SALLY YAO
Science Camp
Keywords: STEAM Curriculum Design | Project-based Learning | Social Emotional Learning
Audiences: 9-12 year-olds
Year: 2022
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Highlights: I successfully transformed the traditional 8-2 boy-girl enrollment ratio into a more equitable 6-4 distribution, promoting greater diversity and inclusivity to create an engaging environment for all campers.
60+
Courses and activities designed and implemented
300+
Campers served across 5 camp terms
82%
Campers returned or enrolled in additional camp programs
Program At a Glance
2022 Science Camp was a 13-day boarding camp specifically designed for science enthusiasts. Centered on three key pillars: discovery, creativity, and courage, we aimed to guide young minds through a journey of interactive, hands-on activities to spark curiosity and passion for science.
MY ROLE
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Designed overall curriculum, camp activities
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Prepared camp marketing materials
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Recruited workshop teachers and co-designed workshop lesson plans
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Oversaw implementation of the camp
01
WORKSHOPS
Project Earth: The Ultimate Rescue Mission
The Stellar Drift: A Journey to Mars
Adventure Challenge: Into the Ocean
SEL in Nature
02
STATISTICS
5 camp terms, each served 20-90 children
10-14 teachers and trainers per term
10-34 camp counselors per term
60+ courses and activities offered
Design Approach
STEAM Focus
Most workshops and activities integrated art with STEM subjects to nurture creativity and innovation.
Project-based Learning
Designed learning through the active exploration of real-world challenges and problems.
Community Fostering
A nurturing family-like atmosphere was cultivated, supporting communal living, working, and play.
Timeline
Featured Workshops
Project Earth
This nine-day workshop unraveled the science and technology behind wildlife protection.
The workshop touched base on infrared cameras, AI image recognition, data analysis, and more. Through experiments, discussions, and model building, campers employed design thinking to craft robots aimed at safeguarding wildlife.
Adventure Challenge
In three sessions, campers were introduced to the world of maritime sports, tackling paddle boarding and surfing.
These challenging activities were chosen not only for the thrill they offer but also for their capacity to forge resilience and endurance within young adventurers.
A Journey to Mars
In a series of five sessions, young explorers were tasked to be the first settlers on Mars.
They ventured from understanding atmospheric pressure to constructing water rockets, and finally, hosting a Martian party. The workshop integrated experiments and games to make the learning experience interactive and fun.
SEL in Nature
This four-sessions workshop used nature education methodologies, providing campers with the opportunity to connect with their emotions.
Amidst the natural landscape, campers learned to navigate their emotions, understand empathy, and cultivate a deep appreciation for nature's bounty.
Design Process
The overall curriculum went through 3 iterations in the original brainstorming phase, and specific workshops went through 5+ iterations during the entire 6 months.
* Used Xmind for brainstorming and presenting initial ideas.
