Gallaudet is encouraging deaf and hard of hearing youth to get involved in STEM. This past June, the Discover College and Careers (DC²) in STEM summer camp gave high schoolers a chance to explore their interest in growing career fields.
DC² in STEM was one of several summer camps hosted by Gallaudet’s Youth Programs. The weeklong curriculum exposed participants to different STEM careers and helped them develop a plan for pursuing their interests in the future. During the week, campers from DC² in STEM and a more general Discover College and Careers (DC²) program gathered for career exploration activities.
At Gallaudet, STEM goes beyond technical disciplines. Our academic programs emphasize Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health (STAMP). Each DC² in STEM session was led by Gallaudet faculty and staff members using American Sign Language (ASL). The format made STEM topics accessible for deaf and hard of hearing students, and exposed the campers to successful deaf adults in the STEM field.
“Programs like DC² provide deaf and hard of hearing students with opportunities to explore their futures in an environment where communication is fully accessible and where they can connect with peers who share similar experiences,” says Outreach Manager Chanel Bonheyo, ’13. “By providing exposure to higher education, career exploration, and successful role models, DC² helps students build confidence, expand their aspirations, and make informed decisions about their futures.”
The science of life
On June 22, 14 high schoolers from around the United States arrived on the Gallaudet campus for DC² in STEM. As they got settled, they engaged in a variety of icebreaker activities to get to know each other.
Camp Coordinator Todd Bonheyo, ’16, welcomed the campers. “We had a wonderful group of students,” Bonheyo says. “They were all curious, motivated, and charismatic, and they came eager to learn. Their enthusiasm and willingness to participate made this year’s camp rewarding.”
The schedule for the week exposed the students to a variety of STEM fields and activities. Says Bonheyo, “We tried to create a balance among the different STEM disciplines, even though there are many more fields than we could cover in one week. By connecting students with Deaf STEM professionals and hands-on experiences, we can help them see that these careers are attainable.”
The first full day of academic sessions was highlighted by a boat trip on the Anacostia River. The campers were treated to a short tour by an experienced guide who described the biology of the river. As the guide explained the importance of river conservation, they identified a variety of flora and fauna along the way.
Later in the week, the campers continued learning about biology in sessions led by Dr. Alicia Wooten, a professor in Gallaudet’s Biology program. Dr. Wooten is also the Co-Founder of Atomic Hands, a pioneering resource that makes STEM accessible.
Dr. Wooten’s first session, “The Great Campus Tree Hunt”, connected campers with greenery on the Gallaudet grounds. The students learned how to identify trees by bark, leaves, and flowers. Then, they explored the campus to search for tree species. The campers identified Sakura cherry blossoms, which bloom in the spring. They also found Autumn Gold Ginkgos, Red Maples, Purple Leaf Plums, Scarlet Oaks, Willow Oaks, Eastern Redcedars, and more. Leaves collected from the trees they found were used to make cyanotype prints.
Later that day, everybody reconvened in the biology classroom for a microscopic adventure with Dr. Wooten. The campers used microscopes to study some of the microbes that are hidden in everyday life.
Hands-on learning
The week of DC² in STEM was filled with hands-on activities. On the second day of academic sessions, the campers continued their scientific education by learning how to make medicine in the Chemistry classroom. Dr. Adebowale Ogunjirin began by explaining how medicinal pills can be synthesized.
The students learned what makes medicine distinct from other chemical compounds, then prepared to make their own. Donning protective equipment, they added materials to a beaker, which was heated using professional-grade bunsen burners in the chemistry lab. At the end of the session, they compared the product of their experiment to traditional medicine.
Later that day, the campers practiced their engineering skills. Staff from Gallaudet’s Campus Design and Planning (CDP) led the group in a bridge-building exercise. The CDP team taught the campers about the concepts behind load-bearing engineering and gave an overview of bridge construction.
Sophia Stone, an Interior Designer & Space Analyst for CDP, was one of the instructors. “The kids were definitely curious and excited to start building the bridge. One student raised an interesting question: how does math apply to engineering or structural work? I explained that math is essential for understanding balance and the requirements for building safely and securely. I could see the light bulb go on in his eyes. ”
Using wooden sticks and glue, three student teams competed to see who could build the strongest bridge over an 18-inch span. Each team created their own unique design. Suspense filled the air as the students piled books one-by-one to test their bridges. The winning apparatus was able to hold over 10 textbooks worth of weight.
Later that week, the campers learned about AI game design from Mathematics professor Dr. Christopher Hayes, ’12. Dr. Hayes taught the group how to play Whist, a popular card game. Then, the campers used what they learned to develop instructions for an AI Whist player. The instructions were run through a simulation to see who developed the best strategy.
Ready for more
While the DC² in STEM curriculum centered on academic sessions, there was plenty of time for fun. The campers enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every day. In the evenings, staff hosted special activities like a tour of the National Mall in downtown D.C., swimming in the Gallaudet pool, and an ice cream social. On the final day, the group traveled to Kings Dominion, an amusement and water park in Virginia.
Before the campers left, they conducted career-related assessments and built a portfolio of their STEM work so far. As they left, they expressed more clarity about their futures in STEM. They also reflected on the connection they made with deaf peers and how much fun they had during the week.
Says Todd Bonheyo, “I hope the students realized that there are countless opportunities available to them in STEM. I also hope they enjoyed interacting with Deaf professionals who are successful in their fields and saw firsthand what is possible for their own futures. Most importantly, I hope they left seeing Gallaudet as a place where they can thrive after graduating from high school.”
“STEM fields are among the fastest-growing career paths,” Chanel Bonheyo says. “Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are underrepresented in many of these professions. Encouraging interest in STEM not only prepares students for future and academic opportunities but helps cultivate the next generation of deaf innovators, researchers, engineers, and technology leaders.”
Gallaudet Youth Programs hosts annual summer camps and other academic activities for deaf and hard of hearing youth. Visit the Youth Programs page to learn more.
