The UVM/GIV Engineering

There is always an air of confusion on day one, a day where campers and counselors alike adjust to new surroundings and start a rigorous schedule. From the persistent stream of people at check in, students began to trickle toward their suites, finding new friends and predictable college residences prepared for them.

After acclimating to the surroundings of the Living and Learning dorm and grabbing a bite to eat, the students assembled and gushed across Main Street and down the hill to the Marsh life Science building, where the opening ceremonies were to be held. Dan Harvey, the Assistant Dean of the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, officially opened the camp for business and shared his remarks on the state of engineering education. Students were also introduced to Tom Tailer, the main mustachioed man up front who will be conducting the mind blowing/idiotic experiments and otherwise tainting minds with the powers of science. The opening ceremony was also an opportunity to recognize the Global Challenge students who are with us this year.

All to soon it was time for dinner. After eating, we served candy for dessert, but the candy was served out of a compressed air cannon. Dessert tastes a lot better if it experiences loads of acceleration and falls from the sky. Accompanying the display of sugary firepower was the demonstration of the UVM AERO hybrid racecar.

As evening passed and night approached we headed back to the lecture hall for a special guest appearance of Vermont's Lieutenant Governor, Brian Dubie. Brian shared stories from his perspectives as an aviator, a state politician AND an engineer. To wrap up the evening lecture Tom gave a silly and occasionally dangerous lecture/demonstration on mass and weight. Students played with foam implements of war, bowling balls various other massive objects learning the history of, and difference between, mass and weight.

Eventually the night came to a close and we headed back to the fireplace lounge for snacks and ultimately, bed.