SUN Area Technical Institute had three summer camps for students in the area.  The three camps were the Robtics Camp, Health Science & Safety Camp, and the Computer Forensics Camp. The Robitcs Camp and the Health, Science and Safety Camp were for students in the ninth through the eleventh grades.  The Computer Forensics Camp was for students in the sixth and seventh grades.

The focus of the Robotics Camp was was to learn basic terms, programming, and sound logic for assembling and designing a LEGO (snap together) Mindstorm NXT robot from a kit that was provided to each team. Activities were built upon the completion of a Battlebot and each team competed in a Battlebot challenge the last day of camp. Parents were invited Friday to attend a pizza lunch and watch the competition.

Bluetooth technology was used to communicate with the Battlebot. The Mindstorm kit included four sensors: an ultrasonic sensor, 2 touch sensors and the all-new color sensor. The color sensor has triple functionality in that it can distinguish colors and light settings, and can also function as a lamp.

Students also engaged in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities, learned about CareerLink and careers in the robotics field, listened to guest speakers and toured SUN Tech.

The Health, Science and Safety Camp taught leadership skills and entry-level skills needed in the health, dental, and criminal justice professions. They explored career opportunities and built self-esteem through communication activities, workplace readiness skills and activities.

Students did an examination of a mouth in the dental program, saw how teeth are numbered and positioned in a mouth, and learned what teeth are made of and what an x-ray shows the doctor. They discussed different careers in the dental field.

Criminal Justice skills included students developing fingerprints, mud and plaster casts, and investigating and solving crime scenes.

The Health Sciences Professions explored a variety of different skills including infection control, growth of bacteria, sterilization, and basic nurse aide skills.

Students engage in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities and learn about careers in the health, dental, and safety fields.

The Computer Forensics Camp theme was: Computer crime is here to stay.

Computer Forensics Specialists are needed by today’s companies to determine the cause of a hacker attack, collect evidence legally, and protect corporate assets and reputation.

Topics covered included:  Computer Components, Operating Systems, Use of Forensic Tools, PDA, GPS Data Recovery, and Ethical Hacking.