What is the most important thing to pack for a week of summer camp? According to Harrison GT Teacher and Director Kristen Motley, it isn't sunscreen or a notebook—it's an inventor's mindset!
This week, the summer energy is high at Harrison Middle School as Camp Discovery officially takes over! K–5 students from all over the area have gathered to keep their curiosity buzzing with a fantastic week of hands-on learning and STEM-focused fun.
Our instructional staff is bringing four unique stations to life, and our young innovators are completely hooked:
Amusement Park Builders (Engineering Station): Led by Kindergarten librarian and STEM expert Mrs. Waller, campers are tackling the Engineering Design Process by building functional miniature amusement parks! They are identifying simple machines, applying physics principles like centripetal force to build stable Ferris wheels, and mastering kinetic energy to construct gravity-defying roller coasters.
Journey Through the Amazon (Science Station): Led by Mrs. Becca Jackson, campers have stepped into the shoes of jungle explorers in Brazil! They are tackling real-world survival challenges—designing rain shelters, researching edible plants, building water filtration systems, and constructing clay boats to cross the Amazon River before filming their own live "evening news" broadcast.
Robotics Station (Bristle Bots): Led by Miss Kheidi Davis, kids are diving into the engineering design process by building their very own tiny, vibrating robots! Campers are exploring basic circuits, discovering how robots move, and testing their custom bots in high-energy design challenges.
Nature Sparks Studio (Art Station): Led by Mrs. Sarah Jenkins, the art lab is beautifully messy! Campers are exploring the elements of nature through process-based art—creating swirling ribbon installations (Air), flowing water canvases (Water), charcoal and pastel experiments (Fire), and sculpting imaginative rock formations (Earth).
An incredible camp doesn't just happen—it takes a team. A big thank you to camp leaders Kristen Motley and Jessyka Dove, along with our certified teaching staff, for guiding such an inspiring week!
Plus, we have to give a huge shout-out to the 18 Harrison High School students who are volunteering their time to mentor, guide, and cheer on our younger campers. Their dedication helps them fulfill their community service graduation requirements, making this a true win-win for our entire community!
Great job, staff and students!
