Impacts of Engineering Summer Camp at East Tennessee State University

Abstract The increasing demand for professionals in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has created a critical need for effective recruitment strategies to nurture and develop the next generation of STEM talent. Summer camps offer a unique and immersive learning environment that appeals to students of all ages, fostering an interest in STEM subjects while encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. This paper describes a week-long engineering summer camp program designed for middle and high school students in 2023 at East Tennessee State university (ETSU). The main goal of the camp was to introduce student engineering, programs in the department and job prospects and to spark their interest in pursuing engineering education and career. During the camp students engaged in hands-on learning experiences and featured lessons focusing on 3D scanning, drone technologies, 3D printing, circuitry, robot building, and prototyping. Students also learned about ETSU admission processes, educational programs, financial aid, student organizations and college life. At the end of each day, students completed a survey about their experiences on that day's activities. Data analysis showed that the camp helped students to learn more about what engineers do and made them more inclined to study engineering. This paper presents the effectiveness of the camp's aims, camp planning and design, the results from the participant surveys, and lessons learned by the organizers in conducting the camp. The importance of creating inclusive, diverse, and equitable summer camps is emphasized to ensure that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities in STEM recruitment.