2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Advances in technology have expanded the scope of in-demand competencies for STEM-related industry roles from a narrow-focus on “hard” knowledge, now accessible almost anywhere via digital devices, to include a heightened demand for proficiency in “soft” skills. The globally-interconnected nature of the modern economy offers exciting opportunities for those with practiced creativity and communication skills. These abilities are needed to thrive in an environment of entrepreneurially driven innovation and collaboration across national, cultural, contextual, and disciplinary boundaries. Technology often offers to support growth in these critical areas, but there are also disadvantages to the integration of technology into everyday life, such as in widely documented cases of anxiety and reduced self-esteem in youth populations. Maker education is a system in which participants learn through hands-on, collaborative, and creative projects. The outcome of this method supports the development of future-proof skills and can improve an individual’s overall wellness. Realizing the benefits of Making in response to these economic and societal challenges, a collaboration was formed between a midwestern regional science center and a large R1 university. The goal was to create a weeklong summer camp that immersed high-school-age students in multiple dynamic Maker activities each day, and was accompanied by a workshop exploring the potential impacts and lifelong benefits of creating art in STEM-related settings. This article presents the experiential learning methods used in the program, and pre- and post- survey data containing the participants’ perception of art as a means of communication, creative personal realization, connection to culture and history, improving wellness, and community engagement. The results show that participants increased their overall understanding of the applications and lifelong benefits associated with creating art in a STEM context, i.e., Making. The creativity invoked, Maker techniques learned, and understanding gained at this camp empowers participants to consider the professional and personal benefits of pursuing a career path in STEM-centric disciplines after completing their K-12 education.