Summer Camp

Come explore the amazing world of fossils! Learn how fossils are formed, discovered, and used to help us understand Earth’s past. Participate in a fossil dig and create your very own fossil! Think and act like a true paleontologist as you explore, ask questions, and find answers to the mystery of prehistoric life. Continue your discoveries with a bonus trip to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum during one of your four days of fossil fun!

Explore the world of animal adaptations in this week-long day camp. Study animal behavior, observe structural traits, and discover what helps animals survive in the wild. Learn about a variety of species including invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles through hands on investigations. Build your animal expertise as you learn to handle and interact with our resident animals and look to nature to inspire solutions to everyday problems.

In partnership with the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore

Age: Girl Scouts (Juniors) entering 4th or 5th grade in the Fall of 2018

Did you know that virtually every female astronaut has been a Girl Scout? Join us through this summer series to discover what it’s like to live and work in space! During your five days at the institute, you’ll discover how the human body works differently in space, gain an understanding of the dangers associated with space travel, learn about what robots can do for humans in space, and much more!

In partnership with the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Explore the dangers associated with space travel and investigate ways to make space travel safe for humans. Conduct investigations in Earth and Space science, physics, biology, and engineering. Understand how our bodies work differently in space than on Earth, and investigate the use of robots to help explore hazardous places.

Explore and learn what it takes to be a crime scene forensic scientist. Study different techniques used to analyze a crime scene and determine who is ultimately responsible for committing different crimes. Participate in hands-on investigations focusing on fingerprinting, DNA analysis, ballistics, and more! Talk with an actual crime scene forensic scientist to learn more about this exciting career. Put your skills to the test, and solve a crime on the last day of camp.

Electrophoresis is commonly used by scientists to identify DNA and to test genes related to specific illnesses. Learn how to use this important technology by studying the dyes in your favorite candy. Use gel electrophoresis to separate color dyes just like scientists use it to separate DNA. Discover how molecules move through the gel medium and how the physical and/or chemical properties of each affect the distance each molecule travels.

Discover how a crime scene forensic scientist uses DNA to identify and exonerate suspects. Participate in hands-on investigations, utilize gel electrophoresis to match the “crime” scene fingerprint to the fingerprints of various “suspects,” and learn more about what it’s like to be a crime scene investigator.

Discover how environmental scientists monitor water quality of our freshwater sources. Walk from Van Andel Education Institute to the Grand River to determine the Water Quality Index using various chemical and biological tests. Return to VAEI and test the effect of your water sample on the heart rate of a model organism, Daphnia magna.

Explore the challenges of living on Mars, and be a part of the solution. Design, test, and build a solar water heater to be used on the red planet. Work within the proposed criteria and constraints to successfully heat water to be used to take a shower were no one has taken a shower before!

Channel your inner engineer to design, build, and test a robotic device. Use the engineering design process to identify and refine possible solutions. Challenge yourself to think critically and creatively as you solve problems in a collaborative environment.