STEAM Camp
Our first ever RC-STEAM camp where our focus was to build, construct, and marvel at God's creation.
Although we initially hoped for our usual group of about 15 kids, we realized understandably, that the current situation was going to keep most families home. Of course, the Lord had such great plans through this. Our own kids were able to participate and my older son was “the expert,” having built several RC kits in the past. It's important at this time to see each opportunity as valuable, no matter how small. And if we could be a light and a source of rest from such heavy and troubling times, then we were very willing to serve. Perhaps we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for, but indeed, the outcome we received from the Lord was so sweet.
We believe the impact was deeper and the individual attention and assistance we were able to give each child were greater. On the first day, the campers and our two kids (ages range from 10 years old to 15) got their race car kit. The box, containing 250+ pieces, was gigantic. The skill levels needed to build this kit could be on the adult range, but we knew we could empower kids to try and to be successful. The kits took about 6 hours to build and it was spread over three days. The final touch was spray painting the body of the truck. The results were great. Each truck was of the same model but was individualized by the kids to result in a shiny, large-wheeled, fully charged powerhouse.
Although a bit of a learning curve, the kids had a blast learning how to drive them. On the fourth and last day, we built cardboard ramps. The amount of mechanical building, concentration, construction, and fine motor skills used in this camp was on a high level. The kids made sour faces at the mention of math, but we assured them that although math is unavoidable in a STEAM camp, the math required included a satisfying result. And so, we thought about a geometric shape - the triangle - and how it can be used to make ultra-strong structures. Once complete, the handmade, measured, and planned-out-by-kids ramps would possibly make the cars fly for a second, that’s the satisfying part. The outcomes were amazing!
The cars crashed, flew, flipped, and ride over each other. It was hilarious fun but we did not forget to have daily devotions centered on Intelligent Design.
It was serendipitous because we had just ordered a book titled Made In Heaven. It was a perfect addition to our camp because it highlights God's creation and man's attempt to solve problems using technology from the natural world. We learned that a mantis shrimp has 12 color receptors, whereas we only have 3, and can see thousands of colors we can't. We learned about the design of our hands and how scientists are trying to recreate prosthetics as high tech but still can't. We read about God's response to Job as he highlights the "treasures of the snow." We pondered what a Leviathan or Behemoth was as described in scripture. We have to tell you, as a nerdy science and history enthusiasts, We were all about it!
What a blessing we get to empower and inspire campers in this way. Can’t wait to have another camp like this!
