STEM Education

As the Coordinator for the Kids and Teens Camps, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about STEM education.  We focus our camps to encourage kids to learn about careers in Science, Engineering, Technology And Math.  These may be areas that many students do not consider relevant to their lives -- until they see how they can use a cell phone to make a robotic elephant walk, or have a glimpse of the combustion engine of the future, or Google up a flight simulator.

Kids will get to do all of these things during our upcoming Saturday camps (starting this weekend -- you still have time to sign your camper up.)  In the summer, we will explore even more cutting edge technology with camps that focus on everything from 3-D Printers to 3-D Video Games.

When kids participate in hands-on activities, they are more likely to build on these positive experiences and embrace science and technology in school, leading to higher grades and a more enriching experience all around.  This gives them a wider pool of opportunities for success in the future workforce.

A number of our upcoming summer camps are tailored specifically towards encouraging girls to get excited about STEM topics by exploring the scientific side of things they are already interested in.  For instance our Selfie Photoshop camp teaches how to use photo editing software, and our Girl's Rock! camp uses jewelry making with natural materials as a gateway into the world of geology.

I hope to see you all this Saturday for:

Anime Character Drawing (Grades 7-8)
LEGO Robotic Elephant (Grades 4-6)
LEGO Sports Car Camp (Grades 4-6)
LEGO Flight Camp (Grades 1-3)

Or this summer, when we will be offering over 50 camps tailored to kids and teens grades 1-12.

Kids and Teens Spotlight: Keep your Eye On Anime

This February, 7^th and 8^th graders will get to learn hands-on how to draw anime characters in a class that will meet on Saturday mornings (Feb 7 – 28).  The weather outside in February is usually miserable, so find a warm spot indoors where you can develop your drawing, coloring and inking techniques, and learn how to create characters with emotional depth.  Learn how unique facial features and body language can convey emotion.

 

The eyes are the most important feature when revealing a character’s personality.  The more round and open the eyes are drawn, the more innocent and/or emotional the character will appear.  Hard angles and narrow eyes can give the character a more sinister edge, especially if the eyebrows slash upward instead of arching.  Remember that irises aren’t all one flat color, and that eyes reflect light and need highlights that correspond to the light sources.   To get a feel for how the same eyes change when reacting to different emotions, you could study body language books – or come to camp and have the instructor help you convey your character’s emotions visually.

Space is limited, so register soon.   Call 817.272.2581, or visit us on the web at www.uta.edu/ded.