CNN.com has recently posted articles concerning the reduction in the number of teachers, administrators and support staff expected in many area school districts due to the end of the Federal Stimulus monies. Local school districts will be forced to make deeper cuts while exploring other funding sources—i.e., more taxes. If you add the continuing focus on PSSAs as the driving impetus for the daily school curriculum, it is easy to see that any outside or unrelated extracurricular activity will be a victim of the financial cutbacks.

As a response to these pending changes, the Weatherly Institute for Robotics and Engineering will co-host a series of immersion engineering camps. The focus, while differing from camp to camp, will be on giving young people an outlet and a pathway to exploring the sciences and technologies that drive our lives.

These camps offer children, ages 9 to 16 years, a chance to explore such topics as robotics, aerospace engineering, alternative energy engineering, nanotechnology and electronics.

From Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, the kids and, yes their parents, will be given the opportunity to "get their hands dirty" and learn the basics of these technologies. They will have a chance to learn with kids from other areas, using the materials needed to perform the engineering tasks.

The Institute only asks for costs to cover the food for the weekend. The cost of camp activities is supported by corporate sponsorship and individual donations.

Our first camp is scheduled from May 21, beginning with 6 p.m. check in, through May 23, ending at 1 p.m., and will focus on robotics. Preregistration is required.

These camps may be the key that unlocks the future for your child and the future of our society as a whole.

For further information, please call Stephen Kew-Goodale at 570-401-7813.