Summer camps introduce youths to careers in agriculture

June 5, 2009

Summer camps introduce youths to careers in agriculture

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As schools are letting out for the summer, some parents are looking for activities to keep their kids busy until school resumes in the fall. One option is Purdue University's Ag Discovery Camps, scheduled for June 7-12 and June 14-26.

The camps take place on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The June 7-12 camp is for middle school students in grades 7 and 8 who are interested in attending college, while the June 14-26 high school camp is for students in grades 9-11.

"Campers will have the chance to participate in activities, including extracting DNA from strawberries, creating biofuels, using chromatography to purify proteins, visiting a farmer's market, robotics," said camp organizer Myron McClure, a doctoral student in agriculture health and safety.

Besides activities on campus, the camps also feature field trips to the state capital, Dow AgroSciences, Fair Oaks Dairy and Indiana Beach.

During the middle school program, campers also will participate in some of the 4-H science workshops that will be held on campus June 10-12.

All students wishing to participate must have a GPA of at least 2.75 and obtain letters of recommendation.

"We hope that campers are able to attend this program and learn that agriculture is more than just about farming," McClure said. "There are many different careers to consider, as well as the amount of math, science, technology and engineering that is involved in the field of agriculture."

The cost to attend the camps is covered through scholarships sponsored by Purdue's College of Agriculture, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Programs; Purdue Agriculture Office of Multicultural Programs; the Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Dow AgroSciences; Tate & Lyle; and Mainscape Inc.

"These scholarships allow us to get a wide diversity of students interested in attending a one- or two-week camp, to learn more about agriculture and the aspects it has to offer besides just farming," said Pamala Morris, Purdue Agriculture assistant dean and director of Diversity Programs.

For information, contact McClure at 765-494-9586 or mcclure0@purdue.edu

Writer: Ashley Bechman, 765-494-8402, aabechma@purdue.edu

Sources: Myron McClure 765-494-5731, mcclure0@purdue.edu

Pamala Morris, 765-494-8293, pmorrise@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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