Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.

Do they work alone or in teams?

Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Engineering Summer Camp in Portland, ME

The Portland–South Portland, ME metro area has about 577,635 residents, ranking 102nd in the country. Engineering Summer Camp works the same way here as anywhere: give a child a problem too hard to guess at, then refuse to hand them the answer.

Ages 7-14 · For families · Maine · Northeast

Engineering Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Portland, ME

What the week actually is

Engineering week is constraints week. A bridge that must hold a weight, with a fixed pile of materials and a deadline. Children who have never been told no by a problem before meet one here, and learn that the answer is a redesign, not a tantrum.

Day by day

Constraints and a materials budget
First build, first collapse
Redesign from what failed
Load test to destruction, record the number
Showcase: defend the design choice

Portland, ME — what applies locally

The Portland–South Portland, ME metro area has about 577,635 residents, ranking 102nd in the country.
Metro area: Portland–South Portland, ME
State: Maine · Region: Northeast

Questions we get from Portland, ME

What do they build?: Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.
Is it messy?: Yes. That is not incidental.
Do they work alone or in teams?: Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Other camp themes in Portland

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Engineering Camp elsewhere in Maine

Bangor, MEMetro area Lewiston, MEMetro area South Portland, MECity Auburn, MECity Androscoggin County, MECounty Aroostook County, MECounty Cumberland County, MECounty Franklin County, MECounty

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