For well over a decade, NIU STEAM has offered science, technology, engineering, arts and math camps for elementary through high school students on the campus of Northern Illinois University. This experience made NIU STEAM, in the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, an ideal partner for Associate Professor Bryan Dallas, who recently won a $210,000 grant from the Illinois Community College Board to create a yearlong program to help high school students with disabilities prepare for and transition to college.
Associate Professor Bryan Dallas
The program – Huskies BELONG – is designed for high school students graduating in 2024 who have a disability impacting their education, who intend to go to college and are interested in STEAM careers. It consists of a one-week residential camp followed by ongoing connections and support for the college application process.
“Students with disabilities are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields,” says Dallas. “Huskies BELONG aims to increase participants’ understanding of STEAM majors and career opportunities, as well as their belief that they can succeed in college.”
To achieve these goals, Dallas, an associate professor of rehabilitation counseling in the NIU College of Health and Human Sciences, is working with NIU STEAM to assemble a team of supportive professionals, including STEAM experts, camp counselors, volunteers, and an on-call nurse and personal care attendants who will be available as needed by campers.
Kristin Brynteson, Ed.D., director of NIU STEAM, says that Huskies BELONG contributes to NIU STEAM’s larger mission to inspire excitement about STEAM fields and expand the STEAM career pipeline to include people from diverse backgrounds who have been underrepresented in those fields, including students with disabilities and first-generation college students.
“We’re proud of our summer camps, which have always prioritized hands-on, project-based learning, exploration and creativity,” says Brynteson. “Hands-on projects encourage students to take ownership of their learning, to try new things and not be afraid of failure, and to be self-directed problem solvers – all skills that are essential for college and career success. We’re excited to partner with Bryan to offer these learning experiences at a camp tailored for students with disabilities, and to follow up with those students to support them in their college decision and application process.”
Dallas says the ultimate goal is for participants to be successful in college and enter the workforce after graduation – and that requires careful planning.
“Career exploration and college planning take time, and students with disabilities might have additional transitional needs that their nondisabled peers might not,” he says. “Examples include requesting academic accommodations from faculty members, acquiring audio books, or hiring and scheduling a personal care attendant. Disability laws and procedures change as students graduate from high school and enter college. It’s a big learning curve, and this program aims to help students navigate that process.”
Campers will interact with current NIU students with disabilities as well as NIU Disability Resource Centerstaff, and they’ll also have the opportunity for one-on-one discussions with NIU faculty and instructors about various undergraduate majors, minors and careers.
“The aim of these activities is to allow for career exploration and increase self-efficacy in pursuing college,” Dallas says.
Like all NIU STEAM camps, Huskies BELONG isn’t just educational – it’s also designed to be active and fun. The academic portion of the camp will include hands-on STEAM related activities, such as programming gyroscopes to follow directions, abstract painting, stop motion animation and use of green screens, creating products using 3D printers, and using assistive technology for academics. Other sessions will include role playing scenarios, such as how to discuss accommodation needs with faculty or instructors.
The camp will also feature social and leisure activities, such as free access to the NIU Recreation Center, horseback riding and animal encounters, game night, movie night, karaoke and bowling.
“The aim of these activities is to help participants test out the college experience, staying and dining in campus residence halls and developing a sense of belonging on a university campus,” Dallas says. “We want to help participants build their confidence in pursuing academics as well as a social network in college.”
Dallas will work closely with NIU STEAM Educator Becky Griffith, who is the project coordinator for Huskies BELONG and a licensed K-12 art educator. Griffith has been leading summer camps and after school programs related to art, video game design, coding and other STEAM topics for more than five years and is excited to share her love of creativity with the Huskies BELONG students.
“I believe that STEAM is for everyone and am excited to be a part of the Huskies BELONG Summer Camp,” Griffith says. “Our campers will get a great camp experience that accommodates different leaning needs.”
Even though it provides big fun, the summer camp is only one small part of the yearlong Huskies BELONG program. In the spring of 2023 (prior to the camp), program staff will initiate an assistive technology evaluation for each participant, and families will be invited to a Family Fun Day so participants can get to know each other before the summer program in July.
After the five-day summer camp, Huskies BELONG staff will stay in touch with students as they enter their senior year of high school and will work with them throughout the fall of 2023, helping them identify colleges of their choice and navigate processes for admissions, financial aid and college/university support services. Participants will also be invited back to NIU in October 2023 to participate in NIU STEM Fest.
Applications are currently being accepted for the Huskies BELONG program. To learn more or begin an application, visit go.niu.edu/huskiesbelong. View all NIU STEAM summer camps at niusteamcamps.com.
Source: NIU Today CHHS News
