Teen girls learn to build Robots as part of the STEM Program

BALTIMORE - Students at Catholic High School of Baltimore found a unique and interesting way to spend their summer.  They are attending the Catholic High Robotics Camp.

Students are learning to put together a robot and program it.  On the final day of camp, student robots are tackling an obstacle course in a timed competition.

"I thought it was great.  I got to get a feel for what engineering is going to be like and how to program a little robot and make it do little things," said Jewel Oliver, freshman at Catholic High School of Baltimore.

"I thought it was absolutely amazing. We were given free reign of all the materials and computers.  They gave us the programs and said you have to figure this out on your own and good luck," said Sarah Nakasone, freshman at Catholic High School of  Baltimore.

The Robotics Camp is part of the STEM Program.  Education involving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  More than 20 young ladies entering their freshman year at the all girl Catholic High School attended the camp.

The girls signed up for a four year intensive program.

"I want them to feel empowered by the opportunity they have here at Catholic High and that they can as young women going forward be prepared for courses in college and the world of work beyond college," said Dr. Barbara Nazelrod, President of Catholic High School of Baltimore.

Some students have never had experience with robots.  In a matter of days, they assembled different configurations and programmed the robots.

Men outnumber women in all sectors of employment for science and engineering.  The girls are not discouraged by the low number of female interest in science.

"I've always been interested in it just because I saw my mom do it.  She was a nurse, but I also think its not a career girls go for.  Statistics show that only 27 percent of people that work in science and engineering are women and I think it is scary," said Nakasone.

This is the first year for the summer camp.  In the future, teachers want students to compete in regional and national robotic competitions.

Catholic High School is the only all-girl private high school offering the Robotic Camp.

Catholic High has provided a quality education for young women since 1939.