The Plank Institute Summer Science Camp is a one-week residential camp August 3-8, 2008 for middle school students entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade in the fall of 2007. The Plank Institute "Science is Cool" camp is an intensive lab and field experience where middle school students will be introduced to the fascinating world of science through "hands-on" research projects and laboratory demonstrations. In this program, the campers will not just be hearing about science, but will be actually "doing science" in a way that highlights the fun and excitement of biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and math.

Science is so much more than the boring memorization of numerous scientific facts. At the Plank Institute, campers will be exposed to the scientific process in ways that motivate, challenge, and excite them. Through demonstrations, skills training, and research projects, campers will have the opportunity to be an active participant in the scientific process as opposed to a passive observer.

The Plank Institute gives campers a chance to work in state-of-the-art university research laboratories, be guided by real scientists as they perform a research project, and be mentored by undergraduate students majoring in science. By the time campers leave this program they will have developed actual scientific skills, expanded their knowledge, and developed a better understanding of how awesome and fun a career in research and science can be.