Texas Wesleyan Professor of Chemistry Ricardo E. Rodriguez runs the three-week Camp, which teaches kids about the basics of chemistry and physics - everything from the periodic table to aerodynamics.

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In the lab

      Testing paper airplanes

While Rodriguez lectures a few times over the course of the camp, most of the time was devoted to hands-on experiments that allow the students to learn chemical and physical rules and properties. Students made (and ate!) ice cream to learn about phase changes in matter. Polymers and colloids? Here they are known as goo, gak and slime. Students also isolated DNA from peas and conducted various acid/base reactions.

In addition to Rodriguez, local science teachers, Wesleyan students, and high school and middle school students are involved. Often, these workers and volunteers are Chemistry Camp alumni.

This year, students came from the following schools: D. McRae Elementary, Worth Heights Elementary, Hubbard Heights Elementary, T.A. Sims Elementary, Fort Worth Adventist Academy, Anderson Elementary, Como Montessori Elementary, Dagget Elementary, J.T. Stevens Elementary, Louella Merritt Elementary, McLean Middle, Meadowbrook Elementary, Our Mother of Mercy, Rosemont Middle, Williams James Middle, Stripling Middle, Sagamore Hill Elementary, Rufino Mendoza Elementary, and Waverly Park Elementary.