Waukee Summer STEM Camp Provides Community Driven Hands-on Learning to Eager Campers
During the summer months, the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center (WILC) undergoes a remarkable transformation. It shifts from its role as a hub for higher-level education among high school students, to becoming the epicenter of youthful exploration and learning during STEM Camp. This innovative program captivates elementary and middle school students’ imaginations, offering them a dynamic, hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The APEX Innovators Summer Stem Camp
The APEX Innovators STEM Camp welcomes campers from all school districts across Greater Des Moines (DSM), catering to children entering 3rd through 9th grade. This year, participants from four different school districts enthusiastically joined in the excitement of STEM Camp at the WILC. STEM Camp is a thrilling adventure where young campers delve into many activities, from encountering exotic creatures brought in by Blank Park Zoo to launching rockets propelled by chemical reactions, navigating alternate realities through virtual reality goggles and constructing structurally sound skyscrapers out of cardboard boxes. Each year, the camp hosts various highly anticipated events that engage and inspire young minds, encouraging them to discover the endless possibilities within STEM fields through creative and interactive experiences.
Community Involvement
At the APEX STEM Camp, we believe in immersive learning experiences, exemplified by our dynamic guest presenters each year. Imagine engineers from John Deere teaching coding basics one day, followed by DLR Group demonstrating the principles of structural stability in self-designed towers. Activities culminate with the exhilaration of designing and launching bottle rockets up to 30 feet high! Over the past two years alone, our campers have benefited from engaging presentations by esteemed organizations such as the Iowa Army National Guard, Metro Waste Authority, Blank Park Zoo, Dallas County Ag in the Classroom, Waukee EMS, Submarine Veterans of Iowa, Iowa State University and Lincoln Savings Bank.
In addition to these partnerships, campers are inspired by role models from the Waukee School District, including student presidents and leaders of clubs like Waukee Robotics, STEM Club, HOSA and Waukee FFA. These interactions showcase potential future paths and leadership opportunities and ignite enthusiasm for their high school years ahead.
APEX Innovators STEM Camp promises an unforgettable, hands-on experience with campers eagerly recounting their adventures to their parents, followed by a well-deserved nap from all the fun they had.
A Day in the Life of a Camper
It is Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The campers have already completed two fun-packed days of building, working together and learning about career fields they may not have known existed beforehand. Today’s theme is Chemistry: Our Waukee STEM Club engages the students in two exciting activities. Before delving into the world of chemistry, they participate in learning the professional skill of the day: gratitude. They do this through writing thank you cards to guest speakers they are grateful to have heard from up to this point.
After completing this short opening activity, the real fun begins. The campers start designing their rockets, considering their recently learned concepts of drag, air resistance and force. Upon completing their masterpieces, Houston is ready for takeoff. Campers patiently wait for their combination of vinegar and baking soda to interact while quickly sealing the bottle with a cork. The pressure eventually becomes too much, and they watch their rocket launch 30 feet in the air! One camper faces a near loss of material as the rocket barely escapes, getting stuck on the roof.
The next activity is to come soon to wrap up the day, but first, a snack break of Cheez-its and Capri Suns is in order. After a quick snack and game time outdoors, the long-awaited final activity approaches for the day: Elephant’s Toothpaste. A known chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and yeast, the added food coloring creates an explosive reaction of color that shoots out of the volumetric flask, much to the camper’s amazement. After a few trials of multicolored reactions led by our lab coat and goggle-clad STEM Club leaders, the camp ended for the day. Check-out happens as parents arrive, and we hear excited campers tell their parents, babysitters and relatives about their incredible experiences as they walk out the door, eager to find out what’s in store for their next day of camp.
The Waukee Innovation and Learning Center
The building where the APEX Innovators STEM Camp unfolds is not just a space; it’s an environment designed to foster innovation and collaboration. As you step inside the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center (affectionately known as the WILC) at 295 SE Ashworth Road in Waukee, Iowa, you’re immediately struck by its welcoming layout, comfortable ambiance and expansive hosting capabilities. Parents, business partners and community members often ask, “What exactly is this place?” The answer unfolds as they discover the diverse offerings housed within its walls.
Beyond hosting the APEX Innovators STEM Camp each summer, the WILC is a multifaceted hub within the Waukee Community School District. One of its most prominent components is the Waukee APEX Program — a renowned program providing juniors and seniors with authentic career experiences. Additionally, the Waukee School District’s School-To-Work Internship Program and the WSCD Career Center operate from this dynamic facility. Moreover, the WILC is a vibrant coworking space where entrepreneurs, remote workers and professionals from various fields converge to utilize the facilities as their offices. The WILC epitomizes versatility and community engagement, embodying a spirit of forward-thinking education, career preparation and collaborative innovation in the heart of Waukee, Iowa.
Become a Camper or Partner with APEX Stem Camp
The WILC stands as a beacon of innovation and learning throughout the year, encapsulating the essence of hands-on learning and community engagement. Through programs like the APEX Innovators STEM Camp, young minds are nurtured, inspired and empowered to explore the boundless opportunities within STEM fields. As campers eagerly share their adventures and newfound knowledge with family and friends, the impact of their experiences at the WILC reverberates throughout the community.
The weeklong APEX Innovators STEM Camp takes place annually in June from 9 a.m. to Noon. Interested families are encouraged to sign up early, as registration begins in February. The camp fosters a love for learning that lasts well beyond the summer months.
Are you a parent looking to enroll your child in the upcoming APEX Innovators STEM Camp? Are you a STEM professional eager to inspire young minds about your profession or a topic you are passionate about?
For more information or to register, please contact Jared Almandinger at jalmandinger@waukeeschools.org, or connect with him on LinkedIn. You can also watch the videos below to see the action at APEX Innovators STEM Camp:
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Jared Almandinger
Jared Almandinger is the Medical and Bioscience Research Instructor, as well as the STEM Camp Director for Waukee APEX. Eager to try out new experiences, you can catch him hiking at parks across the country, trying a new research protocol in his lab or relentlessly updating his Spotify playlists.