The Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology (MIST) has launched its 2026 Science and Technology Summer Camp with a renewed concentrate on serving to kids perceive the world round them by hands-on studying, rising applied sciences and sensible experiments.
The five-week programme, which opened Monday at Queen’s College, St James, is introducing campers ages six to 11 to a broad vary of scientific disciplines.
Speaking through the official launch on Tuesday, performing director of the Science, Market Research and Innovation Unit, Arlene Weekes, mentioned the camp has advanced considerably because it was first launched in 2008 to maintain tempo with advances in science and expertise:
“The camp is comprised mostly or entirely of science and technology-based activities. So we go through the different sciences, we do robotics and coding and there are lots of activities. It’s activity driven.”
While science has at all times been on the core of the programme, Weekes defined that technological advances have broadened the camp’s choices:
“Over the years as technology has improved, we’ve come to include things such as robotics where we use the mBot and introduce coding to these young children. We’ve introduced [artificial intelligence] AI and other forms of technology as the years have gone on.”
This 12 months’s programme introduces microbiology for the primary time whereas additionally exploring electrical energy and magnetism, and acids and bases amongst core areas of science.
Each participant will obtain a certificates recognising them as a licensed junior scientist on the finish of the programme, whereas the highest boy and lady within the oldest age group will probably be named Mr and Miss Science and Technology.
Innovation officer and camp coordinator Paulita Benjamin mentioned this 12 months’s theme, Curious Adventurers: Exploring Our World, was chosen to assist kids admire the function science performs in on a regular basis life:
Innovation Officer and Camp Coordinator Paulita Benjamin. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“We wanted this camp to have a lasting and memorable experience and show how science impacts our daily lives to understand the world that we live in.”
She inspired campers to embrace each alternative over the approaching weeks:
“For the next few days, this space is your laboratory, your invention workshop, your playground. You are about to experience and do the things that you only read about and see in books.”
Participants would discover robotics, electrical energy, electrical engineering, microbiology, chemistry and on-line security, mentioned Benjamin, describing microorganisms as “those microscopic detectives that are hidden somewhere and you can only see them with a microscope”.
Addressing dad and mom, she mentioned: “Thank you for giving us your children and… providing them with the opportunity to fuel their curiosity to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, investigators, discoverers. We promise to return your children with bigger smiles, and incredible stories.”
Representing Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology Jonathan Reid, was the director of Future Barbados, Tamisha Eytle Harvey, who challenged campers to see themselves because the nation’s future innovators and problem-solvers:
Director of Future Barbados Tamisha Eytle Harvey. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“The minister could have been here, but we haven’t figured out teleportation. So that is your challenge from me for the next few weeks because each of you are the future of Barbados.”
She informed the kids that science extends into nearly each profession.
“You are the next electrical engineer… I know there are future researchers… You are future farmers because there’s agriculture in science. You are future designers because design, science, fashion, they’re all connected.”
Harvey additionally inspired them to stay inquisitive all through the camp:
“I want to challenge you all this week to not be scared, to ask the hard questions… We want to make sure that you keep asking questions and questioning the whys, the hows, and the whats because that will make it more fun.”
She urged dad and mom to proceed nurturing that curiosity after camp hours.
“When they come home hopefully exhausted and tired… we need to figure out ways to continue this excitement and joy and freedom to learn and ask why.”
She continued: “The future of Barbados is science. It’s technology. It is making sure we are building the solutions that will not only shape our futures but shape the futures of the rest of the world.”
The opening ceremony concluded with stay science demonstrations, together with a plasma ball experiment that allowed campers to soundly observe electrical vitality in motion. Children additionally watched as an unpowered fluorescent bulb illuminated when introduced near the plasma ball, giving them a sensible introduction to electrical energy earlier than starting 5 weeks of science-based actions and discovery.
A camper touching the plasma ball. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
(LE)