Summer Physics Camp For Young Women in NM and Hawaii
Summer Physics Camp for Young Women
The 7th annual Summer Physics Camp for Young Women offers a unique opportunity for young women (including transgender women or nonbinary) to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with STEM professionals.
This 2 week long summer camp will take place from June 5- 16, 2023 at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Hilo Intermediate School, Hilo, Hawaii.
The camp will explore topics related to Energy and Energy Security (reliable, affordable access to all fuels and energy sources) and offer students a chance to boost their understanding of how STEM improves the world around us through activities, speakers, tours, and a hands-on project.
Students will learn the principles of physics, engineering, bioengineering, chemistry and computer programming, cybersecurity, applying their knowledge in a range of exciting hands-on multi-day projects. They will also learn about different energy sources, including solar and nuclear power, to better understand the challenges faced by our modern society.
Reaching beyond engaging science, the participants will also learn how to write a resume, how to apply and interview for a job, about opportunities available at our local colleges, and at Department of Energy National Laboratories like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
WHEN: June 5-16, 2023, 9:30am – 4:30pm (MT)
WHERE: New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico OR Hilo Intermediate School, Hilo, Hawaii
For eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the “Apply” tab above!
The application is due April 1, 2023.
If you are curious, love learning, and enjoy a challenge, we would love for you to apply! Acceptance to the Camp is NOT based on grade point average. The camp will provide free lunch and snacks!
There is no cost to attend and participants who complete the program will be offered a stipend and
opportunity to join the SAGE Journey program. The Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement (SAGE) mission is to engage curious and passionate young women and empower them to explore a wide range of possibilities for their futures.
For more information see the Summer Physics Camp for Young Women Flyer.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? See the “Volunteer” tab above!
The Summer Physics Camp for Young Women started in 2017 as an effort to provide local young women an opportunity to interact with role models in STEM, be exposed to cool hands-on science and discover what scientists do day-in and day-out. At the camp we not only share our technical fields but also share our personal paths and it is often that sharing that makes our students realize that few years earlier we were in their shoes and we were also uncertain about what to do in life.
Held at Pojoaque Valley High School in 2017, 2018 and 2019 the camp supported 20-25 students every year from Northern New Mexico and also offered a unique opportunity to tour LANL in person! Many students met their uncles or parents during those tours and students came from as far as Taos and Las Vegas.
The unexpected pandemic brought a challenge to the organizers but they faced it and from that challenge we built a VIRTUAL camp in 2020 and 2021 which offered new opportunities for students from rural areas in NM and also allowed us to offer the camp to a larger number of students through partnerships with Sandia National laboratory and Hawaii Science Museum. And if you join the camp… you will learn that we use the term: “if life gives you lemons… get ready to make lemonade!” and we can tell you that students (and parents) had lots of fun doing the VIRTUAL camp and building robots at home!
If you want to look at what we did in previous years, you can browse through our previous year’s website and see the activities, and lots of pictures of our students having fun.
After the camp, we continue to be in touch with the students, encourage them in their educational paths and share opportunities that we believe they might be interested in like talks, information about internships or college scholarships. In 2020, 16 past students from the Summer Physics Camp were placed in internships at LANL in a variety of roles! In attrition, students that participate in the camp are joining the SAGE Journey program. The Science Accelerating Girls’ En
Past camp websites:
2019 https://sites.google.com/view/2019-summer-physics-camp/home
2020- https://sites.google.com/view/2020-summer-physics-camp/home
2021- https://sites.google.com/view/2021-summer-physics-camp/home
2022- https://sites.google.com/view/2022-summer-physics-camp/home
Program:
Information on the program coming soon for the 2023 camp!
This camp will include virtual tours, lectures, hands-on demonstrations and interactive projects in Optics, Electricity, Robotics, Coding, Engineering and more.
Check out 2022 VIRTUAL schedule:
https://sites.google.com/view/2022-summer-physics-camp/daily-schedule?authuser=0#h.gwy4cfud8qcv
For more information see our past camp websites:
2019 https://sites.google.com/view/2019-summer-physics-camp/home
2020- https://sites.google.com/view/2020-summer-physics-camp/home
2021- https://sites.google.com/view/2021-summer-physics-camp/home
2022- https://sites.google.com/view/2022-summer-physics-camp/home
Eligibility Requirements:
- Open to students living in New Mexico (including tribal communities) or East Hawaii Island who are women (including transgender women) or nonbinary
- Completed Algebra I or a higher-level math course
- Able to commit to 2 week full participation
If you are curious, love learning, and enjoy a challenge, we would love for you to apply! Acceptance to the Camp is NOT based on grade point average. The camp will provide free lunch and snacks!
There is no cost to attend and participants who complete the program will be offered a stipend and opportunity to join the SAGE Journey program. The Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement (SAGE) mission is to engage curious and passionate young women and empower them to explore a wide range of possibilities for their futures.
How to Apply:
Application deadline: Saturday April 1, 2023
- Complete the online application (including a short essay about yourself, your interests and why you think the camp will be useful to you).
- Ask a teacher/counselor to send a reference letter explaining why they think this camp will benefit you to spcyw-nm@lanl.gov
- Obtain copies of your school transcripts confirming you have Algebra 1 and email to spcyw-nm@lanl.gov
Questions: spcyw-nm@lanl.gov
Application is due April 1, 2023
To Apply Click Here
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Share your time and expertise: Volunteer at the free physics camp this summer
Success depends on support of people like you
The 2023 Summer Physics Camp (June 5-16) will be in person at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, bringing young women and nonbinary students from across New Mexico together to meet scientists, engineers, technicians, technologists and STEM role models.
During the two-week camp, students will learn about STEM concepts through hands-on experiments, short talks and demonstrations. The camp will also provide professional development sessions and information about careers and educational opportunities in New Mexico (such as local colleges, trade schools, STEM careers in the military, internships at national laboratories).
The Summer Physics Camp needs volunteers to make an impact on the next generation of women in STEM, in their communities and in the national security enterprise and mission. The success of the camp depends on people just like you.
Volunteer your time as a role model
Share your expertise and give a lecture, lead hands-on demonstrations or a virtual tour, support an in-person tour of Lab facilities on June 8, or share about your experiences working as a STEM scientist. Every shared experience is meaningful.
Time slots for volunteers are flexible to accommodate different schedules. If you’d like to volunteer at this year’s camp for an hour, half a day or more, simply fill out the Volunteer Form and the camp’s organizers will get in touch with you.
Share the news
Spread the word — encourage students to apply and share with fellow STEM scientists who may be interested in volunteering.
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
The success of the Summer Physics Camp depends on our wonderful sponsors. We appreciate the support and do our best in exhibiting their business logo. Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to:
New Mexico Consortium
Attn: Teri Thomas-SPCYW
4200 West Jemez Rd, Suite 301
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Sponsors include:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Information coming soon.
