Published August 05. 2025 01:05PM
The YWCA Bethlehem’s Summer Science Camp meets Saturdays at the Bernie Fritz Boys & Girls Club on Fritz Drive through Aug. 9. Camp runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The first day on July 26 was Physics Day; we had visiting drones,” said Aliya Ali, YWCA administrative coordinator. “Of 26 the students who signed up, 19 came.”
Summer Science Camp is in its second year. Last year, sessions met at Broughal MS.
“We are super thankful to be able to put this program on,” she said. “Right now a grant to fund the program is still pending. We are using funds and materials set aside from youth programs right now.
“The YWCA mainly runs youth programs; we focus on that,” Ali said. “We are thankful to have a really strong team.”
Program participant ages range from 4-to-17. This week’s Summer Science Camp session theme is Biology. Register at ywcabethlehem.org/summerscienceseries
“We make sure, activities can go from simple to complex,” explained Olga Torres, YWCA Bethlehem’s youth empowerment program manager. “We have four or five activities daily.”
During the school year, the YWCA runs Tech Gyrls for girls in grades 3, 4 and 5 at six elementary schools: Marvine; Lincoln; William Penn; Thomas Jefferson; Donegan; and Fountain Hill. More information about that program will come from those schools. The school’s after-school coordinator or guidance counselor signs girls up for the program.
Press photos by lani goinsAzhiyah and Amirah make fireflies during an earlier Summer Science Camp session.
Anthony works on a solar system project.
Olga and Dee Marrero make paper airplanes that they then tried to launch. At first, only the paper clips attached to the airplanes flew. Several attempts later, they achieved a successful launch after more staples were added to hold the paper clips to the airplanes.
Julia Wicoff, a member of the YWCA Bethlehem Board of Directors, with her daughter, Charlie, prepare a solar system activity.
Indira, an incoming Lehigh University senior, works on preparing a firefly project.
