Science campers gathered for a group shot in front of Lee’s Science and Math Complex
Rocket City Science Camp at Lee University has celebrated its 10th year. Since 2005, more than 1,200 students have participated in one of two science camps led by Lee’s Dr. Jason Robinson.
“It's hard to believe how quickly 10 years have passed since the camps first began at Lee,” said Dr. Robinson. “Our family, camp leaders, and the entire Lee community have been honored to serve and to play a role in exciting students about science.”
Held every summer, this camp offers two options: Camp Discovery, for 2nd-4th grade students, and Camp Explore, for 5th-8th grade students. At Camp Discovery, educators and leaders team up to provide science activities where the “Aha!” moments of discovery happen. Activities focus on electricity, weather, rocketry, germs, space, and other topics. Camp Explore focuses on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) related activities through an interactive approach to learning. Concepts explored included chemical reactions, construction design, rocketry, space science, weather, and others.
Dr. Robinson, assistant professor of education at Lee, first started the Rocket City Science camps in 2005. The purpose was to develop exciting, engaging, hands-on and minds-on science programs that would support the hard work that teachers already do during the school year. His goal is to provide opportunities for students around the world to learn science concepts in a creative way, and for them to learn that “God has big plans for their life.”
“While we cannot truly measure the impact on each attendee, it is amazing to think about the number of students who have not only developed a love for science and learning, but those who have also gone on to pursue science-related fields,” said Dr. Robinson. “We look forward to many more years of educational camps at Lee and providing exciting opportunities for students to create, explore, and discover.”
Dr. Robinson began his teaching career in 1997 after graduating from Lee University, joining Lee’s faculty in 2013. His teaching experience is diverse, and he is known in the community for conducting family science nights and professional development activities for teachers. He and his wife Faith direct science camps throughout the year, both in the United States and abroad. Dr. Robinson has taught internationally in the countries of Argentina, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Africa, Nicaragua, United Arab Emirates, and South Korea, also being involved in international missions work with his family.
Dr. Robinson has been the Bradley County Teacher of the Year and Tennessee Science Teacher of the Year. He has been a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and a Master Teacher for the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experimentation Mission. Additionally, he has served on many advisory panels at the local and state level that focused on effective teaching practices, standardized assessments, and teacher education.
To learn more about the annual Rocket City Science Camp activities, or other community and family science events, contact Dr. Robinson at jrobinson@leeuniversity.edu or www.rocketcityscience.weebly.com.
Dr. Jason Robinson demonstrating the power of bottle rockets for summer science campers