July 22 - August 2, 2024
Manchester Tech Camp is a dynamic new summer program for students entering grades 5-12 in the Manchester, New Hampshire, school district. Open to all curious learners, the goal of the camp is to cultivate interest and excitement around subjects related to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) through interactive, hands-on activities. The emphasis is on problem solving, creative thinking and having fun! The camp is open to all levels of experience and free to students attending school in Manchester.
Offered through the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Manchester Tech Camp provides students with access to state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology and award-winning faculty. The program is affiliated with UNH Tech Camp on the Durham campus, a popular summer program that has been inspiring students for close to two decades. An important component of the Tech Camp mission is to foster a diverse and inclusive learning community, making STEM education available to students from all ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Manchester Tech Camp is a day program that runs 8:30 - 4pm, Monday-Friday, at UNH Manchester, 88 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH.
Please note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in public schools within the Manchester school district: Hillside Middle School, McLaughlin Middle School, Middle School at Parkside, Southside Middle School, Central High School, Memorial High School, Manchester School of Technology and West High School. Students from outside Manchester can apply to the camp but will be placed on a waiting list until April 15, 2024, and accepted on a space-available basis thereafter.
Funding for Manchester Tech Camp is provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as part of a national Build Back Better Regional Challenge award.
Week 1: July 22 - 26, 2024
All weeklong programs are held on the UNH Manchester campus and open to students of all STEAM skill levels! Programs are offered at no cost to participants. Space is limited.
Get Your Hands Dirty Searching for Antibiotics! (Grades 9-12)
Did you know that over 90 percent of all antibiotics come from microorganisms? Do you know a place where those microorganisms are easy to find? Dirt! In this hands-on, explorative project students will literally be digging in the dirt (safely, of course) to find new bacteria. Participants will isolate different bacteria and put them through a range of tests to find ones that can help solve our growing issues with antibiotic resistance. Plus, if one is found, the camper’s initials will be attached to it forever! Tiny Earth, the program this project will be using, aims to inspire students by providing the meaningful research opportunities that help solve real crises while having fun! Lead teacher: Sydney Rollins. Assistant Teacher: Dr. Sue Cooke.
Perceptive Plushies (Grades 9-12) -- PROGRAM FULL
What would your toys do if they could react to stimuli on their own? If your teddy bear were to see bright light, would it avert its eyes? Would your stuffed platypus smack its tail if the room got too hot? In this exciting project you will explore robotics, first in more traditional forms and then by animating stuffed animals to react to biosensors, using hobbyist computers to bring them to life! Students will learn about robotics using sensors and animatronics in this project through a variety of fun, hands-on activities. Lead Teacher: Howard Eglowstein.
The Original “Zoom Lens” (Grades 9-12)
Microscopes enable us to visualize the hidden world around us. Imagine being able to turn your own cell phone into a handheld microscope! Antonie van Leeuweknhoek was a microscopist who was the first to observe bacteria and protozoa. In this project you will explore Leeuwenhoek microscopes and make a prototype of your own with custom-made lenses that attach to your phone. This will involve 3D modeling and 3D printing your designs to turn your phone into a high-magnification custom microscope! Lead Teacher: Dr. Mark Scimone.
Week 2: July 29 - August 2, 2024
All weeklong programs are held on the UNH Manchester campus and open to students of all STEAM skill levels! Programs are offered at no cost to participants. Space is limited.
TechSplorers (Grades 5-8) -- WAITLIST ONLY!
This program cycles through a variety of fun-filled science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) topics, which may include activities such as: forensic science, circuit-building, the science of sound, kitchen science, freshwater ecology and more! All of these topics are explored through collaborative, hands-on activities. Each day is a new adventure! Open to all levels of experience!
Putting the “Bio” in BioInformatics! (Grades 9-12)
Have you ever wondered how we know which bacteria are which or how we know if a bacterium is actually a bacteria and not mold or something else? In this amazing project you will hunt down your own bacteria, grow them and isolate them in a lab "by hand" (you'll wear gloves of course)! You will then learn how we move from bacteria in a petri dish to a line of code on a computer, telling us which bacteria you have isolated. This project is the perfect combination of tech and hands-on application! Lead Teacher: Dr. Kyle MacLea.
Bioprinting (Grades 9-12)
3D printing technology is evolving rapidly. Today, scientists can print three-dimensional forms in plastic, metal and even chocolate! But did you know that it’s possible to print with cells and tissue to create human organs? It all comes down to using the right ink, or, in this case, “bioInk.” In this program, students will learn about bioInks, creating 3D models and printing forms on a bioprinter. Students will work in groups to create various bioInk options for the 3D printing of tissues and organs. They will also observe their bioInks using microscopes and compare results! Lead Teacher: Dr. Won Hyuk Suh.
Manchester Tech Camp Application & Enrollment
The process for enrolling in a Manchester Tech Camp program is slightly different from other UNH Youth Programs. We have a two-part process that starts with the submission of an application.
Once you have officially applied, a member of the Manchester Tech Camp team will reach out within the next three-week period via email to provide enrollment information if accepted into a program. This is done through the centralized UNH Youth Programs website. All applications must be completed by May 1, 2024. Submitting an application does not automatically enroll the student into the program.
For questions or more information, please contact Shannon McCracken-Barber at shannon.mccrackenbarber@unh.edu or Amy Booth at amy.booth@unh.edu.
