Due to concerns for the health and safety of participants and our faculty and staff, this course has been canceled. In its place, we will be offering a two-day virtual event July 21-22, 2020. More information about that event is available on this page under the tab for those dates. We are also accepting registrations for all of our events next school year, including the 2021 summer course. We are currently planning to offer those in our usual in-person format, but will reevaluate each event and issue refunds as necessary.

Questions

Rebecca Girten
P | 434-381-6447
E | rgirten@sbc.edu

We’re offering a special online version of our Explore Engineering events!

This two day immersive for rising sophomore, junior, and senior girls will run from 1-5 pm Eastern Daylight Time and will feature hands-on problem solving with Sweet Briar engineering professors just as participants would if they were on campus. We’ll mail you a kit with supplies for each activity in advance, teach you all the things you’ll need to know, and then work together with you to build something cool. Sessions will cover design thinking, environmental engineering, and circuits, so you’ll get to test out multiple aspects of engineering!

Want to know more about Sweet Briar? Click here to schedule a personalized virtual tour!

Eligibility & Requirements

This event is open to rising high school sophomore, junior, and senior girls. Classes will be conducted synchronously online. Participants must have access to a computer with a webcam (preferably HD) and microphone, high-speed internet, and a flat, quiet workspace.

Cost

Cost is $150 and includes supplies and a T-shirt.

Registration

Register here. Space is extremely limited. Registration occurs on a rolling basis until the event fills.

Cancellations received before July 1, 2020 will be refunded in full. Cancellations received on or after July 1, 2020 will not be refunded.

Questions

Please contact:

Rebecca Girten
P | 434-381-6447
E | rgirten@sbc.edu

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Event Begins

Event Introduction and Icebreakers
1 p.m. EDT

Introduction to Design Thinking

Learn how engineers approach problem solving through the iterative design process. Students will work together on creative and fun problems designed to help them get to know each other better.
1:15 p.m. EDT

Water Filtration

In third-world countries, water filtration is often limited to recycled materials and what can be repurposed. Using a variety of soil samples that we’ll send you in advance, you’ll learn about the properties of soils and what makes a good filter, and then build and test a series of filters using everyday objects from around the house.
2:30 p.m. EDT

Session Concludes

5 p.m. EDT

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Introduction to Circuits

A crash course in sensors and actuators, wiring a breadboard, and how to make things happen.
1 p.m. EDT

Build a Light-Seeking Robot

Using your circuits knowledge and a kit of supplies that we’ll send you in advance, you’ll build a robot that senses and moves toward a light source.
2 p.m. EDT

Event Concludes

5 p.m. EDT

Cost

Cost is $65 and includes room and board, snacks, supplies and a T-shirt.

Registration

Register here by Sept. 15, 2020 for highest priority. Space is limited and registration occurs on a rolling basis until the course fills.

Cancellations received before Oct. 1, 2020 will be refunded in full. Cancellations received on or after Oct. 1, 2020 will not be refunded.

Questions

Please contact:

Rebecca Girten
P | 434-381-6447
E | rgirten@sbc.edu

Friday, October 23, 2020

Campus Tour
Optional
4 p.m.

Dinner
Event Introduction
5 p.m.

Overnight Stay with Sweet Briar student mentors

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Group Work
Work in teams with Sweet Briar professors and students to create a computer-controlled, interactive, Halloween-themed device. No experience needed!
All Day

Project Exhibition
You’ll show your family and friends your work.
5 p.m.

Cost

Cost is $65 and includes room and board, snacks, supplies and a T-shirt.

Registration

Register here by Feb. 15, 2021 for highest priority. Space is limited and registration occurs on a rolling basis until the event fills.

Cancellations received before Feb. 25, 2021 will be refunded in full. Cancellations received on or after Feb. 25, 2021 will not be refunded.

Questions

Please contact:

Rebecca Girten
P | 434-381-6447
E | rgirten@sbc.edu

Friday, March 26, 2021

Campus Tour
Optional
4 p.m.

Dinner
Event Introduction
5 p.m.

Overnight Stay with Sweet Briar student mentors

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Group Work
Work in teams with Sweet Briar professors and students on a creative, hands-on design project. No experience needed!
All Day

Project Exhibition
You’ll show your family and friends your work.
5 p.m.

The summer course is offered for college credit.

Cost

The $950 course fee includes tuition, room and board, snacks, course supplies and a T-shirt. A non-refundable $200 deposit is due at registration, with the remaining balance due by May 15, 2021.

A limited number of scholarships are available for students interested in participating in the Summer Explore Engineering Design Course but who have significant financial need. Scholarships are awarded at $475. Click here to apply.

Registration

Register here by March 1, 2021 for highest priority. Space is limited and registration occurs on a rolling basis until the course fills.

Only fully paid course registrations reserve your student’s seat. Unpaid registrations are put on a waiting list until payment is received.

Cancellations received before June 1, 2021, will be refunded in full minus the deposit. Cancellations received on or after June 1, 2021, will not be refunded.

Questions

Please contact:

Rebecca Girten
P | 434-381-6447
E | rgirten@sbc.edu

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Check In
4 – 5:30 p.m.

Campus Tour
Optional
4:30 p.m.

Dinner
Program Begins
5:30 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, July 19-22, 2021

Classes and Group Work
Tour a local engineering company, interact with successful women engineers, and relax at the campus lake and pool. Main project: Design, build and test your own computer-controlled musical instrument. See an example here.

Friday, July 23, 2021

Course Overview and Project Exhibition (families invited)
You’ll show your family and friends your design work.
10:30 a.m. – Noon

Lunch (families invited)
Noon – 1 p.m.

Check Out
1 – 1:30 p.m.