Photo by Joselyn King Lori Jones, executive director of the YWCA Wheeling, and Liz Handzus, marketing directory for the organization, discuss the weeklong STEMpowerment Summer Academy camps happening this summer. The overnight camps are organized by YWCA Wheeling and are based at The Linsly School.

WHEELING – The YWCA Wheeling is hoping to cultivate an interest in science among young girls this summer with a series of activities about animal science, the environment and hydroponics.

The learning will launch into simulated space exploration, and even give participants an opportunity to chemically create their own health and beauty products.

The YWCA Wheeling is again hosting its STEMpowerment Summer Academy, a week-long science camp free to girls going into grades 9 and 10. Separate camps are set to happen on the weeks of June 21-26 and July 12-17 at The Linsly School. Participants will stay on campus, with all meals provided and supervised by YWCA staff.

During the camp, the young women are scheduled to meet and work directly with professionals in workplaces across the Ohio Valley while engaging in hands-on activities and daily field trips intended to introduce them to a wide range of STEM careers.

This year’s program features exciting partnerships with local and regional organizations, including:

– Oglebay Grow Center: hydroponics and farm-to-table learning.

– Oglebay Good Zoo: animal science and conservation education

– WTRF: meteorology and broadcast science

– West Virginia Northern Community College: crime lab and forensic science exploration

– Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling University: space simulation and teamwork exercises

– Color and Chemistry of Cosmetics: a chemist will lead the girls in creating their own makeup and skincare products

– Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal: engineering and skilled trades insight

– TSG: technical and industrial career expo

“It gets girls excited about STEM,” said Lori Jones, executive director of the YWCA Wheeling. “They (participants) should have an interest in science in some form, or hopefully it (the camp) will get them interested in science.

“This is an opportunity to get girls interested in things they may not know they have an interest in.”

Liz Handzus, marketing director for the organization, agreed the camp exposes girls to a multitude of STEM opportunities.

“Girls are still underrepresented in the STEM fields,” she continued. “This just exposes them to what is out there as we try to cultivate interest.”

Handzus reports there has already been interest in the camps, which are in their second year.

The first of two camps taking place in 2025 was well-received, but the second didn’t happen due to the extreme flooding in the area on June 14, 2025. About 15 students attended the first camp, according to Handzus. As many as 18 can be accepted to attend the one-week camp at one time.

Enrollment is “wide open,” and the program is open to all interested girls living in Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties in West Virginia, as well as Belmont County in Ohio, Jones added.

Those interested in attending either camp should log on to www.ywcawheeling.org; email the agency development@YWCAWheeling.org; or call YWCA Wheeling at 304-232-0511.