Throughout July and August, Conestoga hosted more than 800 math and science enthusiasts at various day camps at the Cambridge campus. The camps were held in partnership with Brick Works Academy and STEM Camp and provided a range of activities geared to children between the ages of five and 13.
Programs offered through Brick Works Academy, including Lego Castle Builders and Minecraft Computer Camp, started July 6 and ran through to August 21. Participants had the opportunity to build and program robots, create virtual cities and construct giant Lego castles. In total, Conestoga hosted 28 sold out Brick Works programs over the course of seven weeks. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Camp ran four weeks.
John Tielemans, coordinator of Conestoga’s Robotics & Automation program and liaison for the day camps, had an opportunity to provide Conestoga’s young visitors with tours of the Cambridge campus while they were on site. “Faculty and staff enjoyed having the children on campus during a time when the building is normally not too busy,” said Tielemans. “Many of the campers enthusiastically stated they will be attending Conestoga College.”
This was the first year Brick Works offered camps at Conestoga, but Brick Works Academy executive director David Goodfellow said his team is already looking forward to returning next summer. He noted the opportunity to have children build and program Lego robots in the same environment college students build industrial robots was ideal. Goodfellow hopes to expand the day camps to Conestoga’s Waterloo and Guelph campuses as well.
“Parents were impressed with the new Cambridge campus and loved the idea of their children getting a preview of post-secondary education,” added Goodfellow. “Busy parents were also happy to hear the Food Services staff had a special menu for the children. Conestoga was the only Brick Works location where purchasing lunch was an option and it was well received.”
Goodfellow also offered thanks to Conestoga’s Engineering faculty. “It couldn't have happened without their support and we are very grateful they gave us the opportunity.”
Visit the Brick Works Academy website or the STEM Camp website to learn more about their programs.