Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College recently concluded a week-long “Girls Who STEAM” camp, held from June 3 to June 6 at the Valley Street Campus. The camp welcomed 15 enthusiastic fourth-grade girls, aiming to inspire and engage young minds through hands-on activities that blend science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM).
The STEAM camp featured a variety of interactive activities and demonstrations, primarily led by health science instructors from Gadsden State. Participants explored fields such as Medical Laboratory Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Dental Assisting.
One of the campers, Jaida Parker from Striplin Elementary School, shared her excitement about the Dental Assisting session. “We went to the Dental Assisting classroom and a dummy sat in the dentist’s chair,” she said. “We cleaned its teeth and then made an impression of its teeth. The teeth impression turned to stone, and we could take it home.”
Dr. Farrah Hayes, dean of Academic Services at Gadsden State, emphasized the importance of technology in shaping the future. The camp introduced the girls to 3D printing and coding, showcasing the vast possibilities within these career fields.
“Computer Science Technology was introduced to the campers through a Python coding software activity that allowed them to code a smiley face,” Hayes explained. “The activity included writing functions with parameters to make an emoji-type face that was not smiling to have a behavior function to smile.”
Additionally, the campers learned the basics of binary coding by creating personalized bracelets with their names represented in binary code. “This activity explained that computers use binary code to process information using only two numbers: zero and one,” Hayes said. “This STEAM activity enhances their understanding of technology and allows them to express their creativity.”
Maleah Thomas, another student from Striplin Elementary, enjoyed the coding activity. “It was cool to code on a string,” she said. “It was a fun experience; a good experience. I was able to do things I have never done before.”
The camp also introduced Mechanical Design Technology through a 3D printing project. Campers used modeling software to design a frog and finger splints, and learned to operate a VEX robot with a controller to complete various tasks. “This taught them basic 3D skills to show them cutting-edge technology available to create filament models for prosthetics, Hollywood movie props, and manufacturing products,” Hayes said. “This activity fostered creativity and technical skill that provide a foundation for future exploration in STEAM disciplines.”
Hollie Bonds, an instructor from Gadsden State’s Ayers Campus, enjoyed showcasing mechanical design technology. “It was rewarding to show the ladies mechanical design possibilities with technology in a male-dominated field,” she said. “It was fun to watch their reactions.”
The “Girls Who STEAM” camp provided a unique opportunity for young girls to explore Gadsden State’s diverse programs in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. These experiences can spark early interest and help guide future educational and career paths, including considering dual enrollment programs in high school.
“This camp helps us figure out what we want to do when we grow up, like something with technology,” said camper Zaiya Taylor from Striplin Elementary. “We learned Python coding, nursing, 3D printing, and dentistry.”
