Camp SSTAR Outcomes - The Web Team

The Web Team received their challenge on the first day of camp: to create a fully operational and useful website for campers and parents. Counselors Mia Lee and Tyler Patterson set out to teach web technologies to campers ranging in age from 8 to 16, but weren’t sure exactly how the week would play out.

"We presented our team with a blank slate and asked them to brainstorm ideas for the Camp SSTAR website. We had no idea what to expect." said Lee. The Web Team During the brainstorming session, 11-year old camper Chance started the discussion by informing his fellow campers about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Chance wanted to make sure that our website was safe and secure. Throughout the week, Chance learned how to install and maintain programs on an advanced Content Management System. As a group, campers installed a blog, a message board with resources available for parents, a picture gallery, personalized profile pages and games (a top priority for some).

Every child had the opportunity to make the site their own. One camper, nicknamed "Weatherman" was passionate about weather and wanted to include a current weather forecast on the site. By the second day of camp, weather conditions were on the front page of the website feeding from a National Weather Service location only ½ mile away from Heartspring’s campus. The "Weatherman" set up the high and low each day, along with a seven day forecast. Finishing this goal early in the week, the "Weatherman" was eager to learn more and spent the rest of the week filming, editing and producing video.

For 13-year old Anthony, camp meant taking a break from Nintendo and Playstation. Anthony spent a lot of time on the internet and realized the importance of keeping kids engaged with the website. He decided the website needed a section devoted entirely to games. Anthony got to work and installed an arcade system offering a variety of games on the site. Anthony also worked on video conversions and streaming local media coverage of Camp SSTAR on the website.

Chelsea, a 16-year old animal lover, contributed creativity to the site. Chelsea produced a video of SSTAR highlights using iMovie. She also composed an original instrumental soundtrack, combining various instruments in GarageBand. Chelsea’s movie was a compilation of videos shot by various campers, photos from the SSTAR Photography group and custom animations. Chelsea’s video was a hit when she introduced it at the camp Awards Ceremony to all campers and parents.

Upon reflection of the week's events, Patterson realized "every idea our campers listed in the brainstorming session was fully functional on the Camp SSTAR website." With nearly 50 registered site users, the success of the SSTAR Web Team is evident as the site continues to grow. Patterson continued "Too often kids seek the computer as a private refuge. The neatest thing for me was to see by the end of camp, we were all friends, collaborating and working together as a team."