Computer Science summer camp participants show off robots, computer games, websites and more at closing luncheon

	Camp participants Trevor Waldecker, with car, and Blake Pruneau, with trophy, show off their projects.

DETROIT (August 13, 2012) - Participants in the Wayne State University Department of Computer Science's summer camp program had the opportunity to show off what they learned to family and friends during a closing luncheon on July 26. The more than 80 students, ages 9-18, built electronic toys and robots, and programmed computer games, websites, animated videos and Android phone applications during the three-week camp.

"My son thoroughly enjoyed the camp experience," said Ginger Reynolds, whose son Cameron, a fifth-grade student at Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy in Detroit, attended the toys camp. "He wanted to try new things this summer and ended up really enjoying it. We both wish the camp was longer."

The closing ceremony began with lunch, followed by remarks from Farshad Fotouhi, dean of the College of Engineering, Seymour Wolfson, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science, and Sally Roberts, assistant professor in the College of Education.

Following remarks, each camp program demonstrated their projects and received certificates from their instructors, who are doctoral students in the Department of Computer Science.

Participants in the toys camp built electronic toys out of LEGOs that performed a variety of tasks, such as playing music, spinning and moving.

The robotics program participants also used LEGOs to create robotic devices, such as an alligator, cars and a working crane.

Participants in the gaming program displayed their work, which included several types of computer games, on a large screen.

The web technology program participants presented their multipage HTML websites, which covered numerous topics from history to soccer. One camper created a website for her mother's cup cake business.

The creation animation program was unable to show their work due to a technical problem, but the instructor described the animated movies and games that the participants created.

Participants in the Android app program finished the event by demonstrating their work, which included game apps, educational apps and skill building apps that work on an Android phone.

Pary Chahal, a participant in the Android app program and senior at International Academy East in Troy, Mich., said he entered the camp with little knowledge about app programming. "I learned a lot and, now that I know how it works, I can do more when I get home. There are endless possibilities."

Prior to the closing luncheon, 25 parents joined Dr. Roberts for a discussion. Parents shared information about their children's experiences as well as other resources and activities that support youth as they prepare for college.

"It is always exciting and rewarding to be able to facilitate conversations with parents," Roberts said. "The parents were unanimous in their support and enthusiasm for the computer science summer camp program and numerous parents had campers who were returning for a second year. The discussion with parents reinforced how valuable parents are as partners in preparing students for college and how important it is to keep them in the loop."

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 31,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.