They get to learn 21st Century skills for 21st Century jobs.

In between, students who participate in Northern Lehigh School District’s STEAM Summer Camp appeared to have a real blast.

The camp was held this week Monday through Thursday, and will continue this coming Monday through Thursday at Slatington Elementary School.

Fifty-seven students attended the first-year camp, open to students of the district who are entering third through sixth grades in the 2018-2019 school year.

The camp provide students with student- centered, project-based, and inquiry-driven opportunities to investigate careers, conduct experiments, and expand their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

Students were able to do 3D printing, robotics, engineering, coding, rocketry, circuitry, visit the Da Vinci Center and more, according to STEAM camp director Tim Weaber, a computer science teacher at Slatington Elementary.

Like many of the students at the camp, sixth-grader Conner Simms said he was intrigued by all the different activities he could partake in.

“We like everything,” Conner said. “I like rocket-making, and trying to figure out the different kinds of technologies.”

Fifth-grader Kayden Novicki said he had his own reasons for liking the camp.

“Because we get to make food and rockets, and launch them,” Kayden said.

A few halls down, fifth-graders Olivia Schaeffer and Ariana Williams were busy tracking how far and how fast a car they pushed down a ramp would go.

Williams could hardly contain her excitement.

“We’re learning about engineering and working with your hands and working outside the box,” Ariana said. “Everybody’s so nice, and we’re having so much fun.”

As a result of an Education Improvement Tax Credit program, The Neffs National Bank allocated $20,000 to the Northern Lehigh Education Foundation to fund a new educational program.

The Neffs National Bank selected a grant proposal for the STEAM Summer Camp that was written by Slatington Elementary teachers.