How might we magnify third and fourth graders' passion for STEM through an interactive camp created by high school mentors?
During summer 2022, One Stone students led the fifth annual three-day TINKER Camp, a One Stone STEM camp for third and fourth graders. During this free mentoring program, 34 eager learners were paired with high school students for three full days of exploration, science activities and experiments, field trips, technology and engineering challenges, and mathematical application.
This camp was packed with activities and field trips. Students traveled to Zoo Boise, The Reuseum, and One Stone’s Community Garden. They made brush bots at The Reuseum and learned about soil testing, stomp rockets, and chlorophyll extraction at the garden. There were a wide variety of activities facilitated at One Stone Headquarters including building marble runs, assembling edible aquifers, and designing a device to protect an egg from being dropped off of a ladder. Many additional activities were provided by the Think Make Create Lab (TMC Lab), a portable activity trailer funded by the Idaho Out of School Network. Students used TMC Lab materials in structured activities and free tinker time. This was the first camp hosted using the TMC Lab.
Data:
-90% of young campers said they would do Tinker Camp again because it was fun.
-One high school guide shared, “I did not have the best experience with STEM when I was younger but seeing the kids learn and grow and helping my buddy really helped me have a shift towards a more positive STEM attitude”
-Another guide said, “I think the most impactful thing about this experience of Tinker camp 2022 was me getting to see how important STEM is to be taught, and how fun it can be to learn it for everyone.”
-A parent said, “The buddy system is intrinsic to the success of the One Stone camps. my child connected well and was excited to be paired with someone older that could model for him.”
-Another parent said, “There is so much packed into 3 days. This is the only camp my son is so excited to attend.”
Fast Fact Sheet
Focus: STEM
Recipients: 3rd and 4th graders
Number of recipients: 32
Number of One Stone members involved in planning/implementation: 31 guides, 5 staff
Number of weeks of planning: 5
How many hours it took to prepare for implementation: 20
How many hours it took to implement: 18
