Parents looking for fun and educational activities for their children to take part in this summer are invited to consider Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academies being offered by the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

Registration is currently underway, and spaces are available in all of the programs. This year's offerings include a STEM Exploration Camp for youths ages 10 and 11 and Science and Medical Discovery for youths ages 12 and 13 from Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 15. Healthcare Explorers will be offered for students ages 14 and 15 on Monday, July 18, through Friday, July 22.

A two-week camp, Medical Excursion, will be offered for youths ages 15 and 16 from July 18 to 22 and from Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29. The final camp, Girls Exploring BioMedical Engineering, will be offered from July 25 to July 29 for girls ages 14 to 16.

Each academy will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All students will receive scrubs to wear during their academy; the Medical Excursion students will receive a white coat. This year, classes are being held at the CCEDC office, 737 Constitution Drive, Exton. The two-week Medical Excursion Academy will also include field trips to various Chester County medical facilities.

This is the third year that the CCEDC is offering the program, according to Tracey Oberholtzer, IP events and STEM programs manager. "It's really an intensive dive into STEM-based activities, but it's very fun - fun with a purpose," she said.

All of the academies will provide hands-on activities. In the health care-related programs, students will learn to use medical tools such as a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds, an otoscope to examine the ears and a sphygmomanometer to take blood pressures. They will also cover topics such as first aid and veterinary science. Some students will take part in a forensics scavenger hunt, where they will learn about DNA, hair samples and fingerprints.

Oberholtzer noted that this is the first time that the STEM Exploration Camp is being offered for younger students. "(Previously) the youngest group was Science and Medical Discovery for ages 12 and 13, (but) we were finding that younger siblings (were also interested)," said Oberholtzer. "We decided to add the camp because kids that age are already exploring careers and already are interested in STEM. We wanted to give them an overview of all the activities of STEM and get them excited about what they can do in that field."

The academy instructors are experienced in various STEM fields. "We reach out to contacts within our partnership who are specialists in health care, technology, manufacturing, agriculture and clean energy to lead the classes," Oberholtzer explained. "(Participants) can see the real-world application for what they are learning in the classroom."

Class size is limited. Youths do not have to be residents of Chester County to participate. For more information and to register, visit http://www.steminnovationpa.org/summeracademies. Readers of the Community Courier and Chester County townlively who use the code COURIER2022 will receive a discount.