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Winter 2026 | Volume 33, Number 1
GVSU K-12 Summer STEM Camps
STEPs - Day Camp
Science Technology & Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) Camp is a day-camp preview of science, engineering and technology for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Campers manufacture and assemble a radio-controlled airplane with the assistance of counselors and volunteers. By the end of the week, the campers fly their airplanes at a sanctioned fly field, with the help of certified pilots.
Camp Details
Location: Shape Corp. Innovation Design Center
GVSU City Campus | Grand Rapids
Dates: Week 1 is June 15-18, 2026 and Week 2 is June 22-25, 2026
Cost: $150, Scholarships available for qualifying famlies
Contact: Makenzie Meyer [email protected] | (616) 331-6042, Allison Sall [email protected]
Click here to Learn More!
Forage 2 Farm - Day Camp
This four-day immersive STEM camp will provide emerging 6th, 7th & 8th grade students with lasting experiences in foraging and sustainable agriculture. Through hands-on activities with an experienced forager & environmental educator, students gain skills in plant identification, foraging, and wildcrafting. The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) is a student lead farm here at GVSU, where campers will meet with our farmers to learn the issues that farmers are facing such as pest control, soil nutrition, & pollination, and how technology can support solutions to these problems. Throughout camp, campers will meet industry professionals, take tours and examine what it means to follow a career in food science, agriculture, environmental science, and more!
Camp Details
Location: GVSU Allendale Campus
Dates: June 29th - July 2nd
Cost: $90, Scholarships available for qualifying families
Contact: Jess Sudy | Regional Math & Science Center [email protected]
Click here to Learn More!
Advanced Manufacturing - Day Camp
This summer camp is a four-day hands-on immersive STEM experience for students entering 6th and 7th (this fall) in advanced manufacturing and careers. Students participate in a large group & smaller breakout session facilitated by GVSU staff, students, and industry professionals from around West Michigan. Activities include hands-on activities in CAD, 3-D Printing, Design Thinking, and Automation that will provide a glimpse into the future of the largest industry sector in Michigan.
Camp Details
Location: Siedman College of Business
Grand Rapids, MI
Dates: July 13-16, 2026
Cost: $150, Scholarships available for qualifying families
Contact: Jess Sudy | Regional Math & Science Center [email protected]
Click here to Learn More!
STEM Opportunities for College Students & Community Members
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SCIENCE! On Tap
April 9th, 2026 Topic
Strange Fire Indeed:
Psychotropic Substances in the Religion of Ancient Israel
Science on Tap! Brings science out of the lab and into the lounge. Join Dr. Jonathan Greer, visiting professor in GVSU’s Anthropology Department, for his talk “Strange Fire Indeed: Psychotropic Substances in the Religion of Ancient Israel.”
Dr. Greer is an archaeologist and biblical scholar, Associate Director of excavations at Tel Dan, Israel, whose research explores ancient Israelite religion through archaeology and the ancient Near East. Science on Tap features a different expert and topic each month, creating space for conversation and curiosity in a relaxed setting at the SpeakEZ Lounge, complete with great food, drinks, and engaging discussion.
Location: SpeakEZ lounge 600 Monroe Ave. NW 49503
Frequency: Second Thursday of every month at 8 p.m.
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
GVSU Career & Internship Fair
Feb 19th, 2026 | 1pm - 5pm
GVSU Winter 2025 Career & Internship Fair
DeVos Place Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A
See the schedule on our site and other events the GVSU Career Center has coming up.
Click here to learn more!
Attention International Students!
Summer Engineering Experience
June 22nd - July 1st, 2026
Looking for a Grand adventure this summer? The Padnos College of Engineering invites you to an on-campus, residential summer camp for international undergraduate engineering students. A hands-on, design & build, project-based learning experience, paired with cultural exploration and community engagement. What a Grand difference ten days in West Michigan can make! Click Here To Learn More!
Engineering Scholarship Program GVSU
Sept 16th, 9am - 3pm
The Padnos College of Engineering received a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to remove financial barriers and create academic support systems for students to earn engineering degrees.
Over the course of the grant, 24 students who are academically talented and demonstrate financial need will receive scholarships averaging $15,000 per year for up to five years. The grant begins in January with recruitment of students who will start in the Fall 2026 semester.
Once admitted into the program, students will attend a four-week residential bridge camp next summer and engage in a year-long, faculty-led program that includes collaborative technical projects and professional development workshops.
Adebayo Ogundipe, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering, said the grant will provide students with financial, academic and social support throughout their degree program.
"This grant will allow high-achieving students who might have thought an engineering degree was out of their reach to step into a career in which they will have an immediate impact on their communities," Ogundipe said. "I applaud the faculty members behind this grant for their work and for developing support and resources for these students."
Questions? Email [email protected]
Upcoming Events For Teachers
Teach For Climate Justice: Book Study
Registration For Winter Sessions Now Open & Completely Free!
Learn More at https://www.teachforclimatejustice.org/
Creating A Culture of Climate Justice: With Subject to Climate Michigan
Free Virtual PLO
Feb 2nd, 2026 | 4:30pm -6:00pm
This interactive workshop will feature a brief guided tour of the Michigan Climate Education Hub that will highlight Michigan-specific resources, teacher guides and cross-curricular connections. Participants will also explore strategies for integrating climate education into daily instruction and class routines to build justice-centered, place-based lessons that will lead students to action.
RVSP: Click here to register and learn more!
Questions: Email [email protected]
Math In Action Conference!
Feb 28th, 2026 | 8:00am
Math in Action presents lively and informative discussions of current issues in mathematics education while providing an opportunity for practicing Pre-K to 12 teachers, prospective teachers, curriculum directors, and college and university faculty to share ideas, concerns, and resources. The conference includes six hour-long sessions with options for each grade range in each session.
Location:
In-Person (Includes Lunch), Mackinac Hall, GVSU Allendale Campus
Virtual: Register here
Cost:
Choices to register and early-bird registration rates (until January 30):
In-Person (Includes lunch)
$50 regular
$40 recent college graduate: 2022 or later
$30 undergraduate or graduate student
$30 first time attending a Math in Action conference
Online via Zoom (remote participant - only some sessions will be available online
$20 online via Zoom
Click here to register & learn more about Math In Action Conference!
Thank You for Supporting the InterChange!
Thank you to those who completed our survey. We will be implementing those changes in our next issue released in Spring 2026!
Submit to the InterChange
Be Part of the Legacy, Submit to the InterChange
There are some InterCHANGES going on with our newsletter. We are looking for submissions around the following topics.
- MSO Region 12: Ottawa, Kent, & Muskegon Counties.
- K-12 STEM Lessons & Resources.
- GVSU Faculty & Departments Looking to Collaborate with K-12 teachers or other faculty & vice versa.
- GVSU Faculty, Department & Local Educator Professional Work Highlights.
Of course we are still accepting submissions for STEM articles & events!
2025-2026 Submission Deadlines:
- Fall 2025-September issue: September 3rd, 2025
- Winter 2026-January issue: December 14th 2025
- Spring 2026 -April issue: March 7th, 2026
- Summer 2026 -June issue: May 9th, 2026
- Fall 2026 - September issue: September 13th, 2026
Do you have an article you would like to submit to the InterChange?
Submit it here.
