Genome BC Geneskool Summer Camp 2012

Hey Vancouver teens! Just a heads up that Geneskool applications are open! It was a fantastic experience and I recommend you give it a shot.

If you’re curious about what it feels like, read my blog posts about my experience last summer:

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day3
• Day4
• Day 5

Summer Camp 2012
WHO: YOU! If you have completed Science 9 aka entering grade 10+
WHAT: Genome BC Geneskool Summer Camp!
WHERE: Capilano University in North Vancouver
WHEN: August 20-24
WHY: Oh my gosh, where do I begin? You get to spend a week in a university lab and learn about genetics and forensics. You get to meet like-minded teens and make new friends. The instructors are cool and make sure it’s tons of fun, I can assure you! It’s a learning experience, but different from school. &Are you addicted to CSI? You get to solve your own crime! I didn’t solve mine last year But you might be an even better super sleuth!

The program fee is $275, but don’t let that hold you back! There are bursaries if needed. Applications are due by August 10th, 2012, but they have a cap of 20 students, so get your application in ASAP! And no worries, they’ll get back to you within 3 days of your application so it’s not one of those suspense-y type of things.

For more information, go check out the website here. (Awh, you didn’t think I explained it well enough!? JKs )

Trust me, APPLY! You will not regret it! Such an awesome experience. I can honestly say it was the highlight of my summer ’11.

&here’s a few photo faves that I didn’t include in the blog posts linked above!

Geneskool Day 5

THIS IS IT! I can’t believe it’s over. Geneskool was definitely the highlight of my summer. There’s about 2 1/2 weeks left until school starts. I wish school felt like Geneskool! You have no idea how fun it was to learn, and the bonds I made with other Geneskoolers. There was friendly competition, fun activities, cool guest speakers and visitors, and super interesting educational topics! I know the whole “school and learning” thing might not sound appealing, but trust me. It’s better than school!

Alright. So that morning I got off the bus to Capilano University and walked to the plaza to meet my fellow  summer 2011 Geneskoolers for the last time. There were people chatting, reading their binders, or playing checkers on a stone table with light and dark rocks as their pieces.

I’m writing it on a Sunday, so I can’t clearly remember everything. We started the day by preparing a debate on anti-bacterial soap. I was part of the group that was against anti-bacterial soap. Here‘s another blog that speaks on the subject.

After the debate, we  took yesterday’s DNA, mixed it with dye and inserted it into gel.

Demonstration

Gel. Slimy, delicate gel.

We put our DNA in the gel

After that we had the debate. My group won!

LUNCHTIME.

I can’t remember the order of events anymore…

We had Flying Wedge pizza and Dairy Queen ice cream cake for lunch.

Geneskool camp is awesome

After lunch we had our murder case trials! Here is our PowerPoint presentation.

We had a DNA model competition too! Clara and I were the model!! We dressed all in gray, and used elastic thread as clothes lines. We hung socks with clothes pins. Rockin’! Combining science with fashion……NBD.

Human DNA Socks on clothes lines!

We won third place. First was an awesome knit scarf! And Uhmm second was either a pompom/bead model or a drawing. I also made a DNA mosaic using every single one of the photos I took from Geneskool day 1-4!

Small version of the mosaic! I'd show you the big one so you could zoom in and see every single photo...but the file size is too big!

Gooood bye Geneskool! You were amazing. OH: TEAM KUNG FU PANDAS FINISHED WITH THE MOST POINTS OVERALL! WOOHOO

2 1/2 weeks until school.