Boys & Girls Clubs Hold Camp Einstein

Photo Courtesy of: Joy Juedes

Local boys learned about science by making rockets and doing other hands-on activities July 23-26 at the Burrage Mansion in Redlands. The activities were part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside’s Camp Einstein, which teaches youth about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The girls’ camp is July 30-Aug. 2. Both camps are overnight, and campers stay in teepees. On July 24, Redlands East Valley High School science teacher Ted Ducey conducted experiments and led activities to teach campers about forms of energy. He had them hold hands and squeeze to demonstrate how electricity passes through wires, and connected wires to apples and a music program on a laptop. When a camper touched the apples, a music note would play. He also did an experiment using heated colored water to demonstrate steam energy. “The goal … is to have them understand how we get most of our energy,” Ducey said. “It’s always fun to have activities they can see and do.” Campers then got to make rockets out of paper and masking tape, and launched them on the mansion’s lawn. They were launched with a compressed air pump. “I didn’t give you guys much time to build these rockets, and you did a good job,’ Ducey told the campers. Later that day, campers used Lego equipment to learn about renewable energy sources, like solar and wind. Other camp activities included outdoor games, campfires, skits, and a field trip to Newport Bay Conservancy.

Photo Courtesy of: Joy Juedes

Campers prepare to launch compressed air-power rockets at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside’s Camp Einstein on July 24 at the Burrage Mansion in Redlands.

Photo Courtesy of: Joy Juedes

Hunter Freas prepares to launch his compressed air-power rocket at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside’s Camp Einstein on July 24 at the Burrage Mansion in Redlands.