CLIMBS, a research project focused on climate resilience in Kentucky, is offering three summer camps for kids throughout the state this year. Enviropods is a library-based STEM day camp focused on earth and environment science, specifically in the Commonwealth.
Summer Brown, senior lecturer at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kentucky, said kids in the program will see and use technology and real data to study the environmental issues that Kentuckians face.
“This is going to be things like students using VR, GIS, drones, to learn more about tornadoes, flooding, landslides and other types of hazards,” said Brown.
Brown also said the program aims to open doors of opportunity for kids interested in this field.
“And what it does is it allows students to understand some of the things that are happening to them but also can maybe inspire them to seek that out as a major or even a career path for later on. We like to think of this as kind of an earlier investment in workforce and awareness around who is actually working on these types of hazards,” said Brown.
Participants must be either rising seventh, eighth, or ninth graders and Kentucky residents. These programs are completely free, and snacks and lunch will be provided.
The camps take place from June 24-26 in Hopkinsville, July 15-17 in Frankfort and July 29-31 in Hazard. Parents can learn more and register their kids online or via the Enviropods Kentucky Facebook page.