Due to COVID-19 the 2022 NYSCamp, which will run from June 27 to July 20 will be a completely virtual experience.
Want to get involved with the 2022 National Youth Science Camp? Whether you’re looking for a one-time commitment or multiple opportunities to interact with delegates, please complete a Presenter Profile Submission and then the 2022 NYSCamp Presenter Proposal to get started!
The NYSFoundation invites qualified STEM professionals to submit interest to present at the NYSCamp.
All presentations will take place in interactive zoom meetings. You may propose programming in any of the following formats:
- Lectures: Each weekday evening during camp we will host a keynote lecture. These will be one hour long interactive zoom meetings with the entire camp delegation invited to attend. Lecturers will attend a tech check and introduction to a delegate who will introduce them 30 minutes before the lecture and are asked to stay for 30 minutes past the lecture for a question and answer session. Although we welcome a diversity of lecture proposals, there will only be 17 lecture slots available during camp. If you propose a lecture that we decide won’t fit into our lecture schedule, we may ask you if you’re willing to present it as a seminar instead. Additionally, since the lecture spots are so limited, we will not be scheduling any 2021 lecturers as 2022 lecturers. We do, however, encourage 2021 lecturers to propose their lecture as a seminar topic for 2022.
- Seminars: Similar to a paper or round table presentation at an academic conference a seminar is an opportunity for a presenter to share interesting STEM research, practices, innovations, etc. with delegates who sign up to attend the seminar. These 60-90 minute single sessions (at 2, 4, or 6 PM EDT each weekday) can take the form of a lecture or be more informal, but a key aspect of seminars is their interactive nature that includes presenters engaging with the delegates rather than simply presenting to them. Unless the nature of the seminar makes it absolutely necessary, we ask that you don’t put a participant limit on seminars.
- Directed Study: A Directed Study is similar to a Seminar: it lasts 60 to 90 minutes, but occurs at the same time on two or three different days. At virtual camp as long as the times are the same, the days can be consecutive, every other day, or once a week, etc. depending on what works best for the directed study. During the study, the presenter provides a model and a close guiding hand through an inquiry/exploration and minds-on approach to learning; the participants should be able to pose questions, develop conceptual understanding through exploration, and draw conclusions. Delegates are expected to attend all sessions of a directed study. Consequently, directed studies can also include “homework” assignments for the delegates to work on in preparation for the next session. Unless the nature of the directed study makes it absolutely necessary, we ask that you don’t put a participant limit on seminars.
- Hobbies and Skills Sessions: If you’re familiar with the in person camp, these interactive (and often hands on) 60 to 90 minute sessions are much like seminars at Camp Pocahontas. Past Hobbies and Skills seminars have included demonstrations, tutorials, and opportunities for delegates to practice skills like self-defense, cooking, yoga, music, sports, outdoor skills, solving puzzles, calligraphy, 3-D printing, storytelling, etc.
- Virtual Tours: Past virtual camps have included virtual tours of the Green Bank Observatory and the National Gallery of Art. If you would like to host a 60 minute virtual tour, we’d love to consider it. If at all possible we invite virtual tour guides to offer their tours on at least two different days and times to accommodate as many delegates as possible.
- Panel Discussions: Each year at camp the AAAS hosts a panel on science policy. We’re open to additional panel discussions that bring experts in a field of study together to briefly introduce themselves and their research/experiences and then open the floor to questions from delegates.
- Special Events: Each year at camp we provide some surprise special events for delegates. Virtually, these have usually involved musical performances. These events will take place at 9PM EDT on the scheduled day. If you’d like to propose to host a special event (a concert or something similar) please let us know.
NYSCamp runs from June 27 – July 20 this year. With camp being offered virtually, there will be 3 main presentation time blocks each weekday (2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM ET) on multiple zoom channels with multiple sessions running concurrently.