UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) invites students across the Mohawk Valley to register for its Spotlight Series Summer STEM Camps and Events, providing unique, hands-on learning experiences at no cost to families. Students ages 11 to 18 can explore a variety of engaging STEM topics right on SUNY Poly’s campus.

Upcoming opportunities include UZ&U: The Utica Zoo Classroom Experience on Saturday, July 19 from 10-11:30 a.m., where expert educators will lead interactive animal-themed presentations featuring live animals. From Monday, July 21 through Thursday, July 24, students ages 11 to 14 can participate in Energy Engineers: Build & Take Home, held from 12:30- 4:30 p.m. each day. Campers will build working models of wind, solar, and waterpower technologies and tour the NY Energy Zone in Utica, taking home their renewable energy creations at the end of the program.

Build Your Own Electronics runs Monday, August 4 through Thursday, August 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for students ages 13 to 18. Participants will discover how electricity, electronics, and semiconductors work by designing circuits, programming microcontrollers, learning about chip fabrication, and building their own electronic gadgets to bring home.

The final event, Ecosystems Explorers, takes place on Saturday, August 16 from 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. for ages 11 to 14, offering students the chance to investigate local ecosystems through hands-on activities and environmental science exploration.

These camps were made possible by the New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC), the SUNY Poly Offshore Wind Training Team (SPOWT²), and SUNY Poly's Center for Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Devices (CASMAD).

Registration is required, and spots are limited. Families are encouraged to register soon to secure participation. Full event details and registration information for these camps, as well as the wide range of SUNY Poly Spotlight Series offerings, are available at https://www.sunypoly.edu/spotlight.html.

“This is a great opportunity for students across the Mohawk Valley to explore new interests and get hands-on with learning,” said John Reade, Director of Pre-Collegiate Outreach at SUNY Poly. “Whether they’re learning about renewable energy, building electronics, or exploring ecosystems, these experiences can spark an interest in STEM and give students a chance to see themselves on a college campus.”