NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University hosted junior high and high schoolers from Sabine Parish for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) day camp May 22-25.

“This year, our junior high school campers were immersed in STEAM education and career exploration,” said Steve Gruesbeck, NSU’s director of service-learning and La GEAR UP.  “Each morning they studied one ACT subject area with School of Education faculty. After a networking lunch with college faculty, they explored academic disciplines and careers in journalism, art, computer information systems and nursing and allied health.”

The camp was made possible through NSU’s partnership with Louisiana GEAR UP and Sabine Parish Schools. Louisiana GEAR UP (Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded national initiative.  NSU works with 16 school districts and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.

Campers participated in hands-on learning about the ACT and joined NSU staff for interactive tours and workshops with Northwestern professors from Computer Information Systems, Journalism, New Media, and Communication Arts, Fine and Graphic Art and Nursing and Allied Health. In small groups and one-on-one, they met with college professors on grade-level appropriate lessons and activities in English, math, reading and science.

“They programmed computerized robots and entered worlds of virtual reality. They also filmed and edited professional-grade videos in locations across our campus. They saw examples of fine art and practiced printmaking and framing techniques. They also learned about human anatomy, blood pressure testing, and practiced hands-only CPR to the beat of the Bee Gee’s disco song ‘Stayin’ Alive.’ We had a lot of fun and our campers learned a lot about academic and career opportunities in emerging fields,” Gruesbeck said.

CPR Demonstration:

Students from Sabine Parish visited the nursing labs at Northwestern State where they learned to use a stethoscope, CPR techniques and other clinical skills.  Instructors were, from left, Assistant Professor of Nursing Haley Johnson and third level nursing students Rachel Scaife, Jon Shirley and Rachel Dupree.  The four-day STEAM camp was an opportunity for the students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math.