Middle school is a crucial time for girls as they view the world and the options that are before them. It is often the time when they make decisions about their interests and abilities in science and math.
Spectacles, a summer camp hosted by Wesleyan College, offers exciting activities designed to encourage middle-school girls to see science and math in new ways.
The students are given a wide variety of opportunities including field trips, experiments and projects utilizing the Wesleyan College science laboratories and computer facilities. Girls get the chance to learn from faculty members in Wesleyan’s division of science and mathematics and computer information systems, and the chance to spend time with other middle-school girls interested in math and science.
Camp participants hear and interact with women scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors, architects, computer scientists and others. This year, Anna Cornelious '04, was one of the camp's "Meet the Professionals" speakers. Anna, who now works for the EPA in Atlanta, was once a Counselor for Spectacles when she was an undergraduate at Wesleyan. After Wesleyan, Anna went on to receive her Masters in Environmental Chemistry from Clemson.
“We did things that we could learn from and still had so much fun!" said a Spectacles camper. “I learned that having fun and being smart aren’t that different.” said another camper.
Participants in Wesleyan's Spectacles camp have gone on to attend engineering, science and technology magnet high schools, with a camper from 10 years ago now pursuing her Ph.D. in engineering!
Wesleyan offers a variety of summer camps to the community. To learn more about our camps click here.
