Big Ideas, Big Discoveries: Porterville College Hosts 3-Week STEAM Camp!
Something BIG happened on campus this summer, and local middle schoolers have been taking full advantage of it.
This summer, Porterville College teamed up with BC3 Labs and the PC PASO program to host an immersive, three-week STEAM Camp for 16 ambitious 6th through 8th graders from across Tulare County. Led by Priscila Lopez, founder of BC3 Labs and a veteran science teacher at Burton Middle School, alongside Marisa Rios from PC PASO, these students weren't just sitting in a classroom—they were diving headfirst into massive, hands-on projects that blended art, science, chemistry, and physics.
Unleashing Big Creativity
The camp kicked off with an explosive first week focused on art and creative design. Working in a worry-free environment where making mistakes is celebrated as a key part of the learning process, students took complete ownership of their creations. They designed custom, highly intricate fused-bead art pieces—ranging from detailed flags representing the U.S., Argentina, and Italy to realistic multi-colored flowers complete with attachable stems. Moving into wearable art, the kids learned custom textile dyeing techniques, twisting and dying T-shirts and socks, with some even hand-painting canvas-style designs directly onto their shirts.
The student output was impressive across the board. Julian Ramirez and Evan Clark engineered detailed patriotic and international flags, while Carissa Rios and Owen Lasse built vibrant floral arrangements. Sophia Oakley and Danelle Louandrath both produced professional-grade tie-dyed shirts, and Willa Lasse designed a remarkable fused-bead window scene overlooking a sunset.
Deep Dives into Science & Physics
The momentum only built from here. Over the following two weeks, these young innovators stepped up to tackle advanced topics. Then, the students transitioned into science and chemistry, entering real lab environments to conduct hands-on experiments and study chemical reactions. For the final week, they took on interactive physics challenges, building and testing physical structures to see fundamental forces in action.
Powered by Innovation & Community
This high-impact experience is made possible through strong local collaboration at the PC Innovation Center, with crucial support from Porterville College’s Reagan Dozier and Mallory Brown. The partnership gives local youth early exposure to a college environment while building their confidence as the next generation of leaders.
As Lopez puts it, the core philosophy of BC3 Labs — Be Curious. Be Creative. Be Captivating. — gives students the ultimate permission to solve problems without fear of failure. The program's impact is already resonating deeply with local families. Hanford mother Callie Ramirez highlighted that exact sentiment while picking up her sons Julian and Isaac, expressing immense gratitude for the unique learning opportunity.
