As campers sign in Monday morning they met some of the instructors and helpers for the week.


Then they assemble to hear about the week's activities.


Campers were all anxious to begin.
Put on your Red Cyan Anaglyph glasses to see them in 3D..
   

Not to be overlooked...


If you can't find your anaglyph glasses here they are in old fashioned 2D.


Camp director Dr. Robert Arts

And tried to see if it was time for lunch.


They built telescopes and tried them too.


If you are returning from space you will need a well made parachute.

Campers were given a list of genetic traits (e.g. hair color) with a bead color associated with each possibility (black, brown, auburn, red, or blond) for that trait.
They assembled a bracelet that illustrated their personal unique combination.

They learned some of the organelles of plant and animal cells.


Then painted plaster models of each.


The kids got to dissect a frog.
Some really got into identifying all the organs.
All were fascinated when someone found that their frog was full of eggs.
 

Monday campers learned safety rules that would apply in all their classes through the week.
They decorated a pair of safety glasses with their own choice of colors.
The glasses were for their use throughout the week and then they could take them home.


They used universal indicator to measure the pH of a variety of liquids.
And to change the color of a chameleon printed on indicating paper.


They made tiny rockets out of plastic pipettes.
Fueled them with a mix of hydrogen and oxygen, put them on a launch pad, pressed the igniter,
and were amazed at the result.
I know at least one went 16 feet 11 inches (516 cm).

Campers learned the elements of programming using the Scratch programming language.


They constructed a story by having computer cartoon characters perform according to their programs.

Campers took a look at light (and each other).


 A phosphorescent screen recorded their shadows.


They disassembled cameras to see how they worked.


They looked for all the lenses,


A pair of parabolic mirrors put face to face creates an image that looks real enough to pick up.


The kids built pinhole cameras using aluminum pans and tape.
Then loaded them with photographic paper with only darkroom lights for illumination.


Hold the cameras very steady while you open the shutter and close it one second later.

Here are some of the pictures they made.
The top row are the negative images that we got.
The second row are positives made by inverting the colors to get a more recognizable image.


Photographer, picture and camera.

The university's cafeteria has a varied selection with something for everyone.


The parade of campers returning for the afternoon classes.

These girls are some of our much appreciated helpers.
They were campers in years past and have returned to assist with this year's classes.

Teams competed in contests designed to test their science, engineering and cooperative skills.
In this test one member of the team has to negotiate a maze that they can't see using only the instructions given by their teammates.


An engineering challenge.
Using a limited amount of spaghetti, tape, and string make the tallest tower that will support a marshmallow.


Using only the letter combinations found on the periodic table make as many words as they can in 10 minutes.


Build the highest self supporting tower possible using a a couple of pieces of paper and  a little tape.


Each of the round containers contains a shape or barriers and a few BBs that are free to rattle around..
This team is trying to figure out what is in each container.


Who Wants to Win $1,000,000 is game show with science questions created by Jefferson Lab.
Click here if you want to play but come back here to see more about our camp.


The water balloon slingshot was a ballistics problem.
Points were awarded for hitting or coming close to the target.
Our photographer managed to catch the balloons in the air on the way toward the target.



Each camper was given the specifications for a bridge that they were to build at home.
It was to be made with one pound or less of standard spaghetti and any kind of glue.
It had to span 16 inches, be at least 4 inches wide and able to support a 2 by 2 inch block that was the stand-in for a vehicle crossing it.
Each bridge was loaded  by hanging a bucket  that was slowly filled with sand until the bridge failed.
Some parents came to watch the test.
There were a variety of designs.
Some sagged slowly others gave way all at once.


This video was shot by one of the parents.

When the contests were over prizes were awarded.


Congratulations to all the winners.

And to all the campers I hope you will be back next year.