Lenape Tech Information Technology Assistant Jason Metro teaches young women about the inner-workings of a computer during the FASE Discovery Camp held at Lenape Tech last week.
by Jonathan Weaver
A total of 15 regional female students became crime scene investigators, navigators and computer programmers last week.
Well - maybe not yet - but organizers hope the FASE Discovery Camp at Lenape Technical School inspired them to be in the future.
The girls, who came from Armstrong, Butler and Indiana County were part of the discovery camp as a enrichment program to keep them interested in technical and engineering careers.
Lenape Tech CAD Pre-Engineering Instructor Heather Simpson helped organize the first event.
“This is a pilot program this year – we are just trying it out through FASE Female Alliance STEM Excellence – to expose girls to science, technology, engineering and math. A lot of girls lose their interest in science or math come 7th 8th grade, so we’re hoping to show them how exciting it can be so they can stay more focused,” Simpson said.
Simpson remembers being one of the few who graduated from high school with engineering interests.
“I have two engineering technology degrees, so I am a STEM female,” Simpson said. “When I was going through high school, there wasn’t’ really anybody for me to look up to female-wise –so we want to try and get that available to the girls with mentors or just with what they are learning about today or each day.”
IUP-Northpointe Electro-Optics Coordinator Kelley Nuttall is a member of FASE and works with Penn State because of their optics program. She also finds need for the camp.
“I think it’s very important to start with these younger girls in middle school to start the awareness and show them what’s needed, so when they’re taking their classes in middle school and high school, they’re prepared and know which direction or pathway to go into,” Nuttall said. “You kind-of plant the seed and then you water it and watch it grow.”
Students have also had professional women leaders come in from the community during their lunch break to talk with them about their careers and how to achieve those goals.
Simpson said the girls kept interest during the week.
“The girls are very good – they’re asking all sorts of questions – relevant questions, - staying on task, are very interested and are asking questions all the way through lunch,” Simpson said. “They are definitely learning a lot – being exposed to science, technology, engineering and math.”
Lenape Tech Information Technology Assistant Jason Metro talked with students Thursday about computers, computer safety and programming code. He agreed that the girls were attentive.
“It went really good – they’re a good group of kids,” Metro said. “I think it went well.
“I think the camp as a whole was a success,” Metro added.
Both women will converge with other organization leaders to assess the camp.
Simpson hopes it is a positive assessment and the camp will grow.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to hold another camp if the funding’s available for next year – maybe do some different topics,” Simspon said.
Nutall said the participants will help decide on the direction of next year’s possible program.
“At the end of the week, we also have a survey for the girls to fill out so that we can get feedback from them,” Nutall said. “That way when we do our brainstorming and do planning for next year or even a Saturday event, we have their feedback, because they are the ones that sit through it, the ones we are trying to keep interested and keep motivated.”
The camp was sponsored by Lenape Tech, Penn State University Electro-Optics Center, Tri-County Technology Consortium, Armstrong County Manufacturing Consortium, the Workforce Investment Board and FASE.