UW STEM camp students race to revive a mannequin in one of the University of Washington Medicine Department’s simulation activities.
University of Washington Medicine Department staff lead the UW Stem camp students through their process when approaching a case study in the W.F. West High School STEM wing.
Eduardo Martín Palavecino, MD, FACS, University of Washington Medicine Staff fellow assists STEM student Benjamin Bishop in a group activity based around skills used in the surgery room in the W.F. West High School STEM wing.
During their visit to the UW Medicine Department, students were able to try different machines and practices around the medicine wing.
Students gave their final embraces Friday to say goodbye to newly made friends before climbing back onto various buses, each taking them back to their communities and everyday life. Although the week-long University of Washington STEM camp at W.F. West is over for this year, the students left with new interests and skills.
The camp came to a close Friday afternoon in Seattle with a tour of the UW Medicine Department.
The UW Medicine Department staff led the second half of the STEM program. Students spent Thursday in Chehalis getting hands-on experience with cutting edge medical field technology and learning about “WISH,” the University of Washington’s health simulation development program.
Prior to the medical portion of the program, the University of Washington Engineering Department lead the first three days in both Chehalis and Seattle, providing the students with activities and material.
This is the seventh summer STEM camp hosted by W.F. West High School, but in the last two years, University of Washington has provided staff and activities for the students.
“In Seattle, we host many summer camps for students. What’s different and exciting in Chehalis is that we are bringing the University to the local community here,” said Randy Hodgins, vice president for external affairs at UW. “All 100 of these kids are high school students and that means they are bright. And here they are learning that they have what it takes to succeed in education beyond high school.”
Bob Walters, W.F. West High School’s principal, explained how ecstatic the local community is to have the university’s involvement.
“It’s exciting to have UW engineering and UW medicine here to inspire the next generation of engineers, doctors, and healthcare workers,” he said.
The program has grown over the past seven years thanks to local donors and sponsorships like the Chehalis Foundation. It now reaches over three counties and multiple communities. The program was created to inspire students to pursue education in many different shapes and forms.
“Our kids don’t really get exposed to this stuff until they get to college,” said Aaron Gwin, a graduation specialist from Hoquiam School District. “The exposure that they are getting is incredible. Hopefully we get invited back next year.”
The STEM program features various activities to introduce students to new material in unique ways to get them excited about potential career paths. The program also heavily emphasizes team building and collaboration.
“I’ll take away being flexible with working with others, understanding their process and how we can work together,” said incoming W.F. West freshman Gavin Jensen. “Trying to solve problems with multiple people is very useful for both in-school and out-of-school experiences.”
The camp may be over for the summer, but students have much to look forward to in their futures.
“These types of careers aren’t just for urban city kids or the larger schools. They are for any kid anywhere coming from any background,” said Tommy Elder, W.F. West High School assistant principal. “The skills they are learning, the connections they are making are opportunities and doors that are opening for them to grow their future and to bring those skills back to their own community.”
