By Emily Burleigh

The Calcasieu Parish School Board still has availability at two of their four summer camps: Energy Venture Camp and Astro Camp.

Energy Venture Camp will be June 27 -July 1. In this program, students will have the opportunity to interact with modern energy processes.

“Through a partnership with Shell Energy, campers will explore the complex and exciting science taking place in today’s energy landscape,” said Holly Holland, CPSB spokesperson. “Students will engage in hands-on experiments and interact with industry experts as they explore renewable and sustainable energy solutions for the future.”

Holland said students will be exposed to various skills such as coding and electronics, smart energy systems, engineering design practices, practical and applied mathematics, collaborative resource management, environmental conservation, and career pathway opportunities.

Campers will participate in hands-on activities, which will allow them to have a tactical understanding of energy processes.

Holland said students will “investigate various energy technologies as they make their very own working solar powered vehicles from scratch, use polymer science to explore material sciences, explore wetlands restoration, build working fracking models, and even a working pump jack.”

All campers will receive an Arduino, a single-processor open-source electronic that combines hardware and software that are used in this camp to teach the fundamentals of physical computing.

This is the first year that CPSB has hosted Shell Energy Camp. Deadline to sign up for this camp is June 24. The camp is catered to grades sixth to 12, and will be held at Lake Charles-Boston Academy. For more information, contact reg5stem.center@cpsb.org.

Astro Camp is set for July 25-29.

This camp is a chance for all students, from kindergarten to grade 12, an opportunity to get involved in and experience science, technology, engineering and mathematics to inspire future astronauts and engineers to learn about space with NASA activities, according to Holland.

“The camp is designed to spark all students’ interest in learning the unique basics of NASA Earth and space science, technology applications, engineering, rocketry, robotics, and computer science,” she said. “Campers will explore the mysteries of space and focus on travel to the moon and Mars by building working robots, launching rockets, programming microcontrollers, and collaborating as a crew.”

Activities will be determined by age group.

Various NASA experts, as well as the inventor of the microchip, will be visiting to interact and make connections with the campers.

Holland said this is the second year that CPSB has collaborated with NASA and Central Creativity to provide Astro Camp.

In-person locations will be available at: LCBA, Bell City High, Vinton Middle, DeQuincy Elementary, and the Allen Parish Media Center. The deadline for signup is July 18. To register online, visit centralcreativity.com/camp-cpsb.

Both camps will have an online option for campers. Virtual campers will utilize Zoom, the camp resource webpage, and a provided kit of supplies. In-person times will be 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while at-home times will be 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Registration for both camps is $100 for CPSB students, and $200 for non-CPSB students.

Lunch will be provided by the Police Jury.

Seats for Teach Camp are full. However, interested parties can be put on a waiting list. To do so, contact 337.217.4120, ext. 1003.