Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
From growing plants and examining cells under microscopes to culturing bacteria and dissecting organisms, middle school students are discovering the excitement of science through South Texas College’s (STC) annual Biology Explorers Camp.
Designed to spark curiosity and introduce students to the many facets of biology, the weeklong camp gives participants hands-on experiences that bring science to life while encouraging them to explore future Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities.
“We want kids to be intrigued by science and biology,” said STC Biology faculty member Xiomara Galvan, who assists with the camp. “A lot of students come in thinking biology is boring or that they don’t like it. Our goal is for them to leave more interested in biology than when they arrived.”
Throughout the week, campers created self-sustaining ecosystems in jars, learned about plant life cycles, observed plant and animal cells under microscopes, cultured bacteria to understand the importance of cleanliness, completed dissections and explored microscopic organisms.
For Andrea Bustos, STC lab specialist II, the camp is about more than science lessons but about inspiring the next generation of scientists.
“I hope students leave inspired by science and have fun while they’re learning,” she said. “Opportunities like this expose them to different areas of science, from biotechnology to dissections and show them that there are many different paths they can pursue.”
Returning camper, Cecily Galle, said the camp has strengthened her interest in science and made her eager to continue learning about biology.
“I came back because I had a great time last year,” she said. “I like that we get to do experiments and learn something new every day. It’s made me enjoy biology a lot more.”
By combining engaging activities with real-world scientific exploration, the camp aims to build confidence, curiosity and a lasting appreciation for biology one experiment at a time.
Information source: STC
