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Last Updated: Jun 26, 2017 - 9:55:53 AM |
BETA Camp, a summer programme aimed at enhancing STEM education for junior high school students, will be hosted on Grand Bahama at the
Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy from July 17-22.
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Registration open now until June 30, sponsorship available for Family Island students
Nassau, Bahamas - The Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) Group has announced it will host this year's BETA Camp on Grand Bahama for the first time.
Launched in 2014, the summer programme is geared towards furthering the education of junior high school students in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The camp has traditionally been held on New Providence, but coordinators saw the need to spread STEM awareness to a greater number of students across the country.
"One of our major focuses in BETA Camp is access for Family Island students," BETA President and Co-Founder Trenicka Rolle said. "More so, we recognise Freeport as the industrial capital of The Bahamas. Many companies here hire engineers and have a great need for more skilled Bahamians in this field. We wanted students to see the opportunities for career advancement within our country beyond Nassau, and at the same time see the potential for industry and entrepreneurship on Grand Bahama."
The camp is open to students between the ages of 11 and 14 and will be held at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy from July 17-22. This year's theme is "Energy and the Environment for Everyone".
Rolle said the recent fire at the New Providence Landfill was a prime example of what neglecting the environment could lead to. Inspired by the incident, she said this year's camp aims to encourage students to think up STEM solutions for protecting the environment, as well as conserving and diversifying energy.
Students attending BETA Camp will learn from professional engineers currently working in their fields of discipline. The camp offers seven different engineering disciplines: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Web Development, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Over the course of the programme, students will participate in practical activities, team building exercises, and a team project, for which the top three teams are awarded. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to take field trips to various industrial companies on island.
"This is a truly innovative and first-of-its-kind summer camp to take place on Grand Bahama," Rolle said. "We encourage parents to enroll students quickly, even if just for the experience."
Rolle especially encouraged students interested in STEM to take advantage of BETA Camp for greater exposure to potential careers in engineering and the opportunities to connect with young professional engineers as well as peers with similar passions and interests.
Registration for BETA Camp is open now until June 30. Sign-up fee for the programme is $50 per student, which includes daily lunch, camp T-shirt and all supplies.
Family Island students are encouraged to apply, as there is limited sponsorship available for the camp. Sponsorship covers camp registration, airfare, and hotel accommodations. Students are housed with others attending the camp and chaperones. Applications can be found at www.wearebeta.co.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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