This year marks the 25th anniversary of the College of Education and Human Development’s Nevada Math & Technology Camp. This residential camp for middle schoolers aims to enhance mathematics skills and build awareness of mathematics and technology-based careers.
The camp is led by Lynda Wiest, Ph.D., Department of Educational Studies chair and Heather Crawford-Ferre, Ph.D., Nevada Department of Education state coordinator. Wiest has been the camp director since its inception in 1998, and Crawford-Ferre has been with the camp since 2007.
Wiest notes that this STEM camp is likely the longest-running in the country under the same director. She says, “The essence of our program has remained the same, such as strong support for critical STEM skills, a comprehensive campus experience that includes an overnight stay, and a commitment to serving adolescents from varied backgrounds and ability levels.”
The Nevada Math & Technology Camp’s goal is to increase students’ knowledge and confidence while they explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. Approximately 50 rising 7th and 8th graders from Nevada attend the camp each summer. The camp exposes students to the college experience in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Campers stay in residence halls, which allows students outside the Reno-Sparks area to participate.
Assistant Camp Director Heather Crawford-Ferre reported that almost half of this year’s campers came from rural areas.
“The residential nature of the camp allows students to be exposed to a large college campus, which might not happen otherwise at this age due to how geographically dispersed our state is,” she said.
During the camp, youth have the opportunity to meet with local mentors and explore careers in the STEM fields. Some mentors have included meteorologists, engineers, medical examiners and geologists.
Kristi Varner, a science teacher in Lyon County School District, wrote after her son Mason attended the 2023 camp, “It’s all he talks about. He had a fantastic time! He learned a lot and made new friends.” Mason had so much fun attending camp that he returned for a second year.
The program staff includes a mix of educators and college students. Instructors base their lessons on the Nevada Math Standards established for the grade level the students will enter in the fall. They employ research-based teaching methods endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, including a constructivist orientation to learning. Math topics covered in the camp include problem solving, geometry, spatial skills, data analysis, probability and algebra.
Nevada youth of all academic abilities and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the camp. Thanks to generous sponsors, the camp provides scholarships to students who qualify for the U.S. federal government’s free or reduced-price lunch program. This year’s sponsors include Nevada Gold Mines and the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation.
About her work with the program, Wiest says, “I consider it a privilege to have served many hundreds of Nevada youth in our quarter century of existence. We have helped the campers bolster their STEM skills and engage in other forms of self-development, such as interpersonal skills and self-confidence.”
