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UA-PTC welcomes Project Lead the Way campers

Forty middle school students from various Central Arkansas Middle schools will attend University of Arkansas- Pulaski Tech’s Project Lead the Way Summer Enrichment Institute June 4 – 15. Participants will be engaged in learning about technology through robotics-themed activities.

The students are on the Main Campus from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and will spend time using the latest technology to solve challenges such as designing, building, and testing a rocket for maximum possible altitude and a perfect landing. They’ll work with mechanical gears, motors, and drones. Students will also have the opportunity to visit Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs. They will study science with mousetrap racers, rockets, and skimmers.

The event ends with a graduation and student robotics presentation on June 15 at 2 p.m. in the Performance Studio of the CHARTS Building on the UA-PTC Main Campus at 3000 West Scenic Drive in North Little Rock.
The two-week program uses the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Gateway curriculum and certified instructors.

“This camp is often a real eye-opener for the students who participate,” said Richard Moss, director of UA-PTC’s STEM Success initiative. “Having these hands-on experiences enables young people to discover new possibilities and interests, including possible careers STEM fields.”

The outreach program is free and its design fits the mission of UA-PTC’s STEM Success program, which aims to increase the retention and graduation of underrepresented students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and creating a sustainable pipeline for students to enter STEM programs and careers in Arkansas.