By Sammy Nagy

After the year’s finals pass, mentally challenging camps based around acquiring STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) abilities is usually the last thing many students care to consider spending their time doing. However, the values and skills taken from pursuing these activities not only extend towards real world application and usefulness, but can also provide the attendee with a strong sense of accomplishment, stretching even as far as into the realm of fun.

Some of these camps, like the University of Arizona Summer Engineering Academy that I attended, can even offer chances to explore some of the newest technical fields such as computer industrial design and biomedical engineering.

Don’t just take the word of someone who was already interested in the field. Instead, take the word of Dario De Donato, a fellow TPA freshman who also attended the camp and was somewhat less interested originally in a STEM summer camp.

“While we were there,” he said in an interview, “the college professors and students really opened our eyes to both the number and complexity of engineering fields, as well as giving us hands-on time to experiment with computer design and 3D printing.” He concluded, “The camp demonstrated U of A’s excellent educational programs, and I will definitely consider the many STEM fields in the future.”