The School of Natural Resources hosted a weeklong Weather Camp that teaches students ages 11-15 about weather- and science-related topics that ran from June 9-13.
"I enjoy being surrounded by budding science nerds who love science as much as I do," said Ken Dewey, professor of climatology and camp director. "It is so nice to see them realize that there are other kids out there just like them."
The camp hosted 15 students who represented five states: Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Texas. They engaged in hands-on activities, field experiments, seminars, tours of research facilities and workshops that expanded their knowledge of atmospheric sciences, weather and forecast models and environmental instrumentation.
Weather campers traveled to the National Weather Service in Omaha to see weather forecasting in action, and visited Memorial Stadium to conduct the always-popular microclimate study of the facility.
UNL was invited to join the National Weather Camp Program in 2012. The program oversees a growing national weather camp network of more than 12 camps linked to the network and additional camps in the evolving pipeline. Dewey serves on the program's planning committee.
"Our mission is to encourage more students to pursue a career path in science," Dewey said. "SNR is ideally positioned with its focus on science curriculum to guide these high achieving students toward science."
Written by: Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources