Each July, the University Of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation sponsors a camp for high school students who've completed their junior year and demonstrate interest and aptitude in the field of engineering.

This year, there were almost 180 applicants for the 102 spots. The program, including dorm housing and meals, is free of charge. Resident counselors are current UMaine engineering students. Attendees gain exposure to college life and to the possibilities of engineering careers.

Foundation President Carrie Enos cites the summer program as one of the crucial components of the foundation's success. Enos said, "The application process is competitive, with students selected based on academics, leadership skills, recommendation of a teacher or guidance counselor, and their own letters accompanying their applications." This year's attendees were from Maine, Florida, New York, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Forty percent were female.

According to the foundation's website, "Students participate in about 20 activities and are introduced to nearly two dozen UMaine faculty, engineers and engineering students." There are three four-day sessions of 34 campers each. The camp offers engaging, hands-on exposure to chemical, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, and opportunities to gain skills in collaboration and teamwork through both games and experimental projects.

Among the activities:
• A paper-making experiment examining tensile strength
• A field trip to a working paper mill (SAPPI in Skowhegan)
• Tours of the department's various labs and research/development centers
• Group research projects in chemical, civil, mechanical or electrical engineering
• Competitions and games

Dr. William Davids led a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Students learned about Mars landing research (in partnership with NASA), carbon nanofiber tubes as lightweight bridge-building components, and laminated strand lumber (LSL) as a component of cross-laminated timber (CLT). Davids says, "The production of CLT in Maine would help utilize Maine's abundant forest resources and create jobs."

By the final morning of camp, students have paired up with their roommates to develop protective packaging for single eggs. Three judges score each contraption, its name and its design concept. The 17 teams then compete in throwing the encased eggs as far as possible across a measured area. Awards are given for best name, best design concept, and to the team whose egg travels the farthest distance without breaking.

Each camp session concludes with parents, counselors, and interested spectators attending PowerPoint presentations by the teams that showcase their research projects. A luncheon follows, with awards to campers in various categories and a talk by an industry speaker.