Welcome to the final day of Bard Math CAMP 2024!
The day kicked off with a memorable moment as all CAMPers gathered in their Bard Math CAMP 2024 T-shirts for a group photo. This snapshot captured the spirit and camaraderie that had built up over the week, creating a lasting memory for everyone involved. The excitement was palpable as everyone beamed with pride, commemorating their week of hard work and learning. After the photo, CAMPers filed upstairs for their final Math Classes of the week.
In Japheth’s Cosine Math Class, CAMPers dove head first into the world of star polygons. They completed their scatter projects, showcasing their understanding of complex mathematical concepts through creative presentations. Once finished, they moved on to creating their own star polygons, some expanding the ideas of what a star polygon could be, honing their creative and geometric boundaries.
The class also delved into the inscribed angles theorem, with a special focus on an isosceles triangle proof guided by Mason. This blend of hands-on activities and theoretical learning made for an enriching final session. The challenge of constructing massive star polygons fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills among CAMPers, leaving them with a profound sense of accomplishment.
Frances’ Sine Math Class began with cube nets, challenging CAMPers to hone their visualization skills and mentally determine which nets could form cubes. This exercise sharpened their spatial reasoning abilities and deepened their understanding of geometric properties. The CAMPers then used Zometools to create Archimedean polyhedra, constructing more complicated 3D models. This activity not only tested their geometric knowledge but also their patience and teamwork. As they built more models, they learned how adding faces impacts the angle degrees, further deepening their understanding of geometric principles.
In the afternoon, CAMPers had lunch provided by Parkhurst Dining, and spent their afternoons in a variety of different electives:
CAMPers continued exploring breadboards in Intro to Circuits, gaining confidence in their ability to explain how they worked to Yulia and Shaylen. This activity reinforced their understanding and comfort with circuitry concepts. They also experimented with more complex circuit designs, learning about the impact of resistance and voltage on their projects.
In Art Class, CAMPers created fun photo booth props for their group photos, adding a playful touch to their final day memories. They designed and decorated props that reflected their individual personalities and experiences from the week, making the photo session even more enjoyable.
Frances guided CAMPers back to the Zometools in her Polyhedra Class to create even more complex polyhedra for the Open House. This session allowed CAMPers to showcase the advanced geometric models they had learned to construct. They marveled at the intricate structures they were able to build, applying their knowledge of Euler’s formula and other geometric principles.
In Shoshi’s Art Class, CAMPers busied themselves with finishing projects from the week. They put the final touches on their circuits, completed the massive magic cube, and crafted intricate origami pieces for the Open House. This creative flurry ensured that all their hard work was ready to be showcased to family and friends. The atmosphere was one of joyful collaboration, as CAMPers shared ideas and techniques, enhancing each other’s projects. Shoshi’s guidance helped them see the connections between art and mathematics, highlighting the beauty of geometric design in their creations.
Yulia’s Computer Science Class saw CAMPers applying all the skills they had learned throughout the week to create intricate tessellations with NetLogo. This final project allowed them to demonstrate their coding prowess and creativity, culminating in beautiful, mathematically complex designs. CAMPers explored the use of sliders and repeat commands to automate the creation of polygons, enhancing the complexity of their tessellations. Yulia’s encouragement and expertise helped them push the boundaries of their coding abilities, resulting in impressive and unique patterns.
At 3:00PM, the Bard Math CAMP team was thrilled to welcome families to the Open House, where they had the opportunity to revel in the CAMPers’ hard work and accomplishments from the week. As families explored the various displays, they were greeted by a vibrant showcase of intricate tessellations, complex polyhedra, slideshows, and creative art projects. The pride and excitement on the CAMPers’ faces were matched by the admiration and amazement of their families. It was a joyous occasion, filled with enthusiastic explanations, demonstrations, and heartfelt moments of recognition. The team was immensely proud to see the CAMPers confidently presenting their projects and sharing the knowledge and skills they had gained.
This celebration of learning and creativity was the perfect culmination of a remarkable week at Bard Math CAMP. From learning complex mathematical theories to creating intricate art projects and building lasting friendships, Bard Math CAMP 2024 was a resounding success. The CAMPers’ enthusiasm, curiosity, and determination made this week truly special. We hope the skills and memories forged here will inspire these young minds for years to come. Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary experience! We look forward to seeing what our CAMPers will achieve in the future, armed with the knowledge and confidence they gained this week.
It was a pleasure to blog for you all – have a great rest of your summer! – Jaelyn Quilizapa