GVSU camp introduces girls to engineering

Middle school girls will get a glimpse into the careers of engineering, an occupation made of 14 percent women, at a four-day camp at Grand Valley State University. The camp is held to expose female students to engineering career choices and to help them prepare for courses in high school and college.

Science Technology and Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) Day Camps will be held June 13-16 and June 20-23 in the Kennedy Hall of Engineering on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

More than 80 campers will get hands-on engineering experience by designing, manufacturing and flying radio-controlled electric airplanes. Campers will engage in engineering enrichment classes such as aerodynamics, 3-D printing, renewable energy and biomedical engineering. Campers will also take a ride in an airplane at an executive air strip in Zeeland.

MEDIA NOTE: Campers will fly their airplanes at the Warped Wings Fly Field located at the corner of Alger and 56th Avenue in Allendale Thursday, June 16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Another Fly Night is schedule for Thursday, June 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The camp is coordinated by the Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing with support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Major sponsors include Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa Howmet-Whitehall Operations, Michigan Space Grant Consortium (NASA), Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Amway, Verizon Foundation, GE and Perrigo.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.gvsu.edu/steps/ or contact Sara Maas at (616) 331-6025.