Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Larson learns at science camp

Reading area newspapers can pay big dividends. This is exactly what happened to Sandra Larson, daughter of Patti and Peter Larson of rural Sheyenne, after her mother noticed an article in the "Benson County Farmers Press". According to the article, Governor Burgum was seeking applicants to attend the National Youth Science Camp (NYSC). Knowing how much her daughter enjoys science, Patti encouraged Sandra to apply. The 2019 New Rockford- Sheyenne graduate extols that the camp was "incredible!"

Two graduating seniors with abilities in science and leadership are chosen from each state and Washington, D.C. to take in the 24-day summer camp in West Virginia. Because the camp is sponsored by the state of West Virginia, a variety of corporate sponsors, and alumni donations, the camp is completely free of cost to the campers and their families. That's right! Parents do not need to pay anything, including the round-trip airplane ticket, for their teenager to take part in the camp. Eight other countries, or, in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island nation in the Caribbean, are also sponsored to send delegates to the camp, thanks to the United States Department of State.

After submitting a résumé and a letter of intention that explained why Sandra thought she was the best candidate to represent North Dakota, she was notified that she, along with Naomi Hegwood from Bismarck, had been selected for the June 27 through July 20 Camp Pocahontas in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. This year, a total of 111 delegates made up the annual camp that was created in 1963 as a part of West Virginia's centennial celebration.

Not knowing exactly what to expect, Sandra was pleasantly surprised that the "staph" (spelled as such because of their "infectious enthusiasm") members did not expect homework assignments to be completed. Instead, as part of the Academic Program, students listened to a couple of very interesting and informative lectures on a daily basis; selected from a variety of choices in the seminar blocks and study options that included songwriting, Jeopardy tournaments, homemade pasta making, human pathology, climate simulation, and Beekeeping 101; and chose backpacking, caving, kayaking, mountain biking, and/or rock climbing as part of the outdoor program. NYSC prides itself on the appealing feature that the young participants need not worry about much of anything. Sandra says, "It's hard to describe how great it felt to be free of responsibilities." The fact that there was absolutely no cell phone service or Internet access promoted much less stress and more time spent bonding during overnight camping trips, which were a large component of camp.

Special events and a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. rounded out the extensive learning experience for the delegates at the camp. Special events held mysteries for the students because surprise activities were known ahead of time only by staph members. "A big part of the camp is not knowing what will happen next. This was unnerving at first because I like to plan ahead. I came to realize that this was one of the best aspects of NYSC," Sandra states. Because of this facet, all students, not just "science nerds" would thrive at this camp. In D.C., Sandra was also able to arrange face-to-face meetings with Representative Kelly Armstrong and Senator John Hoeven during which she received feedback from each of them to her questions.

Asked if she felt a bit provincial in the company of so many students from around the world and from more populated areas with educational opportunities that she didn't have in pastoral North Dakota, Sandra said that she taught others as much as she learned from them. "I was the one who was able to start a campfire in the rain with a single match on our first overnighter!" she exclaims. She also calmed down several delegates who were afraid of cows as she shared her knowledge of farming and raising cattle. Many of the students could not comprehend that Sandra graduated in a class of 21. (Each NYSC cabin alone housed 35 students!)

Sandra will be attending the University of Minnesota this fall to begin her coursework in environmental engineering. NYSC is a great opportunity to find out what area students want to study in college, and because of this, Sandra knew that the camp might be an experience that would change her mind about her future career path. After listening to the brilliant speakers and partaking in the varied activities, though, Sandra is now very confident in her academic choice of environmental engineering. It is a stroke of luck that her mother encouraged Sandra to apply for NYSC. She will never forget her three weeks at this unconventional camp.