Registration open for UCCI STEM camp
(L-R) CEC CEO Charlie Kirkconnell and UCCI president Roy Bodden
(CNS Local Life): The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) will be holding its STEM Summer Camp from 20-24 August, which is the first and only one of its kind in the Cayman Islands. The aim of the camp is to combine science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects in a fun and interactive learning environment.
For the second year in a row, Cayman Enterprise City (CEC), through its Enterprise Cayman initiative, is sponsoring the camp, stated a UCCI press release. Knowing that many jobs within CEC will continue to be created by innovative technology companies who require a local talent base with specialised skills, it continues to partner with UCCI to promote STEM to the next generation of Caymanians, the release said.
“From the onset, one of the primary objectives of the CEC development project has been to help create new job opportunities for Caymanians,” said CEC CEO Charlie Kirkconnell. “CEC’s growth means an increasing number of new creative job opportunities in STEM that many young Caymanians have had to previously leave Cayman to pursue. It is vital that we raise awareness of developing job prospects in technology and that we support engaging learning opportunities like the UCCI STEM Summer Camp, which seeks to inspire students to pursue creative careers in STEM.”
CEC has been supporting UCCI’s STEM programmes since the inception of the STEM Carib Conference in 2012. Noting that support, UCCI director of marketing, public relations and alumni, as well as camp organiser, Kristel Sanchez, said, “It is through the generosity and enthusiasm of CEC that we are able to continue offering amazing learning experiences such as the STEM Summer Camp. They empower us to produce a curriculum unlike anything that is being offered in Cayman to families who normally struggle to find unique activities for their children at an affordable cost.”
The sponsorship will allow incoming STEM-inclined grade 7-9 students to explore a variety of topics including web development, robotics, food science, astronomy, microbiology, chemistry, environmental science and even physics through dance.
With this year’s sponsorship the camp programme has been expanded to a full week, and each participant will take home several activity kits, which will be used in the hands-on interactive sessions at the camp, and will be granted all-access passes to the STEM Carib 2018 Conference in October.
Roy Bodden, UCCI president, said of the camp, “There has been a growing interest in STEM since the establishment of the Dr Wm. Hrudey Obervatory six years ago. It is for this reason that efforts of entities such as CEC play such an important role in continuing to stimulate, nurture and support interest and efforts to promote STEM education.
“The University College is greatly appreciative of the commitment of CEC in sponsoring the STEM Summer Camp. This sponsorship will allow for aspiring scientists, inventors, mathematicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders to train and prepare so that they compete on a global stage.”
Bodden also underscored that the sponsorship allows attendees to broaden their academic and careers horizons as they gain experience in various STEM fields and meet subject experts.
Kirkconnell added, “The expansion of UCCI’s STEM Summer Camp means that participating students are going to be exposed to more STEM subjects and gain more memorable experiences. We hope that this added value will inspire students to pursue creative jobs in technology – ultimately contributing to our global economy.”
The cost of the camp for each child is $125.
For more information and to register by the 10 August deadline, go to the UCCI STEM camp website
Category: Education
