Exploring Engineering at St. Louis Area Beaumont Boy Scout Camp: How SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Inspire Creativity

Discover how SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Inspire Creativity. The Beaumont Scout Reservation, located in the heart of St. Louis, is well-known for its beautiful landscape, camping adventures, and the spirit of outdoor exploration that embodies the Boy Scouts.

But what if you could mix outdoor learning with the excitement of digital design and engineering? That’s exactly what happened during a recent camp, where scouts were introduced to SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids, an educational suite designed to spark creativity and introduce engineering concepts to young minds.

Every July for 11 years, Judy Hahn from GoEngineer, has been involved with the Boy Scouts and proposes a STEM event.

Bringing Engineering to the Outdoors : discover how SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Inspire Creativity

Boy Scout camps have always been about learning life skills, gaining independence, and exploring nature. At the Beaumont Scout Reservation, the scouts took a step further by diving into technology. This year, thanks to SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids, scouts were given the chance to explore engineering in a hands-on, fun, and interactive way, blending traditional camp activities with cutting-edge tools for creative learning.

A Day at Beaumont: From Nature to Digital Innovation

During the past years, they became familiar with 3D printing because some 3D printers were available in the camp. The kids were excited to touch and feel the parts. Last year, they even commemorated their 10th anniversary with STEM, and printed over 200 keychains for all the boys. This year, there was no 3D printer, but instead, they were initiated to SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids by Judy. During the July 2024 camp, the scouts balanced traditional outdoor activities like hiking and camping with sessions dedicated to using SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids.

The Shape It app allowed the scouts to turn their nature-inspired ideas into 3D models. For instance, one group designed a treehouse, incorporating the various shapes and materials they observed in the forest. Another group modeled animals they spotted on their hike, building fun, colorful versions of deers, birds, and more. By the end of the camp, the scouts could use SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids to show their creations to each other. These presentations encouraged teamwork and collaboration and taught the importance of communication in engineering and design. And, if there had been a 3D printer, they would have been able to turn digital creations into real-life objects the scouts could have taken home. This hands-on experience left a lasting impression, giving them a tangible outcome from their digital designs.

Why SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Is a Perfect Fit for Scouting

The values of the Boy Scouts — teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership — align perfectly with the principles taught through SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids. This program introduces technology in a way that’s accessible and fun, encouraging scouts to think critically and creatively. It bridges the gap between hands-on outdoor learning and digital skills that will serve them in the future.

At the St. Louis Beaumont Boy Scout Camp, introducing SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids expanded the learning experience. It showed scouts that engineering and design can be as creative as technical. The mix of outdoor adventure and digital exploration brought a unique, memorable learning opportunity to the camp, paving the way for future engineers and innovators.

Integrating SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids at Beaumont Boy Scout Camp gave scouts a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of nature and technology. The tools allowed them to dream, create, and even bring their ideas to life, all while fostering an understanding of the engineering process. It’s a reminder that engineering isn’t confined to the classroom — it can be learned and enjoyed anywhere, even in the great outdoors.

For scouts and parents alike, it’s clear: combining outdoor exploration with digital creativity opens up a world of possibilities, sparking curiosity and inspiring the innovators of tomorrow.

Back to Blog