This summer, ECS students explored the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics during the annual STEM Learning Camp, made possible through the generous support of the Bob McCarthy Foundation in collaboration with ECS STEM teacher Leah Farnum.
The four-week camp provided engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students entering kindergarten through sixth grade, helping them strengthen problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork while preparing for the upcoming school year.
During the first week, students entering kindergarten and first grade investigated objects in motion by designing, building, and testing structures. Through hands-on exploration, campers learned about forces, motion, stability, and the engineering design process as they predicted outcomes, tested ideas, and improved their creations.
Week two welcomed students entering second and third grade, who became young programmers using Bee-Bots, Sphero robots, Dash robots, and other coding tools. Students developed computational thinking skills by creating algorithms, debugging programs, and solving coding challenges while learning the importance of persistence and collaboration.
Students entering fourth and fifth grade spent week three engineering marble runs, exploring how gravity, friction, momentum, and energy influence motion. By designing, testing, and redesigning their creations, campers experienced firsthand how engineers use creativity and scientific thinking to solve problems.
The final week challenged students entering sixth grade to build mousetrap-powered cars. Campers studied the physics behind force, energy transfer, friction, torque, and Newton’s Laws of Motion as they refined their vehicles to travel farther and more efficiently through repeated testing and redesign.
Throughout each session, students engaged in authentic science and engineering practices by asking questions, testing ideas, analyzing results, and improving their designs. These experiences not only reinforced important STEM concepts but also built confidence, resilience, communication, and collaboration, skills that will support students both inside and outside the classroom.
The success of this year’s STEM Learning Camp reflects the meaningful partnership between the Bob McCarthy Foundation and Ellicottville Community. Thanks to the Foundation’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities, local students were able to spend their summer exploring, creating, and discovering that learning is both challenging and fun.