eCYBERMISSION - Accept The Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Army and administered by NSTA, is a free, web-based, STEM competition for students whom are United States citizens in grades six through nine. eCYBERMISSION challenges teams of students to identify a problem in their community and use scientific methods, inquiry and/or engineering design processes to find a solution. The top winning teams can receive up to $8,000 (maturity value) in U.S. EE Savings Bonds.

• Any student registered by October 15^th receives a STEM kit to help them with the competition.  
• When registering, please make sure to select, NSTA: referred by NSTA Chaper, in the dropdown box for Registration Code. 
• All student registrations need to be completed by December 14^th 
• All student submissions for the competition need to be completed by March 1^st.

http://www.ecybermission.com

The Duke Center for Science Education is accepting applications from current 7th & 8th graders for a 2-week, recreational, residential summer camp on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC. Campers who are selected to attend will receive a full camp scholarship and travel assistance to join us June 16-June 29, 2013.  Returning 8th grade campers receive priority, but we anticipate that there will be a few places for new 8th graders.

We are looking for curious, bright, fun-loving campers who include science on their list of interests. Science doesn't have to be their best subject. We would like to diversify our mix of students to include those who like science, but do not yet have that spark for considering science as a real option in their future. We would like to have the opportunity to provide the spark that sets them on a course that includes science. 

We are offering a recreational camp where all of the daily activities are grounded in science.  If you know a student who might have wondered how to create a secret message, to make medicines from plants or to make music from junk, then they just might be the curious campers that we are seeking. Through games, experiments, social events, puzzles, hands-on projects, visits with scientists, and recreation, campers will explore the connections between science, medicine and their everyday world. They will tune their senses to the awesome world around them and explore it with us.

Applicants for the 2013 camp are currently 7th & 8th grade students who are US citizens.  The three-part application, which is available online at www.sciencesleuths.duke.edu, consists of a camp application to be completed by the parent/guardian, a camper survey to be completed by the student, and a teacher nomination form.  Teacher Nominations are due by March 5, 2013. (Camp applications from the parent and Camper Surveys from the student are due on February 5 from returning campers and on February 25, 2013 from new applicants. Campers will be notified of selection status in April.

Under the direction of the Chris Adamczyk, Program Director, our staff-student ratios are 1:3 for our daily programming and 1:4 in the evening residence program. Camp Instructors are undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students who have a keen interest in nurturing the next generation and who have expertise in science and science outreach. Residential staff counselors are college students who have prior experience with summer camp programs are guided by experienced residential coordinators. All are highly qualified and have trained as a team to deliver an awesome camp experience.

Please pass this information along to parents, current 7th  and 8th grade students and colleagues who teach or work with current 7th & 8th graders. For more information visit www.sciencesleuths.duke.edu or email us at sciencesleuths@duke.edu. We are looking forward to an awesome adventure at Summer Science Sleuths at Duke in the summer of 2013!