Beyond ER
Get a hands-on look at the medical field. This all-day course simulates diagnosis, patient education and surgery for heart disease. In the “pre-op” stage, you’ll learn about heart disease, its causes and diagnosis. Then you’ll put on an operating room gown and goggles and investigate anatomy of a cow heart. You’ll perform a heart operation by using tubing to stitch a bypass onto a coronary artery. You’ll also learn about reproductive health and fetal distress, and you’ll perform fetal surgery in a bovine uterus. Recommended for middle school students.
Bioengineering: Building a Better You
Take this all-day course to learn how bioengineers use engineering and scientific principles to solve problems related to our health and well-being. You’ll see samples of biomedical devices and implants, learn how they’re made and find out what they’re made of. Hands-on activities will show you how materials are developed and tested for use in the body and what kinds of challenges bioengineers face in designing them. You’ll also learn how researchers keep materials sterile, what kinds of conditions implants are subjected to in the body and how the body reacts to different implants. You’ll use engineering design to build models of materials, human body systems and implants. You’ll also tour biomedical research labs at the University and talk to students and researchers about their cutting-edge biomedical research. Class meets all day.
Biology: Cells to Organisms
Laboratory and field-based investigations will allow you to experience the extraordinary aspects of life on earth. In this one-week course, you’ll explore the microscopic world of bacteria and learn classic microbiological techniques. During your molecular cell biology lab, you’ll work with a fascinating social amoeba and learn how to grow mammalian cell cultures. A series of animal and organ dissections will improve your understanding of human gross anatomy. You’ll also observe and identify microscopic invertebrates in freshwater lakes and streams, and identify invertebrate microfauna inhabiting cow rumen in the field. Recommended for eighth- to 10th-grade students.
Chemistry
This is a laboratory study of common chemicals and the everyday application of chemical concepts. Specific experiments will interest those who have had little or no science experience. Other experiments will challenge you if you’ve taken a physical science course. A friendly, relaxed atmosphere is encouraged. At the same time, strict safety rules are enforced as you learn about chemical reactivity and how to use chemicals safely in the lab, at home and in the workplace. Recommended for seventh- to eighth-grade students.
Communication Skills
Become more effective at communicating with your friends, family and teachers. You’ll be able to think critically, write coherently and speak effectively. The first part of the program is divided into four sections — creating and varying perspectives, formulating and testing hypotheses, recognizing assumptions and evaluating values. From this critical-thinking base, you’ll learn to use invention heuristics and to formulate, develop and organize ideas. You’ll participate in a number of activities, from role-playing and writing to preparing speeches on specific topics for delivery to a variety of audiences. You’ll also spend time in the library learning to use computer systems for research. The one-week classes are recommended for all students. The June 15-28 and July 13-26 classes are recommended for high school students.
Computer Science — Visual Basic
You’ll start off with a brief overview of the history of programming languages leading to object-oriented programming. From there you’ll implement a variety of games using Visual Basic Express, and you’ll work with user-interface objects such as forms, labels, textboxes, pictures, buttons and timers. As you use the objects, you’ll code their event behavior using Visual Basic statements while you learn the standard programming structures of sequence, selection and repetition.
DNA Science
Both seasoned scientists and beginning students approach the abstract nature of molecular genetics by asking questions and conducting experiments. The DNA Science class introduces you to the tools of modern biotechnology with lessons presented by the S.C. DNA Learning Center. The class is for students who have little or no experience in molecular genetics. You’ll conduct experiments that teach you about human, plant and bacterial genetics. You’ll also learn the basic techniques needed to construct and analyze recombinant DNA molecules, including DNA restriction/ligation, bacterial transformation and plasmid isolation. The one-week classes are recommended for all students. The July 13-26 class is recommended for high school students.
Earth and Space Science
Conduct scientific investigations with an emphasis on fun. Learn how to plan a trip using a topographic map and hike the route on Clemson’s campus. Study gravity and apply the proper technique to catch a water balloon dropped from a four-story building. Examine and classify interesting minerals, rocks and fossils. Special class features may include planetarium shows, astronomical observations and a visit to the S.C. Botanical Garden or the Geology Museum. Recommended for all students.
Energy Independence
The questions concerning alternative fuels are important because we’ll probably need the answers during your lifetime! You can make the fuels to power a car or truck right in your own backyard. In this course, you’ll learn how to make ethanol from corn and biodiesel from vegetable oil. You’ll also determine the costs of these alternative fuels to power an automobile. You’ll find out what makes a hybrid car different and learn about the challenges of having hydrogen fuel cells powering the cars of the future. Because concerns about global warming, climate change and higher energy costs are motivating us to examine our overall energy consumption, you’ll learn exactly where your home energy comes from and how to reduce your total energy use with energy-saving practices and commercially available devices. A visit to the Oconee Nuclear energy plant and a house heated by renewable energy will help you to compare different approaches to energy generation and use.
Engineering Graphics: Computer-Assisted Design and Prototyping
Imagine that you have a new design idea. You can picture it in your mind, and you want to create it so others can see it and benefit from it. This course will take you through the steps involved in the design process. You’ll create design sketches and use engineering software to make 3D computer models. You’ll also produce a plastic model of what you’ve designed.
Exploring Engineering and Technology
In this all-day class, you’ll explore technology systems such as design, manufacturing, construction, communication and transportation. Five active and “learn-by-doing” modules will be taught by experts in technological fields. These will provide relevant and fun learning experiences on Clemson’s state-of-the-art technology equipment. You’ll study engineering (what engineers do and the relationship between engineering and technology), graphic communications (printing processes and their applications), manufacturing processes (simple machines and mass production), space and flight (designing, testing and producing flying vehicles), and digital video (recording and editing). You’ll also learn about the interconnectedness of technological systems and the important correlations to school subjects such as mathematics and science. Recommended for middle school students.
Geocache Treasure Hunt and GIS Mapping
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers are used to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”). In this course, you’ll start out using GPS units to find existing caches and collect geographical data on prominent landmarks. Next, you’ll download this data onto a computer and learn how to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to display your data using topographic basemaps and other maps of streets and municipalities. You’ll then construct a map puzzle to be “cracked” by your colleagues if they want to find your cache. Equal time will be spent in the field and lab.
History of the Clemson Area: Makers of the Pendleton District
Using resources of the Cooper Library, including the papers of several families, you’ll examine four European Americans who helped create the late 18th century Upcountry — Andrew Pickens, James E. Calhoun, John C. Calhoun and Thomas Reese. Using the Internet, records stored in several area repositories and visits to historic sites, you’ll create a view of the early settlers’ lives. You’ll use computers and your own digital photographs to assemble a report on history of this part of the Upcountry. Recommended for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students.
Junior Master Naturalist
Hike, scavenge, forage, experiment, learn and be amazed by nature. Experience hands-on activities to interpret or “read” the wilderness, understand geography and geology, identify organisms and observe ecological processes. Learn conservation strategies and how human activities affect plants, animals and the environment. Most of the class will be taught outdoors, on the Clemson campus and in the surrounding Clemson Forest. By the end of the class, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master naturalist!
Mathematics
Strengthen your math skills and learn about the many applications and careers that require mathematics as an important part of daily job performance. You’ll consider the mathematical concepts required for fields such as accounting, aviation, architecture, banking, computer programming and engineering.
Mindstorms® Madness Robotics
Algorithms and gear ratios; treads, tires or both? Controllers, sensors, motors and an RCS! Join us in this all-day course as we merge engineering concepts, computer programming and Lego Mindstorms to build robots that can accomplish a series of missions. We’ll end our camp with a friendly competition among participants and the robots they build.
Psychology
Would you like to know why humans behave the way we do? In this course, you’ll learn about psychology, a broad field of study that focuses on both normal and abnormal human behavior. The class is taught using a team approach, which gives you a chance to learn from several professors who are active researchers and practitioners in the clinical, social, physiological, experimental and human-factors areas of psychology. Some lessons may deal with the brain and behavior, sleep and dreams, perception, nighttime driving, personality tests, bullying, psychopathology, memory, problem-solving, intelligence and relaxation techniques. You’ll participate in a wide variety of both individual and group activities that help you learn by doing.