Navy center partners with TCC to provide STEM camp for youth

Tidewater Community College worked with community partner Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) to host a weeklong summer camp for youth, ages 11-15, from high schools across Hampton Roads.

Held July 17-21, the purpose of the camp was to foster a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in students and to showcase careers in these fields. Students also learned important lessons from guest speakers and completed hands-on activities throughout the week.

TCC Dean Nancy Prather-Johnson welcomed students and shared about her journey. “As I was growing up, I was considered part of the underrepresented population and underprivileged community. It was summer programs like this one that exposed me to STEM careers at a young age,” she said.

She continued, “I attended a math and science-specific high school for students who were high achievers in the subjects. Although I didn’t continue my pursuit of becoming a computer science engineer, I am now the dean of Computer Science and Business at a community college and that gives me the opportunity to pay it forward and expose kids like me to these growing fields.”

NIWC STEM Lead, Shawn Frazier, believes the partnership with TCC will greatly benefit the youth attending camp. He enjoys hosting it on campus in order to help the students visualize their futures in college and see themselves pursuing their dream careers. He says, “I want to help students to see themselves as that scientist, engineer, mathematician, or whatever it is they want to do. TCC has been a great partner to help me do that.”

This camp provides students the opportunity to participate in interactive projects such as creating and launching their own rockets, as well as coding on a Raspberry Pi computer, which is the technology that is used on the International Space Station.

The program allows campers to experience STEM in a way that differs from what they learn in school. In addition to the opportunity to grow their STEM knowledge, this camp creates a sense of community for STEM students in the Hampton Roads area. Jorden, a camp student, said, “One of my favorite things about camp has been making friends that have the same interests as me.”

Camp instructor, Daron Moore, has been with the NIWC STEM Camp program since it started 12 years ago. He says, “It’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to plant the STEM seeds in children’s minds and see where it takes them. You get to see them years later achieving their childhood dreams that began at camp.”

For more information regarding future summer camps, contact Prather-Johnson at nprather@tcc.edu.

Taking flight at TCC’s Drone Academy

Tidewater Community College’s summer Drone Academy, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services and coordinated by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, provided a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones.

This camp was for students with disabilities with an interest in drones and pursuing a career in the field.

Jake and Gavin fly a professional drone with Professor Judy Gill.

“TCC’s Drone Academy provided students with a place to utilize their creativity while gaining knowledge in a subject they are enthusiastic about,” said Judy Gill, director of UAS operations and drone professor. “It is wonderful to see students grow in their skills and knowledge of this emerging field.”

In addition to learning to fly drones, students were able to tour TCC’s state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Center, view a planetarium show, see a Physics of Flight demonstration, hear from guest speakers and attend a career exploration session.

Students also learned the basics of drone photography from TCC Professor Thomas Siegmund. They practiced flying drones and obtaining quality images at the same time.

Eyrie and Jake working together to complete the obstacle course.

Students also learned about the extensive rules and regulations that must be adhered to when flying an Unmanned Aircraft System. Gavin, a camp student, said, “I didn’t realize before how stressful it is to fly a professional drone. There is a lot that goes on besides just flying it.”

After completing their TRUST Certification Exam, students were permitted to operate the drones themselves. At the end of the week, they had the chance to highlight their new skills by participating in the Drone Physics Olympics against other campers. Campers worked together to design and implement an obstacle course and timed how quickly they could fly the drone through the course.

Students learn to control the drones with an App on their phones.

In addition to their drone pilot skills, students worked together to foster the skills of team building and communication.

TCC offers drone classes each semester and will soon be launching a full Drone Program. For more information, email Gill at jgill@tcc.edu.

TCC’s Summer Camps are back on all campuses

Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your kids? Check out Tidewater Community College’s in-person summer camps with offerings for budding artists, chefs, entrepreneurs, musicians, jewelry-makers, computer wizards, outdoor enthusiasts and more.

TCC has more than 90 camps, offered over 8 weeks, geared for youth ages 8-18.

New Black Rocket Computer camps include Pokemon®Masters Designers and 3D Makers Unite, Python Programmers, Roblox®Coders-Entrepreneurs and Roblox Makers!

Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and fun programs tailored to their interests and age.

TCC’s week-long programs are affordable and conveniently located on the Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses, and at the Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk.

Limited enrollment size ensures students receive personalized attention.

Camps begin June 20 and run through the week of Aug. 7.

For a complete listing and to register, visit tcc.edu/camps.

Registration is now open. To receive a $5 discount per camp, register by May 31.

For more information call Emily Richardson at 757-871-7871 or call TCC’s Workforce Solutions Center at 757-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.

TCC’s in-person summer camps are back on all campuses

Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your kids? Check out Tidewater Community College’s in-person summer camps with offerings for budding engineers, entrepreneurs, outdoor enthusiasts, computer wizards and more.

TCC’s has more than 80 camps, offered over eight weeks, geared for youth ages 8-15.

New Black Rocket Computer camps include YouTube Content Creators, Cyber Spies and Video Game Animation. Other new offerings include Beekeeping, Backpacking and Social Equality camps.

Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and fun programs tailored to their interests and age.

TCC’s week-long programs are affordable and conveniently located on the Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses, and at the Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk. Limited enrollment size ensures students receive personalized attention.

Camps begin June 21 and run through the week of Aug. 8.

For a complete listing and to register, visit tcc.edu/camps.

Registration is now open. To receive a $5 discount per camp, register by May 31.

For more information call Emily Richardson at 757-871-7871 or call TCC’s Workforce Solutions Center at 757-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.

From Fortnite to formulas, TCC summer camps offer something for everyone

Designing your own version of Fortnite? Channeling your inner entrepreneur? Learning to publish original content on YouTube?

Tidewater Community College ramped up its camp offerings for the summer to include a plethora of new options.

Among them:

Battle Royale: Make your first Fortnite-style video game

Unreasonable Kids: A social entrepreneurship program for teens (separate camp for tweens)

YouTube Content Creators: (A Black Rocket camp)

Check out all of TCC’s summer camps for budding scientists, engineers, video game enthusiasts, interior designers, computer wizards and more. TCC camps have options for elementary, middle school and high school aged-youth.

Other popular options:

Junior Veterinarian School encourages campers to explore turning their love for animals into a career.
Creative Writing lets middle school-aged kids explore their creative side by working with college faculty in writing and producing a short play.
Video Game Animation encourages campers to take their game design skills to the next level by creating and animating their own characters and objects.
Interior Design Bootcamp has students explore the design process and tackle a realistic design problems.
STEM Camps exposes campers to careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

TCC’s week-long, affordable programs are located on its Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses, and at the Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk. Camps are offered from June through August.

Limited enrollment size ensures all campers receive personalized attention.

There is an early bird pre-registration discount of $5 per camp through May 31. Scholarships are available for some camps, and noted online in the camp description.

For a complete listing of camps, visit tcc.edu/camps. Registration is now open.

For information, contact us at 757-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.

TCC offering more than 100 summer camps for youth of all ages

Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your children? Check out Tidewater Community College’s summer camps with offerings for budding scientists, engineers, artists, doctors, interior designers, computer wizards and more.

Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and educational programs tailored to their interests and grade levels. This summer, TCC offers more than 100 camps suitable for elementary, middle school and high school aged-youth.

Among them:

Junior Veterinarian School, which encourages campers to explore turning their love for animals into a career with interactive demonstrations, crafts and games.
Sports medicine and medical camps, including Med School 4 Teens.
Star Wars® Stop Animation camp, where Star Wars adventure comes to life.
Black Rocket Camps, which explore simulated environments and crafting memorable 3D experiences with handmade Virtual Reality headsets.

Limited enrollment size ensures all campers receive personalized attention.

There is an Early Bird pre-registration discount of $5 per camp through May 31. Scholarships are available for some camps, including the SMART Maritime Camp and Robotics 101 for Girls.

For a complete listing of camps, visit tcc.edu/camps. Registration is now open.

For information, contact us at 747-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.

Make your child’s summer count with TCC’s fun and educational camps

Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your kids? Check out Tidewater Community College’s summer camps with offerings for budding scientists, engineers, artists, chefs, interior designers, computer wizards and more.

Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and fun programs tailored to their interests and grade levels.

Students learn to make paninis at the Norfolk Campus.

TCC’s has more than 50 camps geared for rising 3rd to 12th graders. For a complete listing, visit tcc.edu/camps

Registration is now open. For information, contact Emily Richardson at 757-822-1505 or erichardson@tcc.edu.