Robots and Rockets STEM Camp at Harding University

Rich Wells, a dedicated educator from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, USA, teaches not just design, engineering, and analysis to his students but also ignites a passion for STEM from an early age! This summer, Rich and his colleagues organized the second annual ‘Robots and Rockets’ Summer Camp, a fantastic opportunity for kids in grades 4-8 to dive into the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) projects, thanks to SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids.

A wide range of STEM Activities

Attendance is limited to approximately 50 students each year. They are divided into five groups by age. Rich worked with a different group each of the five days of the camp. About half of the students had attended the previous year.

Young campers had a blast exploring the following STEM activities:

• Dissection: From fish to cow eyeballs, young scientists had hands-on experiences, fostering their curiosity and understanding of biology.
• Lego Mindstorms Robots: Kids got to unleash their creativity and problem-solving skills by building and programming these fun robots.
• 3D Printing / 3D Design: The future designers and engineers learned the ropes of 3D modeling using SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids software tools, Shape-It and Style-It.
• Laser Cutting: Campers dived into the world of precision and technology with laser cutting activities.

“One of the beauties of Apps for Kids is the ease of creating objects with minimal introductions.  It allows them to explore and create quickly. I start by showing two excellent videos: the Apps for Kids overview and the Shape It and Style It on creating a fish” explained Rich. “They are engaging, clearly demonstrate features, and always keep student interested”. After the videos, Rich showed the rendition of the Australian Shepherd he designed.

As a reaction, kids laughed and said it looked more like a cow than a dog. “I want them to know they should not expect perfection. I encourage the students to create whatever they want. They may make a car, a plane, a building, an animal or anything else they like” insisted Rich. Then Rich is used to walk around talking to them one-on-one and answering any questions. They have three hours to design.

Using SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids in the 3D Printing and 3D Design activity allowed students to get hands-on with the fascinating world of 3D modeling. The Print-It app enabled them to see their creations come to life through 3D printing technology, turning their imaginations into reality.

SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Classroom

Rich wisely employed the SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Classroom App to manage these young talents’ assignments and work, ensuring an organized and effective learning environment. “The Classroom App saves much time in the organization and allows students to begin creating quickly. Their accounts are created before class start. The students enjoy sharing their creations with others in the class. It also helps keep records to match the 3D print with each student” said Rich.

The Robots and Rockets camp was so popular that the community couldn’t get enough. With 52 eager students signing up, Rich and his team had to run not just one but two sections. This speaks volumes about the demand for hands-on STEM experiences among young learners. To ensure they don’t forget their STEM experience, Rich consistently encourages participants to continue utilizing Apps for Kids throughout the year, and returning students to surpass their previous achievements.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Rich as a member of the SOLIDWORKS Community.

With his wealth of engineering knowledge from General Motors and the early EV1 era, he’s inspiring students of all ages to explore the wonders of STEM. We warmly recognize and thank educators like Rich, who are shaping the innovators and engineers of tomorrow, ensuring that the spirit of discovery continues to thrive in the hearts of young minds.

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