Chip Camp: a unique hands-on experience for NSCSD students

Above: More than 100 NSCSD students, 16 NSCSD teachers and Chip Camp experts from Micron spent time at Cornell s Nanoscale Facility on the first day of the NSCSD Chip Camp.	More than 100 North Syracuse Central School District students recently had a unique hands-on learning opportunity thanks to the district’s burgeoning partnership with the Micron Foundation. The first ever Micron/North Syracuse Chip Camp was held at the end of June. Chip Camp was made possible through a Micron Foundation grant to the North Syracuse Education Foundation.  Micron’s Chip Camp is a multi-day camp filled with hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities related to semiconductor manufacturing and engineering. The North Syracuse event was held for three days and was specially designed to provide NSCSD students with unique STEM activities. Jason Clark, the district’s director of technology, had been working with Micron staff for many months prior to the event and appreciated Micron’s willingness to provide creative freedom around NSCSD Chip Camp activities.   “We spent hours each week leading up to the event discussing how we could give our campers a unique experience and Micron was great about listening to our ideas.” Clark said.
“For example, the ability to utilize our teachers to lead activities with campers was a big factor in making this Chip Camp a success. Our teachers work with students every day and they have made real connections. Having our teachers lead our Chip Camp only enhanced the amazing opportunity for students.”	Above: The 16 North Syracuse Central School District teachers who helped with Chip Camp are pictured with Jason Clark, NSCSD Director of Technology, and Landon Loeber and Amy Henecke from the Micron Foundation on the last day of Chip Camp.
NSCSD Chip Camp kicked-off on June 27 with a trip to Cornell University’s Nanoscale Facility, where campers were able to explore different facets of the semiconductor industry alongside Cornell faculty and nanoscience experts. NSCSD educators helped students interact with the technology and understand the science of what they were seeing. Also at Cornell, students were able to try on “bunny suits” and experience the type of “clean room” technology that will be used at Micron’s Clay facility.  “Our work with NSCSD on Chip Camp was more than a moment in time. What happened at NSCSD is the beginning of a long-term partnership between the community that NSCSD serves, the educators who work tirelessly as servant leaders, and the brilliant young people attending the schools in NSCSD” said Dr. Robert Simmons III, head of social impact and STEM programs for Micron. “Whether launching rockets or their trip to Cornell, Chip Camp with NSCSD was a resounding success and Micron is looking forward to learning with and learning from the NSCSD community over many years to come.” On day two, campers were divided into groups and alternated spending time at Syracuse’s ELITE Gaming facility or at North Syracuse Junior High School. While at ELITE Gaming campers learned about the esports industry as well as the role microchips play in it. Clark explained the purpose of the collaboration saying, “The ELITE Gaming facility is a resource that is unique to this area so why not take advantage of that by showing students a connection to technology that they can absolutely relate to.”   On the final day, campers were immersed in a full day of hands-on STEM activities at North Syracuse Junior High School. NSCSD educators led activities and experiments including everything from wigglebots and microbits to nano-materials research and rocket building and launching.  John Nadler, a veteran NSCSD teacher, was one of the educators working with groups of students in the rocket launch activity. The activity consisted of students designing a rocket using only printer paper and card stock, building their design and performing a launch. After their initial launch, students would assess how well their design worked and then redesign or construct a new version. Of the process, Nadler said, “Students had full creative reign for their designs. All the materials they needed were there but they decided how to put things together to make them work the best. Once they launched their rockets, they assessed how well things went and decided on modifications. We were just there to guide them and they did a great job. We truly had a blast. Pun intended.”   North Syracuse Central School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dan Bowles had several opportunities to check out the camp and its activities. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and OCM BOCES District Superintendent Matt Cook also took time to tour the camp with Superintendent Bowles. Superintendent Bowles commented on how impressed he and his peers were with the event. He said, “Our staff, including the bus drivers and food service workers who helped out, knocked it out of the park with this event. I hope that Micron uses this collaboration as an example for other schools. I know this is the first of many Chip Camps and other activities for our district with Micron and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for our students and this community.”  North Syracuse plans to hold annual Chip Camps in collaboration with Micron and is discussing additional opportunities for all students including Chip Camp Junior and Girls Going Tech.  Chip Camp was made possible through a Micron Foundation grant which was awarded to the North Syracuse Education Foundation last fall. Thanks to the grant, the camp was offered at no cost to students. Many thanks to the NSCSD teachers who helped bring the first Micron/NSCSD Chip Camp to fruition: Stephen Bacon, Shannon Card, James DeSantis, Aaron Gross, Matthew Harbinger, Shannon Knapp, Diane LaChance, Chris Manke, John Nadler, Colleen O'Connor, Joshua Perez, Marianne Pirro, Anthony Puma, Jason Shannon, Jill Welsh and Alexis Williams-Beck.