Young Dragons Middle School STEAM Camp
Title: Young Dragons STEAM Camp
Student Interns:
Shreya Bheemavarapu
Drexel University College of Medicine
Ashley Nguyen
Drexel University College of Medicine
Stella Shuai
Drexel University College of Medicine
Kaitlin Tan
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Alison Walker, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptor:
Maggie Cohen
Drexel University
Community Site:
Young Dragons is a series of free, weeklong summer camp programs offered by Drexel University’s ExCITe Center for rising 6th- to 8th-grade students who live in or attend school in West Philadelphia. Through hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) activities, students explore topics such as robotics, architecture, health sciences, physical sciences, and more, while developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence through the scientific method, engineering design process, and collaborative learning.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns assisted the Young Dragons STEAM Camp as dedicated camp counselors. In addition to arrivals, dismissals, lunchtime, and recess, the interns led daily team-building exercises and facilitated daily activities by promoting engagement and safety and providing guidance for the students. The interns also served on the health-sciences-week team, where they planned and led an immersive escape room activity that took students through the body’s various systems in a hands-on, collaborative environment. Additionally, the interns led health promotion lessons on oral and eye health.
Reflections
I really enjoyed working at the Young Dragons Camp this summer. It has been a lot of fun getting to know the students over the course of six weeks, and it is extremely rewarding to watch them challenge themselves, express themselves, and explore new STEAM topics that they may not be exposed to in school. It was great to see each student discover their favorite fields throughout the summer, whether it was architecture, coding, health sciences, etc. During our health sciences week, specifically, we were able to encourage students to keep an open mind and engage more in activities, since we had spent a few weeks gaining their trust and friendship. I was surprised at how quickly the students bonded with us and made us crafts or wrote notes, and at how sad they are that we will not be returning next summer. This program showed me the importance of early STEAM exposure and out-of-school time in helping students discover their potential and explore new careers, as well as the importance of connecting with youth to support their growth. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to work with these students this summer, and I hope I will continue to work with youth throughout the rest of my career.
Shreya Bheemavarapu
This summer, I was incredibly lucky to have had such an amazing experience at Young Dragons STEAM Camp. I haven’t had much experience working with kids in the past, so I was definitely nervous going in. Now at the end of it, I’m so happy with the experience that I had and how much I was able to bond with the kids. Over the first two weeks of camp, it definitely took time to build that trust and friendship with them. However, during health sciences week, we were able to not only serve as their day-to-day counselors but also teach them about health sciences and careers in medicine using our own experiences. During the first few weeks of camp, we developed an escape-room-style activity to teach them about the different systems in the body, exploring anatomy and physiology in the context of sickle cell disease. This was a really rewarding activity to put together, since we were able to leverage our knowledge from medical school with creativity. After taking them on field trips to exciting places like the Mütter Museum and our very own HSB anatomy lab, it was so fulfilling to see that more of them could better envision themselves pursuing a career in medicine by the end of the week compared to when they first walked in. Outside of the programming, it felt like that week was pivotal in developing our personal relationships with the kids and it’s been so touching to receive the crafts and notes that they’ve made for us as our internship comes to a close. Overall, this program taught me how important it is for adolescents to have exposure to STEM enrichment activities outside of school and to cultivate their creativity and curiosity through hands-on activities. Summer camps are usually associated with a high price tag, placing financial barriers on these enrichment opportunities. Young Dragons serves such a powerful purpose as a place that provides these opportunities for students in West Philadelphia free of charge. By being part of this mission this summer, I learned so much about working with younger students and how to connect with them to facilitate their learning and enjoyment. Every child learns differently, and I found that there was never a one-size-fits-all approach. Some students were eager to participate immediately, while others needed encouragement, reassurance, or a different way of explaining a concept before they felt comfortable joining in. Learning how to adapt my communication, meet students where they were, and celebrate their individual strengths helped me build meaningful relationships with them. Watching students grow more confident, ask thoughtful questions, and become excited about learning reminded me that education is just as much about fostering curiosity and connection as it is about teaching content. I know these lessons will stay with me as I continue my journey toward becoming a physician, and it’s been such an honor to have seen their growth.
Ashley Nguyen
Working with the students at Young Dragons Camp this summer has been incredibly fulfilling. I enjoyed getting to know so many of the students, not only through the activities we led, but also through the stories they shared about their families, hobbies, interests, and everyday lives. Even in a short amount of time, we were able to build meaningful and fun connections with them and create a space where they felt comfortable expressing themselves. What I appreciated most was being able to encourage their curiosity while giving them opportunities to explore new interests and recognize their own strengths. Watching the students grow more confident, become excited about what they were learning, and take pride in what they created was especially rewarding. At the same time, the experience taught me a great deal about working with young people, adapting to different personalities, and using creativity to make learning engaging. I am leaving the summer with a deeper appreciation for youth development and for the impact that genuine encouragement and attention can have on a child.
Stella Shuai
Working at Young Dragons has been an enriching experience for me. Throughout the six weeks, I have been able to see the students challenge themselves with various activities. While there were days that challenged me, the most rewarding moments came from seeing the excitement on students’ faces when they got their robot to start moving, see their design come to life, or proudly show their loved one what they had been working on all week. Working with students showed me how much creativity and potential lies within them. My role was to support them and help them recognize their own strengths. I found that every student brought unique interests, talents, and perspectives to camp, and I enjoyed watching them express those qualities in different ways. Over the course of the summer, I saw several students discover their niche, gain confidence, and encourage their peers. Beyond working with the campers, I was grateful to collaborate with fellow camp counselors from a variety of academic disciplines. I saw how each counselor’s expertise translated into engaging learning experiences for the students. Together, we supported one another and worked toward creating a positive experience for each student. Overall, I feel lucky to be a part of the 2026 Young Dragons team, where I learned from the creativity and resilience of the students and the perspectives from my co-counselors.
Kaitlin Tan
