Overview
Summer Youth Programs (SYP) at Michigan Technological University provides students with a chance to experience college life in a fun, engaging, and safe setting. It's a way to lean into curiosity and explore a new and interesting subject, but it's also a chance to branch out by meeting other exceptional young people from around the country and around the world.
Students choose one or more explorations to participate in during the summer: subjects range from electrical engineering and computer science to digital photography and forensic science, and so much more. SYP explorations are driven by hands-on activities, introducing students to many different fields.
During their time on campus, students live in our full-service residence hall, eat in the dining hall, and participate in their chosen exploration. In the evening, students have time to relax and participate in many different supervised recreational activities, taking advantage of nearby waterfalls, Lake Superior beaches, and hiking trails and exploring nature in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
History
Dr. Calvin W. Gale designed the experience that would become the Summer Youth Programs after watching his son researching his own career interests. His son spent hours finding information and bringing books home to learn more on his own; Dr. Gale wanted to make that process more approachable and enjoyable.
The Idea Takes Shape
Dr. Gale crafted an opportunity for students to research careers while being introduced to concepts, functions, and challenges of various professional fields during the summer. He then approached Ray W. Smith—then President of Michigan Tech—regarding all the resources on campus not being used during the summer and his idea for engagement of middle and high school students.
SYP's Early Days
In the fall of 1972, Youth Programs was born, with the first summer of programming launching in June 1973. Some of the first explorations offered that summer included Isle Royale Ecology, Orienteering and Mountaineering, Bicycling Biology and Geology, Computer Science, Bridge Design, and Metallurgy.
Ten years later, Christine S. Anderson, a biology teacher with a vibrant smile, took over coordinating the Summer Youth Programs. Mrs. Anderson had a passion for providing access to underrepresented students and began adding programs such as Explorations in Engineering and the Minority College Access Program. She used her skills as a writer to approach corporations and state and federal funding organizations, eventually building the Educational Opportunity department (now the Center for Educational Outreach) around Youth Programs.
Throughout the Years and Beyond
Our first summer, we had 517 participants and 24 explorations. We now reach over 1,100 participants every summer and offer 50+ explorations for students completing grades 6-11.
Today, students travel from over 30 US states and 10+ countries to participate in our explorations each summer. Although our program has grown, our mission has never changed: we still strive to help students learn new skills and explore potential careers in a relaxed and hands-on way.
