St. Olaf
Engineering and Physics
Camp for Girls

July 11-16, 2010

Building a machine that uses a number of whimsical, counterintuitive steps to accomplish a very simple task might sound like a fun challenge, but it's also the perfect way to learn physics and engineering. Each of the machine's steps must be as efficient as possible and take into account various physics principles in order to make the entire creation work. Participants in this camp will gain hands-on engineering experience by working in small groups to construct a Robe Goldberg machine.

Working with faculty members and students who won the 2009
national Rube Goldberg Machine Contest held annually at Purdue
University (see a video of the machine by searching "St. Olaf
Rube Goldberg" on YouTube), participants in this camp will learn
principles and techniques utilized by enginneers and scientists every day as they build their own machines. They will then enter the completed machines in a camp contest and compete against the contraptions built by other campers.

This camp is open to girls entering grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 who find science challenging and fun.

Daily Schedule

Days are filled with brainstorming, individual and intergrated building, and lab work. Evening activites include a movie night, bonfire, astronomy outing and more.

Camp Features

  • Classrooms and laboratories in the new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
  • Hands-on experience in constructing complicated machines
  • Creative problem solving and teamwork with other girls interested in science
  • A Rube Goldberg machine contest
  • An astronomy outing on the campus natural lands
  • Faculty and staff with experience in the national Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
  • Dinner with the 2009 winners of the national Rube GOldberg Machine Contest
  • Meeting professionals working in the field
  • Career exploration
  • Tour state-of-the-art laboratories while research is being conducted
  • Low camper to staff ratio
  • Enriching social activities

Room and Board

Campers are housed two to a room in comfortable, secure student resident halls. Counselors live in the residence halls and provide 24-hour supervision of campers and their activities. Bedding and a bath towel are provided. Sunday dinner through Friday lunch are included. The college cafeteria offers healthful choices including a salad bar, hot entrees, grilled meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and desserts. Princeton Review ranks St. Olaf third in the nation for best campus food.

The St. Olaf College Campus

St. Olaf College is located in historic Northfield, Minn. The self-contained campus is set atop beautiful Manitou Heights, offering striking views of neighboring farmland and the city of Northfield. This serene setting provides an ideal atmosphere for youth camps and other summer groups. Campers enjoy a beautiful, safe environment that fosters creativity.