ExploreHope Summer Science Camp students learn about Mars through event with NASA

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·3 min read

HOLLAND — Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp through Hope College connected with NASA Thursday to learn about the Mars Pathfinder mission.

The event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sojourner rover landing on Mars as part of the mission.

Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.
Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.

Matthew Golombek, project scientist at NASA for the Pathfinder mission, spoke to students about the mission process, what was learned and information about Mars.

He told the students that the project marked the beginning of a “renaissance of Mars exploration” and that the intent was for the rover to serve as a “mobile geologist” to give insight into the environment of Mars.

Students from the Hope camp, along with students from a camp in Texas, were able to ask questions following the presentation.

Matthew Golombek, project scientist for NASA, spoke to students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp at Hope College about the Pathfinder mission that landed a rover on Mars.
Matthew Golombek, project scientist for NASA, spoke to students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp at Hope College about the Pathfinder mission that landed a rover on Mars.

The middle-school aged students then participated in an activity called “Down to the Core” where they took material samples, similar to the process used on Mars. Students built their own devices out of everyday materials to collect samples from layers of modeling clay.

The rover landing isn’t the only thing celebrating 25 years this summer — ExploreHope’s Summer Science Camps also reached the quarter-century mark this year.

Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.
Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.

Tod Gugino started the program with a pair of chemistry camps with a total of 30 participants. Since then, the program has grown considerably.

More than 1,000 children — a record for the program, according to its director — were set to participate in approximately 50 week-long camps at Hope College between June 13 and July 29 this summer. Topics include chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, watershed restoration, movie making and more.

ExploreHope has also expanded to middle and high school students, offering deeper dives on potential career paths for students.

“Over the last five or six years we’ve added middle and high school camps,” said Susan Ipri Brown, director of ExploreHope academic outreach. “The middle and high school camps let us get more in depth with things. In elementary, you just want them excited for lifelong learning, you want them to do some things that compliment what they’re doing in school.

Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.
Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.

“I think what our focus has been over the years is how do we get beyond the K-5 and focus on middle school and high school and say to kids ‘you have your passions. How do you get to explore more about your passions?’”

Each camp provides information and activities around its particular topic. The goal is to provide a week full of summer learning, but in fun and engaging ways.

“We want them to love learning through fun,” Ipri Brown said. “Our goal is to create an environment that gives them these innovative experiences where they’re having a lot of fun while they’re learning and they want to keep learning and following whatever they’re interested in. “

Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.
Students in an ExploreHope Summer Science Camp participate in an activity to create a device that can take a core sample from modeling clay.

ExploreHope is holding a free event in July to celebrate 25 years of the Summer Science Camps. The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Schaap Science Center on Hope’s campus.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch. 

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Students in Hope College science camp learn about Mars from NASA event