UCCI STEM Camp celebrates 10 years of hands-on learning

By Christopher Tobutt

The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) marked a proud milestone this summer as its STEM Summer Camp celebrated its tenth anniversary — a decade of hands-on exploration, scientific curiosity, and growing confidence among Cayman’s young innovators. Acting President Dr. J.D. Livingston congratulated students and families at the

closing ceremony, noting that the camp has become one of UCCI’s most impactful youth programmes.

A Week of Real Discovery

Over five lively days, students aged 10 to 13 immersed themselves in robotics, renewable energy experiments, environmental science, 3D printing, and physics demonstrations. The camp’s emphasis on doing rather than just listening was evident everywhere — from buzzing worktables to the excited chatter of students comparing their creations.

For 10-year-old Luke Blackwood of Joanna Clarke Primary School, the standout project was a solar-powered car he assembled with quiet confidence.

“It’s a little car. It’s powered by solar energy with the solar panel on top,” he explained, holding up the foldable three panel design. “It’s meant to resemble a Mars Rover and it has these wheels which are connected to the motor. It will only work in the sunlight.”

Luke said it took him “ten to fifteen minutes” to build — “It’s not really that hard,” he added with a grin.

But like many campers, Luke’s biggest thrill came from the liquid nitrogen demonstration.

“I learned that its temperature is minus 200 degrees,” he said. “When it touches things, they freeze instantly — like magic.”

Behind the Scenes: Resilience and Good Humour

One of the camp’s lead organisers welcomed families with warmth — and a touch of honesty about the final morning’s chaos.

“Today we had all the frustrations for the whole week in one morning,” she said. “All our drones stopped working… every single one of them.”

The room laughed, but the message was clear: STEM isn’t just about success — it’s about problem solving, adapting, and carrying on.

This year’s programme also introduced new elements, including a Spirit Award for the camper who showed the most enthusiasm, and a Vlog Competition for students who documented the camp through photos and videos. Two academic prizes were awarded for Physics and Maths, with a playful drum roll moment as desks rattled across the room.

“First prize for Physics and Math… goes to Victor Elliott!” she announced, to cheers.

A Decade of Support from Enterprise Cayman

The camp’s long-standing partnership with Cayman Enterprise City has been central to its growth. CEC’s CEO, Charlie Kirkconnell, spoke on behalf of Enterprise Cayman, the organisation’s outreach initiative that has sponsored the camp every year since its inception.

He reflected on how attitudes toward STEM careers have shifted over the past decade.

“Hopefully this room is now getting the message, to both kids and parents, that STEM and STEM careers are now a very significant part of the opportunities that are available locally in Cayman,” he said. “This is a well established sector, and hopefully, if you parents have a child that is interested in STEM, I hope that you feel a level of comfort you might not have felt ten years ago.”

He encouraged families to keep the momentum going.

“There are other STEM-type activities available. Seek them out, and continue to learn and continue to grow.”

Kirkconnell also expressed appreciation for the partnership: “I’d like to say thank you to UCCI for having us continue ten years as a sponsor.”

Other supporters, including the Cayman Water Authority, played practical roles — such as keeping campers hydrated with donated water bottles.

Celebrating the Campers

Among this year’s award recipients was Naomi Tobutt (12), who earned the Camper of the Week (female) award.

She said she was “very pleased” to be chosen and highlighted two favourites: the liquid nitrogen demonstration and building a terrarium — a miniature ecosystem of gravel, soil, and plants designed to show how larger natural systems function.

Her counterpart, Adaayan Agarwal (13), received the Camper of the Week (male) award along with several top prizes. He said he had “learned a lot from the camp” and “enjoyed it very much,” especially the hands-on challenges.

Thinking Like Scientists

As certificates were handed out and families gathered for photos, one camper summed up the spirit of the week:

“I didn’t just learn about science — I learned how to think like a scientist.”

With ten years now behind it, UCCI’s STEM Summer Camp continues to grow in ambition and impact. It remains one of Cayman’s most vibrant youth programmes — a place where curiosity is encouraged, confidence is built, and the next generation of problem solvers begins to take shape.

Photo Captions: As per each photo label