The First Tee of Western New York launched its three-day 2017 February STEM Camp Tuesday February, 21st through February 23rd at the Paddock Chevrolet Dome.
All of the participants, coaches and volunteers gather for a group photo.
19 children were exposed to topics in the fields of Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics and how those topics are integrated into the game of golf.
Coach Jeff assisting a group of kids in assembling a LEGO train.
The young scientists and engineers were divided into four groups named after famous figures in the STEM field: Issac Newton, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla. One of the first activities was to construct a LEGO vehicle – without the instructions.
Camp Director Tim Karches facilitated the full three days of the camp along with several other TFTWNY coaches and volunteers.
“The theme of this year’s STEM Camp was behind engineering and design,” said Karches. “The overall goal of this camp is to expose kids to the elements STEM through the context of golf and give them opportunities to learn and apply those elements in a collaborative setting using teamwork.”
Coach Jake looks on a group of kids configure a LEGO train.
A few of the activities the kids were engaged in was designing a transportation device, marshmallow tower and a catapult. The catapult will be used to launch a ping-pong ball. The groups’ devices will also be competing against the other groups for whose catapult launches the ping-pong ball the farthest. The materials given for this project included a mouse trap, two small, wooden logs, wooden sticks and plastic spoons.
“The kids were given tasks in which they were to assess the situation, make a plan and implement that plan within the parameters given such as time, money and resources,” said Karches.
Camp Director Tim Karches carefully setting a mouse trap for the kids’ catapult project.
Golf
The participants of course got to take to the range and learn how the elements of both engineering and design combined with the physics of golf can be applied on the course. They were shown the science of the golf swing and the importance of making contact with the ball produces more distance than just power.
Coach Patty demonstrating the centripetal force in the golf swing.
The students were also taught the centripetal force of the golf swing.
“This is your circle,” explains coach Patty-Jordan Smith to a handful of , “If you swing with your circle straight up and down, where’s your club going to hit? The ground, right.”
She shows that tilting the circle for the golf swing prevents the club head from hitting the ground and increases the chances of making good contact with the ball.
Coach Jake talking in front of the screen of the golf simulator.
Putting Tournament
On the final day of the camp, the kids were able to compete in a putting competition. The 18-hole putting course at the Chevrolet Paddock Dome was home to The First Tee of WNY STEM Open. This portion of the camp was featured on WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo. To see this feature, click here. The winner of the tournament was also interviewed for the Ken-Ton Bee newspaper.
Coach Kathy keeps the score of a young player in the putting tournament.
All of the participants received certificates for completion of the STEM Camp and golf certificates. Prizes were given to the players with the lowest score of the putting tournament. Prizes were also given to the team with the catapult who launched the ping-pong ball the farthest. The winning distance was 259 inches.
By the end of the camp, the students were able to go back to the golf course, school and back home to apply all the elements of STEM that they learned to everyday life.
