2016 Seal of Approval Recipients
February 2016
Camp Invention
Our summer enrichment day experience is designed for children entering grades one through six. Free to schools and organizations that host our program nationwide, Camp Invention features collaborative learning opportunities led by local teachers in a safe environment. Year after year, we offer innovative curricula that align with state and national education standards and meet our own rigorous testing requirements. We strive to enhance each child’s ability to learn through teamwork and subject immersion while providing exciting challenges and cultivating a new appreciation for discovery.
Des Moines Student-to-Student Speaker Series (DMS5)
We are a group of students devoted to promoting science literacy and creating awareness of cutting-edge math and science research for high school STEM students in Des Moines. Our goal is to educate students of all ages about the breakthroughs in research currently happening in the scientific community. We also aim to help students explore career options by allowing them to have discussions with successful men and women in STEM.
Open Minds, Open Doors Conference
Open Minds, Open Doors is a half-day conference intended to encourage middle school girls (7th-8th grades) to pursue career fields with foundations in STEM. The conference is held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, registering girls from all 7 counties served by Grand Wood Area Education Agency - Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Linn, Johnson, Jones, and Washington. Approximately 500 girls attend the conference each year.
May 2016
Coding for Social Good and Beyond
In this week-long camp, students will learn about computer technology and computer programming and develop basic programs to make interesting digital artifacts that they can share with others. The camp is designed for rising grades 6-9 and seeks to spark the imagination and interest of youth from within Grinnell and surrounding areas through coding while attempting to address the disparities that exist in the field. The camp will be staffed by Grinnell College's summer research assistants—eight Grinnell College students and two community college students—all of whom will spend 10 weeks on campus doing research and designing the camp curriculum.