The Family Times April 2018

Stars Challenge Summer Camp at MAST

MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, is once again hosting a Stars Challenge weeklong summer camp in marine science for middle school students. Deadline for applications is June 16, and applications can be found on line at www.starschallenge.org.

The program is a hands-on course with both lab and field work that explores the marine life and habitats of Sandy Hook’s beaches and estuaries. The one-week camp runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and is open to students who have completed 6th, 7th or 8th grade classes and earned a “B” or higher in their current year’s science course. Identical sessions will be offered June 25-29, July 9 -13, July 16-20 and July 23-July 27 for the convenience of interested students. During the weeklong program, students will explore marine life by collecting, identifying and dissecting marine plants and animals, as well as learning to identify the unique characteristics of the various marine habitats on Sandy Hook including beaches, salt marshes, estuaries, bay and ocean. Students will be taught to understand physical impacts of the waves, tides and currents on the beach. Chemistry courses will also be offered, giving students the opportunity to experiment with techniques to analyze water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, and other chemicals in the water.

The summer Program is currently administered by The Stars Challenge and Hosted by MAST. The Stars Challenge is a science enrichment program with a goal towards encouraging more students to become innovators involved in science and technology to prepare them to take the lead in future technology. Focus is on students working in small groups to create innovative solutions. It was founded by Dr. Steve Chappell and Margaret Ann Chappell and offers fall and winter courses as well as summer programs in other schools in addition to the MAST program. JohnValente, MAST physics instructor, is the lead teacher for the program. He will be joined by three more MAST instructors, each teaching one of the week of the summer program. Teachers instructing with Valente this year are chemistry instructor Jessica Godkin, biology instructor Clare Ng, and oceanography instructor Lisa Baskin.

Valente said in past years students have always been eager to do both the lab and field work in the program, especially “the dissections of the major animal groups that are studied. They like that the program is a serious investigation of the marine environment since the course emphases the reasons why specific field investigations or dissections are conducted.” Another unique area of study is the Holly Forest located on Sandy Hook. Marine Holly Forests are rare along the eastern seaboard, “havingone right inour ownbackyard! is very special”Valente said. Acceptance into the program is limited to 18 students per class, with two classes offered each of the four weeks. Students bring their own lunches. Cost for the programs is $300. The on-line application, along with more information, can be found at www.starschallenge.org.

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