Middle School STEM Summer Camp for Indigenous Students in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, and STEM Activities in State College, Pennsylvania

In June 2023, one faculty member and two undergraduate students in civil engineering at Pennsylvania State University collaborated with Ilisaġvik College to host the 2023 STEM Summer Camp in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. The 5-day camp accommodated 16 Indigenous Alaskan middle school students with the goal to foster the next generation in STEM careers in Arctic Alaska. The camp included hands-on, competitive activities and region-specific experimental activities. Trips to local research and cultural centers provided insight into STEM career opportunities. The camp piqued students’ interest in STEM subjects and STEM-related careers and equipped them with some foundational knowledge to advance their studies. In preparation for the 2024 STEM summer camp again in Utqiaġvik, the organizers partnered with a local middle school in State College, PA, to host a series of STEM activities. This paper presents these STEM activities, lessons learned, and areas for future improvement.