Students from elementary and middle schools around Carbon County have been doing hands-on STEM and technology projects at summer camps held by Project SHINE.

Each year, the afterschool program holds two-week camps during summer vacation for its students, who range from grades K-8.

“We wanted to make sure to support the community with as many opportunities as we can,” said Rachel Strucko, SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education) director.

The camp for students in K-5 runs through Friday at L.B. Morris Elementary in Jim Thorpe. Students from nearly all of SHINE’s after-school programs across Carbon County - Palmerton has its own camp - were invited to attend.

The lessons include an egg drop and visits from animals led by the Carbon County Environmental Education Center - teaching the same STEM lessons that SHINE provides in its afterschool program. Students also receive free healthy breakfast and lunch.

“They’re outside, they’re getting messy. It’s a different atmosphere,” Strucko said.

A few blocks away from L.B. Morris, students in grades 6-8 have been getting an in-depth preview of the programs at Carbon Career and Technical Institute. They get to take home Yahtzee sets that they made themselves - metal dice from precision machining, 3D printed cups from drafting and design technology, and scorecards from marketing. In the culinary arts department they bake cookies and cakes, and help cook their own lunch.

Some of the students participate in SHINE’s Career Academy at CCTI during the school year, but others are just there to check out programs that they could pursue in high school.

“This is to open it to all students, so they can say ‘This is the route I want to choose in the future,’?” said Taryn Stewart, CCTI SHINE site coordinator.

SHINE also sponsors Jim Thorpe Rotary Summer Recreation Camp. The program runs throughout the summer and is open to students in grades 1-6 living in Jim Thorpe Area School District. It includes arts and crafts, games, nature walks and STEM activities. There is no cost thanks to sponsorship from the Jim Thorpe Rotary, Jim Thorpe Borough, Penn Forest Township, JTASD, local banks, the United Way, and the Jim Thorpe Lions.