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2024 Geospatial Science Summer Camp for Middle School Students

The Geospatial Adventure Summer Camp is an exciting and educational program designed to introduce middle school students to the fascinating world of geospatial technology and its applications. Geospatial science is the interdisciplinary field that focuses on the collection, analysis, interpretation, and utilization of spatial data and technologies to understand and solve real-world problems related to the Earth's surface and its features. This camp will provide hands-on learning experiences, map exploration, and interactive activities that will inspire young minds to explore the wonders of our planet using geospatial tools and techniques.  

Sponsoring University: University of Missouri-St. Louis 

Department: UMSL Geospatial Collaborative  

Eligibility: Middle School Grades (6 - 8) from Greater St. Louis Area 

Program Modality: In-person 

Program Dates: Monday – Tuesday, June 17 – 18, 2024 

Program Times: 1 p.m.  – 4 p.m. 

Stipends: Each participant will receive a Camp T-shirt and a Gif 

Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 


The Geospatial Adventure Summer Camp aims to achieve the following objectives: 

 

  • Introduction to Geospatial Technology: Familiarize students with the basic concepts of geospatial technology, including GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning System), remote sensing, and cartography. 
  • Hands-on Learning: Provide practical, hands-on experience with geospatial tools and equipment, allowing students to collect and analyze real-world data. 
  • Data Visualization: Teach students how to create maps, charts, and graphs to visualize geospatial data effectively. 
  • Career Exploration: Introduce students to various career opportunities in the geospatial field, including geographers, GIS analysts, environmental scientists, and urban planners. 

The following are the criteria for student selection for the UMSL Geospatial Science Summer Camp: 

 

  • The student must have never attended the UMSL geospatial summer camp. 
  • Application Materials: the online application, transcripts, and recommendation letter must be submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 
  • Academic Performance: Students with the highest current and/or cumulative GPA will be selected. 
  • Recommendation Letters: Letters of reference from a student's teachers or counselors evaluating the student's behavior, performance, and ability to thrive in a camp setting. 
  • Diversity and Inclusivity: The camp aims to create a diverse and inclusive group of participants, considering factors like gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. 
  • Geographic Representation: To encourage more perspectives on geospatial science, the camps should include students from a variety of geographic locations and school districts within Greater St. Louis. 
  • Availability and Commitment: Students must commit to the entire course of the program, thus applicants must be available during the camp dates. 

The Geospatial Science Summer Camp for Middle School Students will be a 2-day-long program that will involve the following activities: 

 

Day 1: Introduction to Geospatial Science 

  • 1:00 – 1:45pm 
  • Overview of camp; intro to geospatial science and its applications; brief overviews of GIS and remote sensing/satellite imagery [Guest Speakers] 
  • 1:45 – 2:15pm 
  • Make a map! Learn about the world using National Geography/Esri MapMaker [Guest Speaker] 
  • 2:15 – 3:15pm 
  • What is human geography analysis? Learn how to figure out where you are based on clues in imagery! [NGA] 
  • 3:15 – 4:00pm 
  • Remote sensing in Space? Learn about Mars through some incredible imagery [Guest Speaker] 

 

Day 2: Virtual Reality 

  • 1:00 – 1:45pm 
  • Application of VR/AR technologies [Another Reality Studio] 
  • 1:45 – 2:45pm 
  • Try it out! Use VR equipment in the lab [Another Reality Studio] 
  • 2:45 – 3:45pm 
  • Take it outside! Watch Spot collect data and learn about drone data collection and processing [Another Reality Studio] 
  • 3:45 – 4:00pm 
  • Wrap up and group photo 

By the end of the Geospatial Science Summer Camp for Middle School Students, participants will have: 

  • Developed a basic understanding of geospatial science and its applications. 
  • Gained hands-on experience in using geospatial technologies. 
  • Developed teamwork and leadership skills through group projects and activities. 
  • Increased awareness of career opportunities in geospatial science. 
  • Applicant Must be enrolled in 5-8 grade. 

  • A student has never attended the UMSL geospatial summer camp. 

  • Minimum GPA (current or cumulative) of 3.0.
     
  • Complete and submit the online application. 
  • Upload a recommendation letter, and middle school transcript by deadline.
     
  • Agree to student participant and parent/guardian commitment. 

  • All participants must agree to meet attendance, performance and behavior requirements for successful completion of the camp. 

  • All participants are expected to complete assigned tasks and fully participate in class activities to meet program requirements. 

Have a Question? Please Contact: 

 

Dr. Reda Amer 

Director of UMSL Geospatial Collaborative  

University of Missouri-St. Louis 

402 Benton Hall, 43 Benton Ct, St. Louis, MO 63121 

314-516-4838 |  reda.amer@umsl.edu 

UMSL Geospatial Collaborative Website

Apply Here