UNL to Host Weather Camp for Youth

June 3, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources will host a week-long Weather Camp that teaches students ages 10-14 about weather and science-related topics. Weather Camp will be on UNL's East Campus from June 10-14.

The camp, part of a national program, seeks to inspire students to advance in their education and pursue careers in science.

The pilot program began two years ago.

"Last year, we branched out to local students," said Kenneth Dewey, the coordinator of SNR's Weather Camp and chair of the school's outreach committee. "This year, now that we are part of the national Weather Camp program, we have students from all across the nation applying to be a part of our camp."

Seventeen students from seven states will participate in this year's camp. These students will travel from cities as far away as Independence, Ky., and Dallas.

To be accepted into the program, students had to fill out an application explaining why they deserved to be accepted. Competition was steep, with many accepted students displaying excellent service, scientific and academic records.

"As I read their applications," said Dewey, "I just thought to myself, 'I can't wait to meet this kid.' The hardest part of my job has been to tell some of the kids applying that we couldn't offer them admission."

Camp activities include field trips to the Lincoln-Lancaster County's Emergency Operations Center, a visit to a local TV station to watch the news and weather broadcast live on the set and UNL's Memorial Stadium to collect weather data inside and around the stadium. 

The National Weather Service in Omaha will send its warning coordination meteorologist to the UNL Weather Camp to teach the students about severe weather meteorology and storm safety.  Several weather experiments inside and outside of Hardin Hall are planned throughout the week.

While the Weather Camp application is closed for this summer, the program is still welcoming sponsors who would like to be affiliated with the Weather Camp program. To help support these students and the educators who produce this camp, contact Dewey for more information (402-472-2908 or kdewey1@unl.edu).

SNR's camp is one of five official National Weather Camps. Another six camps are affiliated with this national network. 

The website for the UNL National Weather camp is http://go.unl.edu/weathercamp.