STEAM Camp

The engineering sector is facing a significant talent shortage, with the U.S. requiring approximately 400,000 new engineers annually. Alarmingly, one-third of these positions remain unfilled, a trend projected to persist through 2030 (Pots and Pans by CCG). The underrepresentation of women in engineering roles further exacerbates this shortfall. As of 2021, women constituted only 15% of the engineering workforce in the United States (Department of Labor). While the number of women earning engineering degrees has increased—from 17.2% in 2011 to 23% in 2021—their presence in the professional field remains disproportionately low (Society of Women Engineers).

In response to these challenges, the ITE Georgia Section (GAITE) has taken proactive steps to inspire and cultivate the next generation of engineers. The newest initiative is the annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Camp, designed to engage young minds and promote the field of transportation engineering and planning.

We’re excited to announce the return of one of GAITE’s most impactful initiatives and 2025 SDITE award-winning effort—our 2nd Annual GAITE STEAM Camp! This event brings together transportation professionals and young minds for a week of inspiration, exploration, and fun.

GAITE is once again partnering with GDOT and Art it Out Therapy Practice, whose licensed therapists and counselors will lead the camp with support from GAITE volunteers. The curriculum, built from resources developed by the ITE International STEM Committee, introduces kids to the world of transportation engineering and planning in an engaging, hands-on way. We’re also thrilled to welcome a new partnership with Grady, further strengthening our commitment to community support and outreach.

A Structured and Engaging Learning Experience

The camp was designed to cater to different age groups, with a dedicated day for elementary school students (K-5th grade) and middle and high school students (6th-8th and 9th-12th grades), hosting around 60 kids overall. This structure allowed for tailored instruction, ensuring campers received age-appropriate, hands-on experience in transportation engineering.

A key aspect of the camp was its interactive and activity-driven format. Participants engage in a variety of engineering and planning focused tasks, such as:

• Traffic Counts and Intersection Analysis: Campers observe traffic patterns and conduct vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian counts, learning how engineers use data to design safer roads.
• DIY STEAM Cars: A hands-on experiment where students build their own small cars, emphasizing trial and error, problem-solving, and the engineering design process.
• Bridge Building Challenge: Using marshmallows and toothpicks, campers construct bridges, test their structural integrity and learn about load distribution.
• Multimodal Planning Activity: Older campers work collaboratively to design a town’s transportation system, considering factors such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transit.

Held in partnership with Art it Out Therapy Center and the Georgia DOT, the camp introduces children and young adults to the exciting world of transportation engineering through hands-on activities and real-world applications.

Art It Out Therapy Center is a well-established therapy practice that uses creative approaches to help children, adolescents, adults, and families develop social skills, coping mechanisms, and emotional resilience. Art It Out provides individual and group therapy, parenting workshops, and therapeutic summer camps by integrating art and therapy with empirically based methods. Their experience in engaging young minds through creative expression made them an ideal partner for the STEAM Camp.

By incorporating therapeutic techniques into STEAM education, Art It Out helped make complex engineering concepts more accessible and engaging for campers through their custom curriculum for the camp. Their approach fostered a deeper interest in transportation engineering and supported students' emotional well-being, equipping them with tools to manage stress and build confidence while learning. In addition to curriculum development, Art It Out played a crucial role in marketing, camper recruitment, application processing, and ensuring a well-structured and supportive environment. Their team of licensed therapists facilitated activities to encourage participation, manage camper needs, and enhance the overall camp experience with interactive visuals and creative engagement strategies.

This year, we will be welcoming a new partner, Grady Hospital, to further enhance our curriculum with a focus on emergency response, public health, and safety in transportation.

A special thanks to our main sponsors: Atkins, Google Cloud, Jacobs, AECOM, and Arcadis, and the breakout sponsor: Atlas. Your generous support helps bring this event to life.

The success of the STEAM Camp is bolstered by the involvement of external stakeholders who provide valuable insights and hands-on learning experiences. The Georgia State Patrol and Georgia DOT’s Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) play a significant role in educating campers about roadway safety and traffic incident management.

The Georgia State Patrol session features patrol car tours, demonstrations of emergency response techniques, and a creative activity where students design their own emergency vehicles. This session emphasizes the importance of law enforcement in ensuring road safety and traffic efficiency.

Similarly, the Georgia DOT HERO program session allows students to explore HERO trucks and learn about their critical role in incident management. The campers can ask HERO operators questions about their jobs and gain insight into real-world highway safety operations. Every participant will know the importance of calling 511 when they need Georgia DOT’s assistance.

Parental feedback underscored the camp’s profound impact. Many parents expressed gratitude for an educational opportunity that combined engineering with social-emotional development. Some highlights from parent testimonials included:

• “My child came home thinking like an engineer! They now analyze intersections and street signs everywhere we go.”
• “The hands-on activities were so engaging—where was this camp when I was a kid?”
• “The combination of transportation-focused lessons and social-emotional learning was incredible. It made the camp unique and meaningful.”
• “My child would not stop talking about wanting to become an engineer after attending the camp.”

Beyond parental praise, many children expressed excitement about returning for future iterations of the camp. The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by campers reaffirm the importance of early exposure to STEM/STEAM and transportation-related careers.

Awards

Past Camps

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