It's not often that high school students get a chance to see and work with stem cells.  However, select Wisconsin high school students and teachers can now have such an opportunity, thanks to Summer Science Camp.  SSC is hosted by WiCell, a non-profit stem cell research institute and home of the National Stem Cell Bank.  Sound interesting?  Consider signing up for the 3rd annual Summer Science Camp, held Monday July 13- Thursday, July 16th at and around the UW-Madison campus.

WiCell will invite a total of 5 schools (4 students and 1 teacher form each school). This is an all expense paid camp (except for transportation to and from your school/home to the UW Madison campus).  Attending teachers are also awarded 1 graduate level credit (paid for by WiCell). A camp flier that you can distribute to your students is attached for more information to share with students.

Once you reserve a spot at the camp, WiCell will send you study materials related to stem cell science, as well a template of 25 quiz questions. This quiz is for teachers to help pick student attendees and can be used at your discretion.  Students will also have to write a 2 page essay as to why they would like to attend the camp and their ideas about the future of stem cell research.  The essay is required for attendees, as we will be awarding two cash prizes ($100 & $50) to the two best essays. Based on the quiz and the essay, you will be picking 4 students. We recommend that these students be incoming seniors (although we have had some exceptionally bright juniors as well).  The camp is geared toward students and teachers in biology/anatomy/life science disciplines, with special emphasis on school districts who lack the funds or resources to otherwise participate in this type of event.

A link to our Summer Science Camp video that you and your students may enjoy is included below.

http://www.wicell.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=8&Itemid=155

Spots for schools will be filling up quickly, so please let me if you and your students are interested, as soon as you can.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Tanya Zimmerman
Education Outreach, WiCell
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Phone: (608)617-6266
Email: tzimmerman@wisc.edu