Girls Learn About Science at Camp Einstein

MORENO VALLEY>> Numerous girls took part in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside’s Camp Einstein to learn about wind power, sound travel and other elements of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM. The girls’ camp was July 7 through 10 and boys’ camp is July 21 through 24. At the overnight camp, youth ages 7 to 14 learn about STEM through activities on the grounds of the Burrage Mansion. Melissa Anderson, a third-grade teacher at Kingsbury Elementary School in Redlands, gave each group of girls the task of building a Lego car, attaching an index card sail to it and racing with wind power. The girls learned about what causes wind, then worked in teams to build their vehicles. “It’s interesting to see them interact and work," Anderson said. "I have them think through the problems.” After the girls finished building their Lego cars, Anderson had them race the cars by blowing, then asked why one car went faster than the others. Then, she used a fan to move the cars to compare the difference. After the races, each girl wrote down some information of what she learned. “I learned that winning isn’t everything, it’s just about solar power,” wrote camper Alina Wier. In another part of the mansion, Jose Ledesma, a Spanish and music teacher at Montessori in Redlands, led an ethnomusicology class with instruments from around the world. “I’m adding science – dealing with measurements, how does the sound come out (and) creating experiences to create different sounds,” Ledesma said. He said Albert Einstein played the violin and always included science in music. Along with learning more about STEM, campers participate in additional activities like outdoor games, skits and campfires. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside has served the Inland Empire since 1967, and has sites in the communities of Alta Loma, Corona, Loma Linda, Mentone, Moreno Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino and Victorville. The clubs serve more than 3,000 youth daily in after-school settings, and winter and summer camps. Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. For more information, visit www.BeGreatIE.org.