Our outreach program for high school students includes a weeklong summer course (for college credit!). We will also send you engineering projects by mail, free of charge. Interested?
Working in teams with Sweet Briar engineering faculty and undergraduate engineering students, high schoolers work on creative and fun design projects that are perfect for both experienced students and those completely new to engineering. You’ll learn the design process from brainstorming to testing and revising prototypes. Experience problem-solving as an engineer and make your design a reality!
Over the past 10 years, more than 500 students have attended an Explore Engineering event, designing and building such things as:
Computer-controlled smart wearables
Automated musical devices
Sustainable building materials
Automatically refilling pet bowls
Electromechanical drawing machines
Optical bass guitars
Wearable tech
Explore Box:
We’ll send you a unique STEM project kit through the mail. Demonstrations of some of these kits can be found on our YouTube channel
Summer Explore Engineering Course:
Our Explore Summer Course is a great chance to get a taste of college life and even earn a college credit. Students spend 5 days and nights on Sweet Briar’s campus. In that time, they
brainstorm projects
get a crash course in wood-working, 3D printing, computer programmer or whatever else they might need for their project
design and build a project
visit one of our local partners in the technical community
eat in the dining hall with engineering students and faculty
stay in a Sweet Briar dormitory
All activities are led by engineering faculty with the help of current Sweet Briar engineering students. The week culminates in a design expo, where families are invited to come see the student projects and hear about the engineering program over lunch.
Summer Explore Engineering | July 21–26, 2024
Cost
The $950 course fee includes tuition, room and board, snacks, course supplies and a T-shirt. A non-refundable $200 deposit is due at registration, with the remaining balance due by May 15, 2023.
A limited number of scholarships are available for students interested in participating in the Summer Explore Engineering Design course but who have significant financial need. Scholarships are awarded at $475. Click here to apply.
Registration
Please register here. Space is limited and registration occurs on a rolling basis until the course is full.
Only fully paid course registrations reserve your student’s seat. Unpaid registrations are placed on a waiting list until payment is received.
Cancellations received before June 1, 2024 will be refunded without the deposit. Cancellations received on or after June 1, 2024 will not be refunded.
Tentative Schedule
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Check In 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Campus Tour Optional 4:30 p.m.
Dinner Program Begins 5:30 p.m.
Monday–Thursday, July 22–25, 2024
Classes and Group Work Tour a local engineering company, interact with successful women engineers, and relax at the campus lake.See examples of previous projects here.
Friday, July 26, 2024
Course Overview and Project Exhibition Invite your friends and family to show off your design work from the week. 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Lunch with Families Noon – 1 p.m.
Check Out 1 – 1:30 p.m.
Past Explore Engineering events have been supported by AREVA and the National Science Foundation — through its S-STEM (award #0850092) and STEP (award # 0525388) programs.
Sweet Briar College does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including sex, for admission or participation in this program.
