Janna Pistiner Ostroff '01, a science teacher at
The Renaissance Charter School, developed the Colgate Science and Sports Camp. Participants include youths from inner-city New York, from ethnically and economically diverse schools in the nearby city of Utica, and from rural school districts around Hamilton, N.Y.
The camp's goal is to get motivated but underrepresented students excited about and engaged in science, scientific research, and the possibility of pursuing science as a field of study and a career. It also exposes students to a wide variety of sports and life on a residential college campus.
Throughout the one-week program, students work in science laboratories conducting experiments with Colgate professors and research students. In past years, participants performed in-vitro fertilization of sea urchins, collected local plants to test their utility in killing bacteria, synthesized and analyzed colorful organic molecules, bred zebra fish, and collected fossils in the local quarry. Students viewed three amazing three-dimensional digital presentations in Colgate’s state-of-the-art planetarium.
At the same time, students learn and practice skills in soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, racquetball, and water polo. By exposing students to new athletic challenges, we hope to encourage fitness, build sportsmanship, a healthy competitive spirit, and to nurture a love of playing. Students will be camping, climbing, and hiking, learning survival skills, and challenged to complete low-ropes courses, to build communication and teamwork skills.
Camp dates: July 8-13, 2013.
Application deadline: March 22, 2013
Letters of Acceptance: April 5, 2013
Required Paperwork Due: May 3, 2013
Fee: $75
The Colgate Science and Sports Camp is funded by:
Colgate University,
The Upstate Institute &
Howard Hughes Medical Institute