Using an Alternative Energy Summer Camp for high school students as a university outreach program for the recruitment of future engineering students: A two year study

Abstract

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in 2007 and 2008 conducted a one week long Alternative Energy Summer Camp for high school students. This summer camp is one of several on-campus camps at Lawrence Tech that give high school students the opportunity to learn about specific technologies and to interact with full-time university science and engineering faculty. The Alternative Energy Summer Camp focuses on the major technologies in this field, including solar heating, solar photovoltaics, wind energy, geothermal systems, and fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. This camp was held with a limited enrollment to help assure close faculty contact and to give thestudents maximum opportunities to obtain hands-on experiences with the major associated equipment in our university's Alternative Energy Laboratory. This paper evaluates the evolution of the summer camp structure, as well as assesses and reviews the feasibility, benefits, and value of conducting this summer camp over two summer sessions. Detailed assessment data obtained from the student participants (by survey and interviews), as well as feedback from participating faculty from both summer sessions that augment the understanding and value of such work to both student and institution are provided and reviewed. We have found that students not only gained a significant understanding of the Alternative Energy technologies, but also increased their desire to pursue the study of such technologies when they enrolled in college. Students also indicated an increased interest in pursuing an engineering degree in general. The results of this effort at LTU strongly support the value and benefits ofholding such summer camps for the recruitment and expansion of student appreciation of the Alternative Energy field. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.