Camp at HCC-Southshore Campus Teaches Middle School Students about Renewable & Alternative Energy

TAMPA, Fla. - July 1, 2014 - PRLog -- FLATE (http://www.fl-ate.org/) (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center), the National Science Foundation Center of Excellence in manufacturing, supporting high-tech manufacturing and manufacturing-related careers and technical education in Florida is hosting its fourth, annual summer energy camp for 30 students from Beth Shields and Pierce middle schools. Participating students are currently enrolled in Hillsborough County’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, and many of them are first generation-college bound students. They will learn about the many aspects of renewable energy technologies. The camp will be held July 7-10, 2014 at Hillsborough Community College’s-South Shore Campus in Ruskin, FL. The camp is made possible through a partnership between FLATE, Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC).

During the four-day camp, students will participate in fun, challenging, hands-on activities to make real-life connections to the world of renewable energy. Students will engage in a variety of activities designed to introduce them to energy-related concepts like fossil fuels, their environmental impact, and the science of electricity generation. They will also learn about solar cells, solar thermal energy, wind energy, environmental care, fuel-cells, home efficiency and ocean energy.

Overview of activities include:

Day 1

11:45-12:24     Construct a Water Wheel & Run Experiments

12:40          Tidal Wave Experiment.

Day 2

FIELD TRIP to TECO

Day 3

9:30          Create Solar Cookers

11:45          Solar Panel Experiments

Day 4

9:45          Activity Windmill generators

Wind charge plus kits

10:25          Hydrogen Fuel Car Activity

For more information about the energy camp contact Nina Stokes, FLATE-FESC project manager at nstokes@hccfl.edu and 813.259.6587, or visit www.fl-ate.org.

FLATE (http://www.fl-ate.org/)is a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, committed to ensuring Florida has a well prepared workforce for advanced and emerging technologies. Created in 2004, FLATE is one of 39 Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States funded by the National Science Foundation focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and training to meet the needs of American advanced technology industries. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org.