TryEngineering Summer Institute

An exciting ten day, on-campus engineering camp for high school students held at premier universities across the United States.

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Category: Engineering

TryEngineering is partnering with NSLC for our program in NYC at Columbia University Camp!

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Live on an Ivy League campusm, learn with the best

We are thrilled to announce TryEngineering Summer Institute is partnering with NSLC to expand to a new exciting location:  New York City: Columbia University. As trailblazers in providing high-quality engineering education experiences for students, we are eager to bring our innovative curriculum to even more aspiring engineers and innovators, which is why we are partnering with NSLC on this one session this summer.

What Makes TryEngineering Summer Institute Unique?

TryEngineering Summer Institute is not just any ordinary summer program; it's an immersive experience designed to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators. Here's what sets us apart:

  • Hands-On Learning: Campers will engage in hands-on projects, experiments, and design challenges that allow them to apply engineering principles in real-world scenarios.  There is very little traditional teachers droning at the front.  No.  These kids are learning as they work and build.
  • Passionate Instructors: The program is led by experienced instructors who are experts in their fields and passionate about nurturing young talent. They provide personalized guidance and mentorship to help students achieve their full potential.  Background checked, and trained on site as well, they coalesce into a team that helps the kids create community and culture.
  • Engaging Curriculum: Our proprietary curriculum is updated every year to reflect the latest trends and ideas.  It is designed in collaboration with industry professionals to ensure that campers learn the skills and principles shaping the field of engineering today.
  • Collaborative Environment: Campers will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers, fostering teamwork, communication, and leadership skills essential for success in engineering and beyond.  This is the kind of transformative experience that will last a lifetime.
  • Inspiring Guest Speakers: During the program, our students will have the chance to hear from guest speakers who come to campus and speak to our students, have a short presentation and time for Q+A..  Speakers are leaders and innovators in the field of engineering. These talks provide valuable insights and inspiration for future career paths.
  • Sparking Solutions Competition:  The students break into small groups and they work on one project together for. portion of each day; it culminates with the competition, held on the last afternoon of each session, and that along with the closing ceremony are all broadcast over Zoom so parents can watch.

 

Who Should Attend?  Inquisitive Minds Ages 14-17, Residential Only

The IEEE TryEngineering Summer Institute in New York City is located at Furnald Hall, 2940 Broadway, Columbia University. This location is residential only and only for students who are 14-17 years old during their camp session.  No matter your skill level or thoughts on which direction you are going, this program is for you. Whether you're interested in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or civil, our program has something for everyone.  Your learning expands beyond the classroom; we want each and every student to come out as leaders, powerful, confident and future-thinking.

 

 

Explore NYC!

On some evenings we will break into small groups and head out to explore NYC.  We have been running these type of programs in NYC for 15 years so we have a system down pat to keep eyes on the kids at all times.  These trips give the kids a chance to go see some of their favorite places like Glossier or Brandy Melville, check out the tech shops in Chinatown, or the little fancy sneaker shops in SoHo, or other places like Times Square, the Highline, and everything else NYC has to offer.  Students are always accompanied by staff when they go on these evening excursions, and students are not required to go.  They are just a lot of fun!

 

Join Us This Summer!

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your knowledge, develop new skills, and make lifelong connections. Join us in New York City at the Columbia University Camp or any of our other fantastic university locations for an unforgettable summer experience that will ignite your passion for engineering and set you on the path to success.

nyc engineering camp

Checking out the massive Con Ed power generation plant in NYC, a field trip a previous year.

Graduate Profiles: Student Snapshot

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Carl, Graduate of TESI 2018

 

Our engineering summer program for high school students provides lasting benefits.  Embedded in the process of designing and building projects is a unique methodology that has our students advance academically and lasts a lifetime.  Our academic experience provides valuable preparation for college, and for life.  We appreciate hearing from our former students, and hearing about what they are up to, and the difference TESI has made in their lives.

Here is more information about Carl!

We asked his mom these questions:

 

Hi Mom!  What is Carl up to now?
Carl is a senior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX studying mechanical engineering. He did an internship at Urenco USA, a nuclear energy company in Hobbs, New Mexico last summer. He currently has a job offer to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas after graduation. He’s also busy restoring a 30 year old vehicle in his spare time.

Why did you choose to register him into our program initially?
The program had good reviews but most importantly I wanted our son to experience life away at a university campus with exposure to various engineering disciplines. Our hope was for him to see what he liked and disliked about going away and to reconfirm his interest in studying engineering. The overnight dorm style life with a roommate, field trips, group projects and lectures was a way for him to get a taste of college life with like-minded high school students. The program was geared to not only an academic approach to engineering but to give real world applications and solutions to everyday issues. It tested problem solving skills from understanding the problem, drafting an approach and managing the solution.

After camp, did you notice any breakthroughs Carl had as a result of attending our program, academically, socially or in any other way?
I think he realized that he could survive living away from home. His confidence grew and he matured. He realized that if he continued to work hard that could get into a great engineering program. I think it also helped him during his college visits to look for specific course programs, facilities and teaching approaches.

In the 4 years since attending our program, can you see where our program has had any impact on his life?
He’s definitely a very methodical person. Always looking for ways to solve issues. He’s a stronger person believing that he can succeed. He came home from camp with a very positive attitude and was hard working and very disciplined.

What is Carl up to these days?
He’s a senior mechanical engineer attending Texas Tech University expected to graduate August 2023.

Did attending our program alter the course of your student’s life in any way?
Carl found his path and continued following his interest in mechanical engineering. He did not give up even with the lock down and switch to on-line classes that covid brought.

 

Another fun picture of Carl!

 

Here is what Carl himself had to say:

What is your relationship to engineering now?
I’m still enjoying it… make sure you are strong in math and working in group projects. It will strengthen you.

Do you have a positive memory from camp you can share?
I built a robotic car, used some factory kits to model and had exposure to intro into coding. I was asked to consider applying to be a counselor for a future camp, and that made me feel good about myself.

What are you up to now? Where are you headed in life?
I’m focused on finishing my degree and entering the workforce.

Anything else you’d like to say to the kids or parents thinking about registering?
It’s a good program with fun activities.

2020 TryEngineering Summer Institute

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Registration for the 2020 TryEngineering Summer Institute is now open for high school students ages 13-17. The 2020 sessions are currently scheduled at three U.S. institutions. The University of California, Riverside; Texas A&M University, in College Station. Plans are currently underway for an additional location in the New England area. 

There are two program options available: Residential and Commuter.

The residential program option includes all academic supplies; double occupancy room; breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily; a camp t-shirt; site visits and excursion expenses; transportation to and from activities; and weekend activities.

The commuter program option runs Monday to Friday from 9am – 4:00pm. The Commuter program option includes all academic supplies; daily lunch; a camp t-shirt; site visits and excursion expenses for trips taking place during the day/class time; and transportation to and from activities.

Pricing for the 2020 TryEngineering Summer Institute

2020 TryEngineering Summer Institute Pricing

Register by 31 December and save $200 USD! IEEE Members also receive an additional $100 USD off.

This article was originally published on TryEngineering.

Stay Sharp Over the Summer with an Engineering Program

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Educational professionals have long warned parents about summer slump, where students forget some of what they learned over the previous school year. One way to prevent it is to engage students in educational summer camps.

“Learning loss is a very real thing,” says Scott Vollmer, vice president of STEM learning at Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. “You want your child to continue learning through the summer. But anyone with a child knows motivating a child in the summer is difficult. That is where educational camps come in. It’s not school, but it will keep that pace in the summer that kids are used to in the school year.”

Educational camps allow kids and teens to have fun while staying sharp. Participating in an engineering program like TryEngineering Summer Institute exposes older students to a wide range of experiences, including making new friends, acquiring collaboration and presentation skills, participating in hands-on design challenges, and growing more independent.

“Educational camp experiences provide an environment for growth, specifically about facing failure,” Vollmer explains. “In other camps, you don’t get those opportunities to fail and you definitely don’t get that at school. At summer camp, you can botch something and try over. There is a high reward with low risk.”

The key to getting kids engaged over the summer lies in choosing an educational camp based on their interests, where they will meet like-minded friends.

Of the TryEngineering Summer Institute, one student reflected, “This camp was life changing! I made so many new friends and got to understand how to solder, 3D design, build drones, and most of all, I got to meet and still keep in contact with all of the campers.”

Work together with your teen to choose the right summer experience for them, one that will challenge them while also embracing their interests. And when your teen is back in class in the fall, they will feel more confident and ready for what lies ahead.

Learn more about enrolling in the TryEngineering Summer Institute at one of our three campuses across the United States.

Why Girls Should Go to Summer Engineering Camp

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Girls are an important part of the TryEngineering Summer Institute community

When investigating summer camp options for your daughter, it’s important to consider and encourage her interests, especially when she shows interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Studies show that girls lose interest in pursuing math and science fields in middle school. However, research conducted by Girl Scouts shows that 74 percent of high school girls across the United States are interested in the field and subjects of STEM, and that those girls are high achievers who are exposed to a variety of opportunities and support systems.

An engineering summer camp is an ideal environment for nurturing your daughter’s interest in STEM, providing opportunities to participate in hands-on design challenges, meet real-life engineers, and visit engineering workplaces to see what it would really be like to work in engineering.

Here are three basic reasons why girls should enroll in engineering summer camp:

  • Because they can. The stereotype that girls aren’t interested in STEM is just that, a stereotype. Girls need to be exposed to engineering early on so they can make informed decisions when choosing their career paths. “Engineering is not only meant for boys,” says Ana Quezada, a biomedical engineering student at the University of California, Riverside and 2012-2013 International Fellow, in an article published by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). “If you have any doubts, just take a look around you. Everything you see has some engineering in it. I believe girls will love engineering if they will only give it a try. It’s not only focused on cars and boys; it is more about creating new things from scratch just using your imagination.”
  • Because engineering needs more women. Around the world, there’s a lack of women working in the engineering field. In the United States, only 13% of engineers are women. The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe, with only 11% of the engineering workforce being female. There’s a major skills shortage in engineering, science, and technology professions overall, and it’s important that we inspire many more young people to take up careers in these crucial areas.
  • Because the next big thing could be made by a girl. New technologies are developed every day, but if only one group of people is responsible for creating solutions, those technologies may not be the best they can be. That’s why diversity in the field of engineering is so important. NASA aerospace engineer Aprille Ericsson explains, “The different perspective that each human being brings forth toward solving problems and creating unique tools is required for us to continue to create awesome projects like Mars rovers, prosthetic limbs, or nano cancer treatments.”

Encourage your daughter to pursue her engineering dreams. Share with her IEEE’s free infographic highlighting exciting engineering careers and enroll her in the TryEngineering Summer Institute today.


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