Director's Summary of the 2004 NYSCBy Andy Blackwood [Reprinted from the NYSC Director's Web site with permission] While planning for the 2005 National Youth Science Camp is already underway, I wanted to provide you with a summary of the 2004 program. But first, if you know of a student who might be interested in the 2005 National Youth Science Camp, please encourage her/him to visit the NYSC website at www.nysc.org for information about the program, including application materials. The 2004 National Youth Science Camp was a success! For almost a month in the mountains of Pocahontas County, an enthusiastic and well-qualified staff honored and challenged ninety-six delegates from across the country and around the world. An aggressive program calendar allowed the delegates to participate in stimulating academic activities, exhilarating outdoors adventures, and exciting special events. With the help of a conscientious staff, the National Youth Science Camp program was conducted under budget and in a safe and friendly environment. A multimedia yearbook of the camp program, including photographs, descriptions of lectures, directed studies, and special events, and biographical information on the delegates and members of the staff is available at http://141.153.63.184/NYSC2004. Delegates
2004 NYSC Delegates In early 2004, Governor Bob Wise of West Virginia invited his fellow governors around the nation to initiate a competitive process for choosing delegates from each state to attend the 2004 National Youth Science Camp. Each state identified a selection agent who coordinated their selection process. The state selection agents were provided with a packet that included information about the National Youth Science Camp, guidelines for selecting delegates, sample press releases, and a suggested scoring rubric. Electronic versions of these documents were also available on the National Youth Science Camp web site. Ninety-seven delegates, representing 48 states, Germany, and Afghanistan, participated in the 2004 National Youth Science Camp program. All of the 2004 delegates have distinguished themselves academically. Included among them are 19 valedictorians, 11 salutatorians, and 3 honorarians. Thirty-six delegates are National Merit Finalists, Semifinalists, or Commended Students. Six delegates received Robert C. Byrd Scholarships, and 3 were named U.S. Presidential Scholars. Fifty-one delegates were listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, and 8 attended Governors Schools for science and the arts. Nine of the women were selected to represent their schools at Girls State while 7 men attended Boys State. In addition to these accomplishments, 66 of the delegates were named to the National Honor Society, and 7 delegates received the Hugh O'Brian Youth Award. StaphThe 26 members of the staff of the 2004 National Youth Science Camp were an integral part of the success of the program. A core of experienced NYSC staff was augmented with numerous other talented applicants, including 10 first-year staff members. Once again, Dave Powden provided excellent food service to the program. Ms. Jen Kemp served as Assistant Director for Programming. Jen is a May 2004 graduate of Tulane University with a BA in sociology and a minor in evolutionary biology. She spent her junior year abroad at the University of Edinburg in Scotland, UK. She was a member of the Mortar Board National Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society, and the rowing team. Jen was a 2000 delegate from Nevada and has served on staff since 2001. Jen is now working in Tulane's development office. Mr. Josh Peters served as Assistant Director for Operations. Josh recently graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelors in electrical engineering and computer science and a Bachelors in mathematics. He will also complete a Masters of Electrical Engineering from MIT in electrical engineering and computer science. He has been selected to receive a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a Masters on Philosophy in technology policy at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Josh was a 1999 delegate from Louisiana and has served on staff ever since. 
Staff of the 2004 National Youth Science Camp
Academic ProgramLecturesA Lecture is a 50 to 75 minute presentation with the whole camp as the audience. It is usually a thought-provoking presentation of a scientist's work and the relation of that work to society. Because of the size of the group, lectures are not as interactive as directed studies. There is, however, an opportunity for questions following the presentation, which usually lasts about 15 minutes. We hope that lectures will spur conversations and questions during dinner and other informal delegate/lecturer interaction. The 2004 National Youth Science Camp Lecture Series consisted of 28 presentations ranging from bat biology, to the physics of music, to biometrics, to materials engineering, to measuring art using mathematics, and more. This is an increase in 3 lectures over the 2003 program. Perennial lecturers who returned to present again at the 2004 NYSC were joined by many new presenters, including many NYSC alumni. The 2004 NYSC Yearbook contains a complete list of the lecturers, including photographs and a brief summary of the content of each presentation. Directed StudiesA Directed Study is a hands-on, interactive small group experience. It lasts 60 to 75 minutes on each of three consecutive days. Usually a directed study is investigative in nature, providing the opportunity for full student involvement. During the study, the presenter provides a model and a close guiding hand; the participants should be able to pose questions, develop conceptual understanding through exploration, and draw conclusions. Three, three-day directed study blocks enhanced the academic program. The 2004 NYSC Yearbook contains a complete list of the three directed study blocks, including photographs and a brief summary of the directed study activities. 
Outdoor ProgramThe 2004 National Youth Science Camp Outdoor Program consisted of caving, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and overnight camping. As in previous years, the outdoor program continued to receive strong evaluations by the delegates. The West Virginia Wildwater Association coordinated a kayaking trip on the New River for about 50 of the delegates. 
Special EventsAcademic and outdoor activities were supplemented by a spectacular schedule of special events. These events included a picnic, celebration, and remembrance at Camp Allegheny on Independence Day, a concert by Peter Mulvey in the Sinks of Gandy Creek (a natural limestone cavern), the Laura Dill Dinner Theater, and a trip on the Cass Scenic Railroad. These special events allow the delegates to relax, enjoy their surroundings, and simply have fun. 
Washington, DCDuring the third week of camp the delegates traveled to Washington, DC. Because security concerns have imposed additional restrictions on touring the traditional sites along the trip from Pocahontas County to Washington, DC (USAMRIID, NASA -- Goddard, and the NIH), we instead arranged a tour of the newly opened Marian Koshland Science Museum. All the delegates had the opportunity to tour the museum and interact with the exhibits and museum staff. The museum opened especially for us on a day that they would normally be closed. While in Washington, DC, delegates were able to visit the monuments around the Mall, tour the museums, and participate in several behind the scenes events. For example, David Masunaga facilitated an up-close examination of the intricate work of artist M.C. Escher. For the fourth straight year, delegates attended a special panel discussion on formulating science policy discussion at the National Academies of Science. The panelists included:
ConclusionThrough its unique lecture series, hands-on directed studies, and challenging outdoors program, the National Youth Science Camp has immersed more than 4,100 delegates in scientific discovery and exploration. The unswerving support of National Youth Science Foundation Board of Trustees will insure that the 2005 National Youth Science Camp will continue this strong tradition in informal youth science education.
Andrew N. Blackwood, Ed.D.
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Summer 2005 Newsletter |
