Members of the Rogers State University AeroCats STEM Training Team recently hosted a summer camp for young people at The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges in Tulsa.
Held Thursday, June 29, the camp covered basic drone safety, basic aeronautics, functional check flights, required the campers to pilot through two courses, and taught block coding for autonomous flights.
According to Curtis Sparling, head of RSU’s Department of Technology and Justice Studies, the camp came about as the result of feedback from a survey inquiring about his team engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) outreach to area groups and organizations.
“Response from the campers was very positive. The campers just loved it – it was very well received,” he said. “Many of these younger kids have never had the chance to be exposed to that kind of hands-on educational opportunity.”
The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, colloquially known simply as “The Center,” is a Tulsa-based organization with the mission to provide opportunities for young people and adults with physical challenges to enhance the quality of their lives.
RSU students participating in and helping at the camp included Kai Nguyen, sophomore; My Le, sophomore; and Reece Dodson, freshman.
“This was the fifth STEM camp of its kind that we’ve been involved with this summer, and in many ways, it’s been just as beneficial for our RSU students as it has been for the campers. It’s mutually advantageous and very rewarding,” Sparling said. “They get to see young people’s responses to being given opportunities to learn about STEM in a very hands-on way, with many of them coming from underserved communities, and that’s an experience that has a lasting impact on both groups.”
Sparling said his team has already been invited back to The Center to provide the same type of outreach for their adult members.
This summer, RSU’s AeroCats team also participated in outreach at STEM Gym, TCC’s STEM Camp, and others, with future camps currently in the planning stages.
For more information about degrees available through RSU’s Department of Technology and Justice Studies, visit www.rsu.edu/TJS.
For more information about The Center for Individuals for Individuals with Physical Challenges, visit www.tulsacenter.org.
