GEAR UP Southern West Virginia holds first ever STEM Camp at WVU Tech

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – GEAR UP Southern West Virginia is holding a STEM Camp to inspire middle schoolers to pursue higher education.

Concord University and New River Community and Technical College are teaming up to help GEAR UP Southern West Virginia to put on their first ever STEM camp.

Students from Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming, Mercer and Monroe counties are gathering at the WVU Tech campus to hear from professionals and get hands-on STEM experience.

Some of the best news about this – it is all free of cost.

This week, kids will be hearing from entomologists and nurses while also getting to learn more about robotics, wind energy, electrical energy, and industrial engineering.

STEM Camp Director Nathan Galinsky told 59News that this camp is vital to expand on the education of Southern West Virginia’s middle schoolers in STEM fields.

“Some of these students have never had an experience in some of these STEM Fields. They get basic sciences, math, maybe some technology, and engineering in their classrooms. But [here, they get] specifics in chemical, electrical, mechanical, civil. They get to see what we get to do in our day-to-day lives and they get to meet with companies and professionals to see what these people do,” said Galinsky

The camp started on Sunday and will run through Friday afternoon.

Galinsky also said that this camp could open doors to much more than just STEM fields. “Maybe they thought engineering was something for them,” said Galinsky. “They come here, they see things, and maybe they’re like, ‘I just want to be a scientist or a nurse or deal with math and not have to deal with the engineering part.’ It could also be the opposite. They don’t think they’re going to be interested in STEM programs and they find that passion.”

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