Click HERE to view the in-person Academy Camps that are being offered by Echelon Catapult at the Rancho Cordova Police Activities League this summer!
About PAL: The Rancho Cordova Police Activities League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds relationships between RCPD and youth through a variety of programs, at no cost to the kids. Echelon Catapult has partnered with the PAL to bring STEM-inclined PAL youth into our programs. EC will also be teaching four in-person STEM courses specifically for PAL students this summer, which include: Life on Planet Earth, Introduction to Python, Robotics, and Cybersecurity 101.
Each class’s capacity will be capped at about 30 students, so register now to secure your spot! (In all registration links, parents will have to sign up and create an account for each child. They will also have to sign a waiver and a medical release form.)
Introduction to Python
June 13-June 17 | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm | 6th-8th graders In Echelon Catapult’s Introduction to Python, students will learn the basics of one of the most popular programming languages in the world. This high-level language, which emphasizes easy readability, is perfect for beginners! Students will be writing a variety of their own programs using online resources such as the Online GDB compiler. They will build an understanding of basic programming techniques, variables, user input, logical statements, and loops. Python can be used for a variety of applications, including software engineering, data analysis, machine learning, and more. In addition, Python’s versatility also makes it a solid foundation for learning other computer languages. Join us for this hands-on class full of activities and exercises!
June 21-June 24 | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm | 6th-8th graders In Life on Planet Earth!, get ready to learn about ecology: the science of how all organisms on Earth interact with each other and the environment! Because ecology requires an understanding of multiple fields, students will first learn about how geology and the astronomy of the solar system leads to weather patterns on Earth. Then, we will explore how these weather patterns affect the occurrence of biomes and the biodiversity of living creatures. Students will practice population ecology through calculations and data analysis. Then students will examine communities and ecosystems as they research and create presentations about ecosystems and build their own miniature terrariums! The course will conclude by exploring and debating possible solutions to global warming, pollution, and deforestation, all of which are continually changing the face of the Earth. Click here for Life on Planet Earth link: www.rcpdpal.org/digital_forms/stem_program_earth_2022.php
Robotics
June 27-July 1 | 9:00 am-12:00 pm | 6th-8th graders In Robotics Engineering, you will develop the knowledge and skills to build a rotating servo robotic arm by the end of the course! You do not need any prior experience of robotics or engineering to participate! From engaging lectures to hands-on build activities, students will dive into the three interdisciplinary fields of robotics: mechanical, electrical, and programming. Click here for Robotics link: yet to come :)
Cybersecurity 101
June 27-July 1 | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm | 6th-8th graders In Cyber 101, you are a cybersecurity detective! Using open-source intelligence techniques, students will find personal and private information unintentionally leaked on the Internet, and learn how to protect their own. Navigating different social media sites, they will explore authentication, encryption, PPI (Personal Private Information), and malware. Students will then use these offensive techniques and dive headfirst into defensive measures of security: ciphers and cryptography, password cracking, and digital forensics. The final day of the workshop will be a competitive and engaging scavenger hunt, requiring a fun application of the skills learned in the course! This hands-on workshop, with various skills-based activities, is guided by Jesuit High School and St. Francis High School’s Cybersecurity Teams.