Science Matters: Engineering Design Competition

Enhance your science learning and achieve an understanding of a variety of topics to prepare for STEM design competitions. Students will be given a series of challenges and will cooperate to design and build machines, structures, and devices that can solve real-world problems. The camp integrates resources from the current British Columbia curriculum and supplemental teaching and exercise materials from the instructor. By the end of the camp, students will possess a detailed understanding of the course topics, skills in designing and building tools and experiments and have a broader understanding of careers in STEM. Let’s have fun and see how exciting science can be!

When and Where?

Monday July 21 - Friday July 25, 2025.

Choose from:

• Full Day Camp: 9:00am-4:00pm.
• Afternoon (Half Day) Camp: 1:00-4:00pm.
• Morning (Half Day) Camp: 9:00am-12:00noon.

Location: The Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST): 1490 West Broadway, Vancouver.

Who?

This camp is for students going into grades 5-8.

Why should you attend?

Earn a certificate of completion from the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology.

Get a thorough understanding of what type of careers are available in the exciting fields of STEM.

Prepare for science and engineering design competitions.

Design your own machines, structures and devices and develop collaboration and communication skills working in teams with your peers and friends.

What will you learn?

Below is an outline of topics to be covered in the camp. More focus and emphasis may be placed on topics based on student interest and understanding.

Morning Camp (Half Day):

Space Science

Topics: Radio Astronomy; SETI – The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence; Space Telescopes; Careers in Space Science.

Design Challenge: Space probe lander

Chemistry

Topics: The States of Matter, Solids, Liquids, Gases, and Plasma; Bose-Einstein Condensates; Kinetic Molecular Theory; Pressure; Careers in Chemistry

Design Challenge: Balloon powered device

Physics

Topics: Newton’s Laws of Motion; Mechanical Energy; Trajectories; Careers in Physics

Design Challenge: Ping-Pong ball canon

Afternoon Camp (Half Day):

Physics

Topics: Wind turbines; Kinetic energy; Mechanical Energy; Lift and drag; Careers in Physics

Design Challenge: Wind-powered elevator

Earth Science, Engineering and Technology

Topics: The Earth’s Layers; Continental Drift; Plate Tectonics; Earthquakes and Volcanoes; Careers in Earth Sciences

Design Challenge: Earthquake-resistant Building

Biology and Environmental Sciences

Topics: Terrestrial Biomes; Tropical Rainforests; Savannas, Deserts; Boreal Forests/Taiga; Arctic Tundra; Prescribed Burns; Careers in Environmental Science

Design Challenge: Keeping Warm, Build a Shelter

Full Day Camp:

The full day camp includes all topics from the Morning and Afternoon (Half Day) camps. Students who register for the Full Day camp should bring their own lunch and snacks. Lunch is from 12-1pm and is supervised by our staff and volunteers.

Program Requirements

Students should bring their own electronic devices (tablets or laptops) and a booklet for writing and drawing designs with pencils, pens, and markers.

Course materials will be provided by the instructor before each session on Google Classroom.