Summer camp on STEAM in Stradbally
It was thumbs up from all those who took part in the STEAM Summer Camp at the Malthouse in Stradbally Photo: Michael Scully
WHAT do you get when you combine STEAM along with a team of young people in the Malthouse in Stradbally?
A STEAM camp of course!
That’s exactly what happened during a four-day camp when 17 young people came together and created pigments and inks from locally sourced foliage and plants. They used the inks to make pictures and notes on a handmade book, under the guidance of artist Leonie Connellan.
STEAM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Ecology, Art and Maths. The STEAM drew the council’s Arts Office, STEM Engagement Officer and Biodiversity Officer together to present the four-day camp.
The young people worked with an ecologist and Heritage in Schools expert Edel Herren to examine the local biodiversity that surrounds the Malthouse. They took notes and learned about the various species, flora and fauna abundant in the area.
The STEM Engagement Officer Seanie Morris led them through a workshop of creating paper rockets as well as building and driving a remote-controlled robot.
The young people were also given a guided tour of the Laois Arthouse where they got to view the current exhibition ‘Towards a future Floating’ and had an opportunity to visit the resident artist Lia Laimbock in her studio who discussed her art practices and techniques with them.
Those who completed the camp were presented with a certificate of participation and a goody bag that included a perennial plant which was sponsored by Tree World in Timahoe.
