Want to get involved with the 2023 National Youth Science Camp? The National Youth Science Academy (formerly the National Youth Science Foundation) invites qualified STEM professionals to submit interest to present at the NYSCamp. Whether you’re looking for a one-time commitment or multiple opportunities to interact with delegates, please consider applying to present at camp.

This year we will host a hybrid camp. June 19-23 will be virtual from 6 PM to 10:30 PM EDT in the evenings. Delegates will then travel to West Virginia to spend the remainder of camp in person. Virtual programming will all take place in interactive zoom meetings. In-person presentations will occur at Camp Pocahontas, in locations surrounding camp, or in Washington, DC. You can learn more about the 2023 hybrid NYSCamp here.

Because the NYSAcademy covers all student participant expenses, we host quite a diverse group. The students are enthusiastic and curious in general. They seem to appreciate an environment where they find, often for the first time, substantial peer support for their interest in STEAM fields. They enjoy the attention of STEAM professionals and staff members who provide the intellectual nurturing they have craved but not often received; excellence is cool and inquisitive minds are normal. The atmosphere is relaxed and offers a beautiful retreat from the demands of everyday life.

The NYSAcademy plans carefully to meet basic program needs and ensure that the programs are offered free of cost to the students; therefore, we cannot offer honorariums. If you have any questions, please contact us.

All presentations will take place in interactive zoom meetings. You may propose programming in any of the following formats:

  • Lectures: Each weekday evening during virtual camp we will host a keynote lecture. These will be one hour long interactive zoom meetings with the entire camp delegation invited to attend. Virtual lecturers will attend a tech check and introduction to a delegate who will introduce them at 7:00 PM EDT and give an hour long lecture beginning at 7:30 PM EDT. Virtual lecturers will be asked to stay for 30 minutes past the lecture for a question and answer session. Lectures at Camp Pocahontas will either be between 9:15 and 10:30 AM or 8:00 and 9:15 PM on lecture days. Although we welcome a diversity of lecture proposals, there will only be 26 total lecture slots (5 virtual and 21 in person) 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 virtual seminar instead.
  • Virtual Seminars: Similar to a paper or round table presentation at an academic conference a virtual 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 minute single sessions (at 6 PM EDT) 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 minutes virtually or 90 minutes in person on 3 consecutive days. 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 do not put a participant limit on your directed study.
  • Directed Overnighter: At past in person camps, some of the overnighters have been directed by visiting scholars who turn the camping trip into a directed study. If you’d like to propose a directed overnighter during one of our two overnighter blocks, please do so.
  • 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.
  • In Person Tour: If you would like to propose a tour for the delegation while the delegates are in West Virginia or in Washington, DC you may propose one. Past in person tours have included the Greenbank Observatory and the National Art Gallery.
  • Virtual Panel Discussion: 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. These will occur at 6 PM EDT during the days of virtual camp.
  • Special Events: Each year at camp, we provide some special surprise events for delegates. Virtually or in person, these have usually involved musical performances. If you’d like to propose to host a special event (a concert or something similar) please let us know.
  • Hobbies and Skills Session: At in person camp these used to be called seminars. If you are selected as an in person lecturer or directed study presenter, you will also be asked to give a Hobbies and Skills Session while you are at camp. We are not, however, soliciting hobbies and skills sessions via AirTable for the 2023 camp. 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.

All virtual lectures seminars, and directed studies, will be at 6 PM EDT. All virtual lectures will be at 7:30 PM EDT.

Policies

Presenters must adhere to NYSAcademy policies and procedures. These include:

Additionally:

  • Presenters must agree not to use any human (delegate, student, staff member, or guest) as an anatomical model under any circumstance.
  • Presenters must agree not to use personal characteristics to denigrate any individual.
  • Presenters must agree to not use inappropriate language.

Submit a Proposal

If you have not presented at a NYSCamp before, please complete an NYSCamp Presenter Profile Submission form first, and then complete the 2023 NYSCamp Presentation Proposal form. If you wish to submit multiple proposals, please submit a Presenter Proposal form once per proposal.

If you previously presented at camp, we may already have your profile in our presenter database. To prevent duplicating your presenter profile, please go to the 2023 NYSCamp Presentation Proposal form, click “+Add,” and find your name to attach your new proposal.

If you have multiple proposals, you must separately fill out the 2023 NYSCamp Presentation Proposal form for each proposed presentation.