Central State University Jun 20, 2008 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp By
DAY FIVE-MEDIA DAY Today we had Dr. Bernard Harris as our visitor for most of the day. He arrived on campus in time to speak to our Talented Tenth Academy, which is a STEM camp for eighth grade males entering high school in the fall. He then went to the Trustee meeting, where he was introduced by President Garland to the Trustees and those attending the meeting. Dr. Harris stated he was impressed with the beauty of our campus and he was glad to have been able to sponsor a camp here at Central State. He told his personal story of the importance of minority youth having and seeing role models so that they could focus on scientific and mathematical careers. After a short speech, President Garland presented him with a beautiful Central State clock, thanking him for his service to minority youth. He left the meeting and walked into the classroom with your children. They were patiently awaiting and he did not disappoint them. To them he gave his personal background and stated he became an astronaut because he believed he could do anything that he set his mind to do. He let us know that he was encouraged by his family and now he is one of 350 astronauts, one of the 50 that have walked in space, and the first African American to walk in space. After explaining all about being an astronaut and telling his personal story, he opened the session up for questions. Here are some of the questions your children asked: Did you see the wall of China in space? When you take off , do you leave a crater in the ground? Did you see Mars? What do you wear in space? Why doesn’t NASA put cameras into space? Do you stop growing in space? Would you die if you had a smaller space suit? What are light years? If our planet was destroyed, could the survivors go to another planet? Have you ever travelled an astronomical unit? What happens when you are in space working on things? How do you keep from flying away? Do you guys dump solid waste into the earth’s atmosphere? Have you been close to a black hole? Do you need permission to watch a space flight? These questions were asked by your children and answered by Dr. Harris. When they get home see if they remember his answers. In the second part of the day, we heard from Carla Coleman Butler. She is a project Manager from Exxon Mobil Chemical in Akron, Ohio. She talked about careers in engineering, math, and science. She especially was excited to see so many young ladies interested in these careers. She then began to discuss the activity that all of the camps participate in across the country. It is a Raft Rally. The goal of the competition is to create a “raft” from aluminum foil and 4 plastic straws so that it will float on water while holding the highest number of pennies. From this the students learned Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy, to learn how to work as a team, and to discover that the greater the amount of fluid displaced , the greater the buoyant force, but that an object whose density exceeds the density of the fluid will sink. The winner of the contest was team number 2 called the Red Panthers. They were interviewed by the news reporters for television and for print media. This was one of our busiest days and we feel special that Dr. Harris and Carla Coleman Butler came on our campus to spend some time and talk with our children.
DAY SIX
It is Saturday morning and I should have the day off and so
should the campers and counselors, but not us.
We are true adventurers.
I drive
up to this hidden place off Route 380; I see the school bus and the school
van.
I know this is the place, but I am
still not ready for what I see.
As I
walk through the trees I see one of our dear children at least 40 feet above,
zipping down a rope and loving every moment of it.
The grounds are a sea of yellow helmets and
blue straps and buckles.
I am amazed at
the various paths, and ropes, and obstacle courses all way above ground.
The children are both apprehensive and
amazed.
The ones that do try the course
are happy to have accomplished a goal.
There is a group that sat with me at the table discussing the pros and
cons of propelling oneself needlessly in the air, even if the cords can bear
500 pounds and you can only fall 3 feet.
Some of us are feet on the ground only people. There were two groups, so there was a low on the ground
obstacle course being completed by one half of the campers.
They were using much needed critical thinking
skills.
We had lunch on the ground and
the two groups traded places.
This was
as exciting for me to watch as for the students to participate.
I assure you as I was assured by the
director, Debbie this was extremely safe.
The High Course is u
niquely designed double-decker high
course consisting of seventeen different elements constructed out of aircraft
cable, logs and strong synthetic rope suspended at levels of 25 feet
and 40
feet
between utility poles. A belay safety system including ropes, harnesses and
helmets are used at all times. To exit the course, the students enjoyed either
the 375
foot
zip line or the giant swing
.
No matter what this was a very
exciting day?
Dr. Kaye Jeter
DAY SEVEN
Extremely tired from the all day
visit to Athletes in Action, some of the students did go to church.
Many of them were able to rest and prepare
for the evening activities.
All last week, the students were
encouraged to prepare for the Talent Show.
It is interesting to see students not watching television, but having
fun with each other.
I was invited to
the show as were some of the other parents and they did come.
I can only tell you, your children are
talented.
Some of the highlights
included, a skit about old school discipline tactics versus the habits of
younger students; a dance routine with stepping in it, a magic trick, 52
pickup, singing, original poetry, and for me the highlight a group dancing to
“Soldier Boy.” The students were good, but Miss Debbie and Physicist Kent
Wallace from Fisk University danced to the same music.
It was a sight to see.
There were instruments played, and more poems
read.
It was a wonderful night.
Submitted by Dr. Kaye Jeter
Update 6-27-2008
The students
are all enjoying there time at the Exxon Mobile Bernard Harris Summer Science
Camp at Central State University. As the camp draws nearer and nearer to the
end the students are just as busy as ever completing multiple projects. Yesterday
the students got geared up for a hike into Tawawa woods for a scientific study
of its current condition. The students worked together in teams that included
water, soil, plants, and animals and put all of their information together to
give a presentation on their findings and experiments. With their results, the
students determined that Tawawa Woods was in a very healthy state with plenty
of organisms, clean water, and healthy soil. Overall the students enjoyed the
entire experience and most stated that they would do it again if they were
given the chance.
Soon after, the students took a trip
back to Wright Patterson Air Force Base for a S.E.M.E.D.S presentation. The
students learned how a Scanning Electron Microscope works and even had the
chance to look under one and keep pictures of the fascinating things that they
saw. The students were amazed with what they saw and approved of the idea of
going.
Following the S.E.M.E.D.S
presentation, the students got a break from the classroom and took a trip to
Laser Quest for a few games of laser tag. Every student enjoyed the game and
felt that it was a nice break from the usual routine of the camp. The students
are currently working on a project "Robotics and You" were they are building
robots, programming them, and testing their robots. A competition will be held between
the two 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams to
navigate through a maze and complete certain tasks as well.
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