August 20, 2021
After a summer full of immersive and engaging in-person STEAM programming, After the Peanut remains dedicated to providing an amazing experiences and teaching valuable STEAM skills throughout the year. Summer STEAM Camp covered a span of topics such as coding, robotics, forensics, art and drama. Each week of camp also included inspiring visits from STEAM professionals, and Lewis University students and faculty. Although, the 2021 Summer STEAM Camp has come to a close, campers will remember their weekly engagement with Lewis University faculty and on and off campus field trips for a lifetime.Students and parents raved about the camp and are anticipating the next STEAM opportunity with After the Peanut.
Besides engaging with students and faculty from Lewis University, campers also had the opportunity to see the STEAM and other lessons they were learning through real world and immersive field trips. Campers went to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm to learn more about food science, The Forge Adventure Park to see how physics comes into play when building obstacle courses. Other trips, like the Strickler Planetarium or the Old Joliet Prison, showed students how they can also study science, history and other concepts while learning about STEAM. Many of the campers also learned about glass blowing for the first time on a field trip to a Sue Regis Glass Art.
Mentors and other professionals also played a great part in the Summer STEAM Camp experience. Mentors included Pro Athlete Chef and Trainer Arron Sain, Master Chef Junior Champion Jasmine Stewart, Veteran Golf Expert Craig Bowen, STEM Education Speaker Kantis Simmons, STEM Swag Box CEO Temple Lester, Financial Planners Kevin Swan and Robert Johnson and Dr. Marilyn Griffith of Aetna Healthcare.
During Entrepreneurship week, guest judges included included Dawn McCarty, Manager of the Midland States Bank Branch, Pepe Sanchez, owner of Ta Canijo Restaurant, Gideon Blustein, Director of Member Outreach for the Illinois Realtors Association, and Pete Colarelli, Midwest Public Affairs Manager of Exxon Mobil with remarks given by the Mayor of Lockport, Steven Streit.
Summer STEAM Camp would not have been as successful without great partnership with Lewis University, Dr. Jennifer Buntin the Director of the Center for Community Research and Education as well as donations generously given by Target, Game Stop and Home Depot in Shorewood, Ill. as well as Jewel in Plainfield, Ill.
While the 2021 STEAM Summer Camp is over, an immersive and engaging camp experience will still be possible this fall! After the Peanut is proud to announce their STEAM Club which will include virtual and in-person STEAM programming and opportunities! One of the first in-person opportunities will Saturday STEAM days at Lewis University. For more information and to join the club, visit afterthepeanut.com or call (800) 955-6816.
##
Inspired by George Washington Carver, After the Peanut was founded in 2014 and opened its STEM Center in 2018. The company focuses on the power of knowledge and education in the face of adversity and challenges. Their goal is to transform communities by increasing educational opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM. You can follow After the Peanut on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter @afterthepeanut or visit afterthepeanut.com for more information.
