Rocky Mtn. summer program combines technology, creativity and innovation

Students at Rocky Mountain Middle/High School will have several opportunities this summer to explore photography, engineering, robotics and advanced mathematics through a series of hands-on enrichment programs supported by the federally funded Boost program and hosted by Big Horn School District No. 1. 

The program, titled “Create & Captivate: A Summer of Innovation,” is open to students in grades 6-12 and is designed to give students real-world experiences while developing creativity, problem-solving skills and technology expertise. Activities will take place at Rocky Mountain Middle/High School throughout June and July.

Principal Betsy Sammons emphasized that the summer activities are part of the school’s broader summer school efforts, with Boost providing supplemental support.

“What we’re doing this year for summer school is a Jump Start math program and enrichment opportunities for students,” Sammons said. “Boost supports that, and Skye Mader is leading the enrichment portion for our middle school program.”

One of the unique aspects of the program is the variety of experiences available. Rather than traditional classroom instruction, students will spend their mornings creating, exploring and solving problems.

The first session focuses on photography. Students will travel to the Big Horn Mountains to photograph wildlife, landscapes and natural ecosystems before returning to school to learn digital editing techniques.

“During this camp, students will become photographers, scientists and storytellers,” said technology teacher Mader. “Their goal is to document the ecosystems of the Big Horn Mountains while learning how living things, water, land and people are connected within a biosphere.

“The underlying theme will be the biosphere. That is the LEGO challenge theme this year, so we are going to pull from that to get a head start on research.”

Students interested in engineering and design will have the opportunity to participate in the 3-D printing session. During the program, students will identify a real-world problem, design a solution and then create a prototype using the school’s 3-D printers.

The final enrichment session introduces students to robotics and coding concepts while also exposing them to the types of challenges used in LEGO League competitions.

“We will do some activities based on last year’s models, set up programming and review the research we gathered through the summer,” Mader said.

In addition to the enrichment activities, Rocky Mountain will also offer a Jump Start mathematics program coordinated by math teacher Justin Moss.

The program is designed for students who are ready for accelerated mathematics coursework and want additional preparation before the school year begins.

“This accelerated math pathway is designed for students who are ready for increased rigor and provides opportunities to complete advanced mathematics coursework earlier in their academic career,” Moss said. “Students who successfully remain on this pathway may have opportunities to earn additional college credits during high school and gain access to weighted GPA courses that can strengthen college and scholarship applications.”

To help students succeed, the summer program will focus on building foundational skills before classes begin in the fall.

“Participation is not required; however, students who attend will receive additional support and skill development that can help them be successful in the program,” Moss said. “We are excited to offer this opportunity and believe students have the potential to be successful in this challenging and rewarding mathematics program.”

Together, the photography, 3-D printing, robotics and mathematics opportunities represent a growing effort to expose students to modern technology and career pathways while keeping learning engaging and hands-on.

Whether students are photographing mountain wildlife, designing solutions on a computer, programming robots or preparing for advanced mathematics courses, Rocky Mountain educators hope the summer experiences will help students build confidence, curiosity and skills that will serve them well in the years ahead.