Engineering Design Summer Camp

Background Information (What is the engineering design process?)

EPICS at Colorado School of Mines operates its Engineering Design Summer Camp Challenge for high school (rising 10th-12th grade) students. Participants work in teams to design and build an engineering device to meet a set of performance specifications. The team markets the device to a general audience (the parents) through a poster session and competition. This exciting adventure creates an opportunity to practice engineering design, i.e. the design and construction of processes, components, or systems.

The EPICS sequence was founded on an industrial approach to engineering design highlighting projects solicited from industry, government and community. We have developed a curriculum based on technical, team, and communications processes characteristic of conceptual stages associated with the engineering life cycle. Our first-year students have created conceptual designs for playground equipment for children with disabilities, mining vehicles for space (Mars) exploration, and noise abatement walls for our highways. These designs have continued into the second, third, and fourth years as a team gains the technical skills to refine its designs. As students prepare quality solutions to their projects, they also explore team skills to foster satisfaction within the team. This project-based curriculum offers an innovative approach to engineering design education.

Goals and Objectives

The mission of the camp is to offer high school students an opportunity to participate in a creative challenge as they explore the world of engineering. The goal of the camp is to guide participants through a fun and rewarding hands-on experience of authentic engineering design practices. The expected outcomes of this program address the fundamentals of the engineering design process.

Challenges of designing and marketing a product
Early exposure to engineering design processes
Opportunities to apply basic mathematic and science concepts
Importance of team and communications skills
Challenges to step beyond the comfort zone

Schedule and Activities

A team spends the first two days brainstorming ideas, defining specifications, and selecting its best design. The team creates sketches (portfolio) and describes its designs (project plan). Once the design is approved, the team builds the apparatus from its drawings and specifications. On Friday it assesses the performance of its design.

For the summer of 2011, we plan to offer two sessions of the Camp Challenge:

Session One :: June 20 through 24, 2011(25 students maximum)

Project: Design and construct a Roman Water Lift Device to vertically lift 5 gallons of water 10 feet using available resources. Each team will be provided the same materials to build a lifting device. The team may not use electrical mechanisms to power the device. They may, however, use human power for turning cranks or as an engine.

Session Two :: July 25 through 29, 2011(At least 18 students required)

Project: Design and construct a system capturing wind motion and converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy required to light a bulb.

(This session may be cancelled if less than 18 students apply.)

The camp's schedule will follow these steps toward project completion:

Identify key design issues and brainstorm options
Develop a design plan
Construct and test prototype components
Assess product value to create a marketing strategy
Showcase your work in competition and celebrate team success

CSM faculty members will guide the teams through the design process and help develop skills in:

Sketching and solid modeling
Acquisition of data via research and inquiry
Computer graphics
Soldering and foam core construction

Scholarships

We are offering 2 scholarships per camp to cover the registration cost. These scholarships will be awarded to the most creative and innovative one-page essay. If you are attending the first camp, the essay should address the theme "Creative Pump Design – Integral to Engineering?" If you are attending the second camp, the essay should address the theme "Innovative Applications of Wind Energy over the Next Five Years". The essay process is optional. You will still be required to register and pay. If selected, your payment will be refunded. Essays must be submitted by May 1, 2011, and the recipients will be notified by May 20, 2011.

Send your essay via email to: khall@mines.edu, fax to: 303-384-2043, or mail to: Colorado School of Mines, Design EPICS, 814 15th St. Golden CO 80401

Prerequisites

Students must have completed 9th grade in order to participate in the Engineering Design Summer Camp.

Lodging and accommodations

On-campus lodging is no longer available. Click here for a list of accommodations in the area.

Registration

The registration fee for the Engineering Design Summer Camp is $400.00.

Several registration options are available:

Register for Session One and charge the full registration fee to your credit card online. Registration is limited to the first 25 students.
If Session One has filled, you may register for Session Two and charge a deposit of $50.00 to your credit card online. Registration is limited to the first 25 students. Your deposit will be refunded if Session Two is not held.
If Session One and/or Session Two have filled, you may place your name on a waiting list for either or both sessions.