A summer camp preparing Hawai’i middle school and high school students for success in higher education and future careers. All courses are specifically designed for inclusive excellence in STEM education.
Preparing Hawai’i middle school and high school students for success in higher education and future careers.
All courses are specifically designed for inclusive excellence in STEM education.
List of Bootcamps
99 Problems but Math ain’t One
High School Mathematics
Grades 9-12
Experience the answer to the question that most students have in school, “When will I ever use this in real life?” From the master ocean navigators of ancient Polynesia to the engineers who developed the GPS in your phones, this session will focus on how math continues to help us develop and progress in solving problems. This will better solidify math concepts learned in school, and help students maintain their math edge throughout the summer. Join us for this fun and practical side of mathematics without the traditional lecture styles of a typical classroom. After this session, students will be able to apply the mathematics that they have been learning in the classroom to
99 Problems but Math ain’t One
Middle School Mathematics
Grades 5-8
Experience the answer to the question that most students have in school, “When will I ever use this in real life?” From the master ocean navigators of ancient Polynesia to the engineers who developed the GPS in your phones, this session will focus on how math continues to help us develop and progress in solving problems. This will better solidify math concepts learned in schools, and help students maintain their math edge throughout the summer. Join us for this fun and practical side of mathematics without the traditional lecture styles of a typical classroom. After this session, students will be able to apply the mathematics that they have been learning in the classroom to
Probab (ilit )y Fun
High School Mathematics
Grades 10-12
Learn about statistics in the most fun way possible! A natural extension to Session 1 and continuing to learn in the same way, we will use math to look at games, model science, and predict the future. This session is about identifying and making sense of the things that happen around us, which is vital to contributing to a sustainable lifestyle in Hawai‘i and other island cultures. This course presents content that isn’t normally covered in a High School classroom, but something that is fun and worth learning to get ahead in the game of life. At the end of the session, students will be able to use statistics to make sense of uncertainty and probability in order to make valid and well-educated decisions.
Pure Fun
Middle School Mathematics
Grades 6-9
Have you ever been taught something and wonder if or why it is true? In this session, we will take a deeper look at some underlying concepts of mathematics and play with logic puzzles. We’ll take a lesson from Native cultures who looked to their Kupuna for inspiration, by looking back at the Kupuna of mathematics and logical reasoning. By doing so, we will see the similarities of a mathematician and other island people’s mindsets that were used to develop our current mathematics and help these cultures thrive. This will surely help all students better understand anything they read in their textbooks. At the end of this session, students will develop a mathematical toolkit to gain deeper insight
A Summer of IoT Tinkering
Computer Science and Computer Hardware Engineering
Grades 6-9
This fun and project-based 8-week course
Code the Web
Computer Science and Information Technology
Grades 6-9
The web has increasingly become the primary source for sharing information. In this exciting 4-week camp, students are challenged to create websites to serve their own community. Students may pick from a wide range of topics relevant to their own environment or cultural identity, and then create a website on that topic by following the engineering design process and their own curiosity. This camp introduces students to computational thinking and problem-solving. Students will work with Raspberry Pi’s and are only limited by their own creativity and curiosity.
Interactive Games with Scratch
Computer Science and Computer Software Engineering
Grades 6-9
Have you ever wanted to create your own video games? This is your opportunity to create your own games on a credit card sized computer, a Raspberry Pi. It gives you the opportunity to express your cultural identity, your view on societal challenges, and yourself through games and animations. No previous programming experience is expected, students simply need to bring their full creativity to this interactive and collaborative summer experience. Outcomes including Scratch programming skills, teamwork skills, and problem-solving experiences.
It’s All About Communication
Grades 6-9
Scientists do research to explore how things work and how we can make the world a better place. But how do non-scientists find out about this important research? That’s the job of a science communicator––a writer, a designer––someone who can help the general public understand what this science is all about. As a class, we’ll identify some interesting research going on in Hawai‘i and brainstorm ways to present it to the public in multimedia formats. Students in this class will learn basic methods of effective science communication, both writing and visually. We’ll work together as a class or in teams to develop material that will explain interesting and useful information about a piece of technology or research project that the students are learning about in another summer camp class.
Science Fiction Writing Lab
Grades 6-9
Science fiction isn’t all about aliens, spaceships, and undiscovered galaxies, it’s about the influence of science in our everyday lives. To brainstorm ideas for plausible science fiction stories, we’ll explore the big question “What if …” from historical and futuristic perspectives about life in Hawai‘i and beyond. In this class, we’ll cover the basics of creative writing using a science fiction writer’s approach. Students will be able to connect their stories to topics from their other summer camp classes or develop fresh ideas while collaborating with other students. At the end of the class, students will have the opportunity to showcase their original stories and accompanying artwork in multimedia formats.
Attention Principals, Bring STEMD² to Your School!
To better suit public schools on the Island of Oahu, STEMD2’s professional staff will be available over the summer break to help students review and excel in their academics. This subsidized pricing of $3,000.00 is designed for schools who want STEMD2’s staff in their classrooms for their students at a lower rate and not passing the cost onto the families of these students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of courses are offered?
This summer’s courses range from Pure Mathematics (Theoretical Mathematics) to Science Fiction Writing. Courses topics include mathematical thinking development, applied mathematics to the real world, coding/programming, multimedia development for effective and technical communication, and fictional writing with concepts of science and fantasy
Is Summer School open to anyone?
Summer school is open to middle school and high school students. The grade levels for the classes are recommendations based on concepts covered in these grades during the school year.
Who attends Summer School at STEMD2?
Summer school is open to everyone who falls within the recommended grade levels listed along each course. The staff are all experts in their fields and the courses they are teaching. Teachers create inclusive and flexible classrooms that challenge and support students.
Is financial aid available for summer?
When can I register?
How long is each session?
Where is the location of classes?
Courses will be held on the UH Manoa campus to empower students in a new academic learning setting. Students who attend will also receive a tour of the campus with possibly some lab visits to see what researchers on campus are working on and see an application of thier course in real life.
What if my son/daughter can't attend for the whole session?
Is lunch provided for my child?
Lunch will not be provided as part of this program. The classes are scheduled in the mornings before lunchtime or in the afternoons. This helps keep the cost of courses down for parents. We will take breaks during the 4-hour class, so your child is welcome to pack snacks or bring money for snacks/food on campus. We will take several chaperoned visits to places on campus to experience college life.
Is transportation provided?
Unfortunately, our program will not supply transportation to and from summer school. Your child must be able to come to school and leave on their own or find their own ride. This helps us keep the cost of the courses down, and better utilize our time with your child maximizing our time in the class.
Don’t Miss Out…
Request for More information
Question about our Camps
Sponsor a Student
Any amount of donation is welcome to help sponsor a student in need of a scholarship to attend summer school. We will match your gift. A donation of $200 provides STEM training for a student.
Please choose University of Hawai’i Manoa – College of Education – Center on Disabilities Studie for ‘Select a fund’ and specify “STEMD2 Summer Camp” in the special instruction section. You may personalize your gift by adding the name of a student to your donation.