At Rice University, a soccer ball can become a lesson in force and motion. A goal post can open the door to engineering design. A robot can help students see the connection between coding, teamwork and play.
That is the idea behind Rice STEM-Letics, a summer camp hosted by the university’s Center for STEM Engagement (R-STEM) and Rice Athletics that introduces students in grades three through five to science, technology, engineering and math through sports and hands-on activities. The program also provides extended care offered through the Rice Summer Youth Activity Program.
Now in its ninth year, the program brings together two areas that make Rice distinctive: its strength in STEM education and its athletic community. Campers spend part of the day in the classroom engaged in engineering, robotics and design challenges, and part of the day participating in athletic activities inside the Robert L. Waltrip Indoor Training Center, an 80,000-square-foot inflatable bubble giving them a chance to see how science shows up in motion, strategy, teamwork and the games they already enjoy.
“Because we combine athletics and STEM, the students get to see force, motion, energy and engineering in ways that feel real to them,” said Nancy Gealow, program administrator for R-STEM. “They are not just learning about these concepts in a classroom. They are building, moving, testing and seeing how it all connects.”
The camp opened June 8 at Rice Stadium, where Sammy the Owl greeted campers before they kicked off the week with FIFA-inspired STEM activities, giant inflatable soccer balls and a red-carpet welcome.
The first week’s theme is soccer. Students take part in Sphero activities, using programmable robotic balls, and then work in teams to design and build a soccer goal. Other activities throughout the camp include spaghetti tower challenges focused on engineering, visits from Rice premed students to discuss STEM and health and hands-on STEM kits.
For Gealow, what makes the program special is how naturally it connects abstract STEM concepts to something students can see, feel and experience.
“They may not know they are learning about kinetic energy or potential energy at first,” Gealow said. “They are using the robots, kicking the soccer ball and having a blast. Then we can stop and say, ‘When the ball was still, that was potential energy. When you kicked it, that became kinetic energy.’ Suddenly, the science makes sense because they just experienced it.”
That blend of fun and learning is at the heart of STEM-Letics. Campers are not simply told about force, motion or design, but rather they test those ideas by building, playing, failing, adjusting and trying again. That approach is especially powerful because the lessons feel less like schoolwork and more like discovery. Students are encouraged to work together, test ideas and learn from mistakes in a setting built around movement and play.
“Every summer, R-STEM hosts over 500 students in its K-12 summer programs,” said Debbie Heath, director of operations and marketing for R-STEM. “STEM-Letics is always one of the most sought-after programs and offers the perfect balance for parents looking to keep their children learning and physically active during the summer months.”
For the campers, the result is both energetic and memorable.
“I love that this camp combines athletics with STEM, so you can have fun with your friends inside and outside,” said Ernest Hunter, who is attending the camp for the third year in a row.
Charlotte Templeton, a first-year STEM-Letics camper, said she especially enjoyed the teachers and the soccer-themed activities offered throughout the day.
“I like creating and figuring out what will be the best way to make our soccer goal,” she said.
Gealow said the athletic side of the program helps every student find a way into the curriculum. While some campers may already love robotics or building challenges, others connect first through soccer, kickball or teamwork. Once they are engaged, the STEM concepts become easier to understand.
“STEM-Letics is an outstanding example of how Rice Athletics can help create meaningful opportunities for young people beyond the playing field,” said Tyler Muse, associate athletic director of external relations for Rice Athletics. “By combining the excitement of sports with hands-on STEM learning, the program encourages curiosity, teamwork and problem-solving while making a lasting impact on youth throughout our community. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing STEM-Letics continue to grow and inspire the next generation of students.”
“The kids love it,” Gealow added. “They get excited because they are active, they are working together and they are solving problems without always realizing how much they are learning.”
For some students, the camp is a week of fun with new friends. For others, it may spark a lasting interest in science and engineering — and perhaps even a future at Rice.