Residential chemistry camps for school students: Why bother?

Abstract

Bristol ChemLabS has been providing several residential school experiences per year for the past eight years. The Chemistry Camps are two days of intensive activity and, wherever possible, involve a stay in a hall of residence. The majority of the time is spent in undergraduate teaching laboratories learning new skills on the first day, which are then used again on the second. The other academic sessions include spectroscopy tours, short lectures from postgraduate students on their research areas, a discussion of university application procedures in general by admissions officers and a lecture demonstration. The non-academic side is also addressed via a stay in a hall of residence and a course dinner. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the organisation and running of such camps and to explore the benefits for both the students and the School of Chemistry.