K - 12 Programs

The Center provides programming to public and private K-12 schools in their efforts to bring forth reform related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Current Programs

SunChase: High School Solar Go-Kart Challenge
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SunChase is back for 2023! We will be hosting SunChase on Saturday April 1, 2023 with the safety checks on Friday March 31, 2023.

Show your support and become a sponsor

Learn more about SunChase
Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS)
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GEMS provides hands-on learning experiences guided by science & engineering professionals for all middle school students to explore the wonders of STEM.

Contact: GEMS@fgcu.edu

Our next GEMS event will be held on February 25,2023.

Learn more about GEMS and register
Summer Research Opportunity (SRO)
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For over a decade, the Whitaker Center for STEM Education has sponsored a two week event for middle school students interested in STEM. These students must have participated in the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science Fair. They must prepare an application to be chosen to participate in a Summer Research Opportunity at Florida Gulf Coast University. SRO offers a hands-on experience of collaboration on a complete and genuine research problem from hypothesis generation and initial design, through field and laboratory data collection, culminating in data analysis and interpretation.

SRO will take place July 18 – July 29. The topic is microbiology.
Contact: The Whitaker Center (whitakercenter@fgcu.edu)

Learn about Summer Research Opportunity
Schulze Summer STEM Institute for Teachers
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In cooperation with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Whitaker Center offers week-long Summer Teacher workshop sessions for K-12 faculty centered on empowering teachers to develop inquiry-based pedagogy that works for their classroom. These workshops facilitate the integration of STEM disciplines within the conservancy themes and offer teachers hands on experience integrating technology and the great outdoors into their activities.

Contact: The Whitaker Center - 239-590-7444

Learn about the STEM Institute

Summer Camps

High School

dates	summer camp	deadline
TBD	STEM Academy	TBD

Middle School

dates	summer camp	deadline	application
July 18 - July 29, 2022	Summer Research Opportunity (SRO) - Microbiology	Closed	Contact Whitaker Center (239) 590-7444 deboucher@fgcu.edu
TBD	Vester Marine Science Summer Camp	TBD	Student Application
TBD	Coding Academy - Middle School	June 20 or until filled
TBD	Mathletes	Open until filled

Elementary School

dates	summer camp	deadline	application
TBD	Coding Academy - Elementary School	TBD

Other Camps that we engage with:

Sanibel Sea School

Elementary/Middle STEM at IMAG

Super Science and Amazing Art Camps

Conservancy of Southwest Florida Summer Camp

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Teachers on the Estuary

Forensic Anthropology Outreach
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Marine Science Field Trips - Vester Field Station
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Nature Walks on the FGCU Campus
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The Whitaker Center can coordinate nature walks through campus with an FGCU naturalist for school groups interested in visiting the campus. Contact our office to arrange a visit to hike campus trails, tour the Food Forest, and slough slog the swamps!

For more information, please contact Campus Naturalists.

Patricia Krupp - pkrupp@fgcu.edu
Aquatic Systems and Mosquito Control
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Aquatic Systems and Mosquito Control (Grades K, 5th, 7th, and High School)

The Lee County Mosquito Education (LCME) Program is a cooperative effort between the Whitaker Center, Lee County Mosquito Control District, and the Lee County School District. It provided STEM outreach to over 700 classes in the school district reaching over 16,000 students. Programs are conducted in collaboration with classroom teachers and are designed for students in kindergarten, 5th grade, 7th grade, and high school chemistry and biology classes. These environmental science programs support Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in a variety of areas. Films, readings, slide programs, discussions, art activities and lab experiences are utilized to teach the objectives of each unit. For more information or to schedule a visit, see mosquitoed.com.

Contact: Andrea Miller, Education Coordinator - amiller@lcmcd.org andrealmi@leeschools.net (239-694-2174)

SunChase Solar Challenge

Wondering how you can sponsor this event and get involved? Contact the Whitaker Center at 239-590-7444

SunChase 2023
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High School Solar Go-Kart Challenge

In 2013 Dr. Joe Simmons, the first Backe Chair for Renewable Energy at FGCU, had a vision to develop area high school student interest in engineering and renewable energy technologies through a solar go-kart competition held on campus. Since that first year the FGCU Faculty, Students, and Staff have worked hard to host and promote this event, and we hope to continue to work with each of you to continue to improve SunChase every year!

Race date: April 1, 2023

Registration deadline: March 1, 2023

Registration Cost: $500 per team

All teams must have a signed agreement and waiver to participate. Waivers can be found in the SunChase resources below.

Register Here
SunChase Resources
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Needed From All Student Participants: General Participation Acknowledgement/Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk

For technical questions, please contact
- Dr. Derek Lura, Associate Professor of Bioengineering – dlura@fgcu.edu
- Julie Rose, Engineering Outreach Specialist – jrose@fgcu.edu
For registration-related questions, please contact
- Debbie Boucher, Administrative Assistant - deboucher@fgcu.edu
- Dr. Heather Skaza-Acosta, Interim Whitaker Center Director - hskaza-acosta@fgcu.edu

Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS)

GEMS students Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (GEMS) is a hands-on program dedicated to promoting science education for all regional middle school students by enthusiastic professionals and undergraduates as facilitators and role models in a supportive environment. GEMS provides a launching pad to develop an early interest in engineering, math, and science as an impetus to higher education and highly-skilled careers. Previous activities have included bioengineering, chemistry, biological science, biotechnology, forensics, astronomy, math, civil engineering and environmental science.

Our next GEMS Event will take place on April 15th 9:00am -12:30pm with check-in beginning at 8:30am.

Registration is provided on a first come, first served basis with priority given to first time participants. You will receive a confirmation email after you register online. We cannot guarantee space as the event fills up quickly.

Registration is now closed. Please check back to register for our next GEMS event on April 15th.

A special thank you to present and past sponsors including Dr. Bert Holmes and AAUW Fort Myers/Lee County. We would also like to thank the dedicated teachers, FGCU students and faculty who have helped to make this program great for our middle school students.

We are actively seeking GEMS financial sponsors for the future events. Contact the Whitaker Center Director, Dr. Heather Skaza Acosta (hskaza-acosta@fgcu.edu) if you or your company would like to sponsor: 239-590-7444

Information about GEMS
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What is the Program?
This half-day event encourages all middle school students to engage in hands-on activities related to engineering, math and science.
Where is the program going to be held?
All activities will be held on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus in Fort Myers on the first floor of Whitaker Hall.
When will the next program be held?
The next event will be announced about 1 month in advance.
Does the program cost anything?
This program is FREE to all participants. Registration is required and parent permission is collected in writing.
Who will be in the program?
Middle school students (grades 6-8) from our local community will interact with FGCU STEM majors and faculty during the event.
What do I wear?
Comfortable clothes that you would wear each day to school.
What will happen?
Students will engage in two hands-on activities in a STEM area developed and led by FGCU faculty and student assistants.
Do my parents/guardians need to be there?
No. All activities are supervised by university personnel.
How do I get there?
Each participant will need to arrange her transportation to and from the FGCU campus. Registration runs from 8:30-9:00 am and the program begins after registration is completed (around 9:00AM) and ends at 12:30PM.

Watch a video from one of our events

View pictures from GEMS events

Summer Research Opportunity

Middle School
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For over a decade, the Whitaker Center for STEM Education has sponsored a two week event for middle school students interested in STEM.

To be eligible for this program, students must have participated in their regional science fair. The is available application through the Edison Fairs website.

We offer a hands-on experience of collaboration on a complete and genuine research problem from hypothesis generation and initial design, through field and laboratory data collection, culminating in data analysis and interpretation.

The SRO program is staffed by FGCU faculty and Student Assistants and takes place each summer. This years SROactivity is sponsored by the Daitch Family Foundation. SRO will take place July 18-29, 2022 and the topic will be microbiology and molecular biology. The deadline for consideration has been extended until April 30, 2022.

Flyer

Sponsored by the Daitch Family Foundation

July 18-29, 2022 | 8:30AM -1:30PM | Mon-Fri | Whitaker Hall

Microbes: What is Life?

Regional Science fair participants are invited to join us for this special two-week event with microbiologist, Dr. Kimberly James! Students will work in microbiology laboratories studying our tiniest friends and foes.

For additional information, please call 239-590-7444 or email whitakercenter@fgcu.edu

Apply online by April 22, 2022 | https://edisonfairs.org/sro-application/

Your school is neither endorsing nor sponsoring this event nor endorsing the views of FGCU.
High School
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- For Summer 2022, we will only be able to offer the Middle School SRO.

STEM Institute

At the Schulze Summer STEM Institute for Teachers Workshop for K-12 educators, participants will be immersed in the research-based practice of writing and facilitating engaging inquiry-based STEM activities focusing on the SW Florida environment. Inquiry-based pedagogies have been shown to improve student engagement, comprehension, and retention. The workshop infuses technology into the week and incorporates field instruction. FGCU faculty from the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences and Conservancy Staff bring a balance of expertise to you during the workshop week.

The Schulze Summer STEM Institute for Teachers will take place during the week of July 18-22. See application below for details.

Apply here

The Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU takes a systemic approach to enhancing and reforming STEM education by providing professional development opportunities for K-12 educators, conducting research in STEM teaching and learning, developing innovative curricula, resources, and materials, developing and supporting programs for students, and building strong community partnerships.

The Schulze Summer STEM Institute for Teachers workshops are developed through collaboration between the Conservancy of Southwest Florida education staff, Whitaker Center FGCU faculty associates, Vester Marine Field Station, and Lehigh Elementary STEM faculty.

The Schulze Summer STEM Institute for Teachers connects real-world environmental research with evidence-based, hands-on instruction.

Since 2013, the STEM Institute has worked with over 200 K-12 teachers from the five county area and beyond!

Summer camps are also offered at the Conservancy. Your child/children could experience the wildlife of southwest Florida through outdoor adventures, field trips, and nature discoveries, all while you attend our workshop.