities such as examining the growth of algae, constructing a solar oven, going on a field trip to the Green Grotto Caves, a design challenge, coding and team building exercises.

Presenters will come from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), SRC, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) as well as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

There will also be a session for parents of the participants. The session, which is themed: ‘The Power of Positive Parenting’, will focus on effective parenting, learning outside the classroom and planning financially for children’s education.

At the end of the camp, the top boy and girl will be awarded with a starter account.

Meanwhile, the second camp will target the children of parents working in the Hope Complex, which include employees from the Water Resources Authority, Mines and Geology Division, The Government Chemist and The Jamaica Bauxite Institute.

The students of this camp will participate in similar activities as the first camp, and will get an opportunity to view, first hand, Science & Technology at work.

Students will view the use of tissue culture technology and food production among other activities at the SRC.

They will also be taken on a field trip to the Hope Botanical Gardens where they will complete a field activity, tour the Chinese Gardens and compete in a team building challenge.

The annual summer camps were started with a vision to aid in fostering a culture of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) among young minds by developing and improving understanding, knowledge and skills.

The SRC’s partners for the camps include Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, Supreme Ventures Limited, Coldax Mart Limited, Sangster’s Book Stores and C&WJ Co-operative Credit Union.