Camas School District · Summer 2026

Build and launch your own AI research project

A 7-week program where students learn Python and machine learning, conduct real academic research on a topic they choose, and build a capstone project that answers their research question.

Camas High School Tue & Thu, 9:00–11:00 AM June 30 – Aug 13 Students entering grades 7–11
7weeks
14live sessions, plus office hours
27students
10volunteer mentors
~30hands-on worksheets
10capstone projects
Deliverables

What every student produces

1 Research

Literature review

Each student writes their own section, built from sources found in research databases and organized from an outline into synthesized paragraphs.

Outline wk 4 · Draft wk 5
2 AI & ML

Capstone project

An AI prototype or technical solution that addresses the team's research question: a model, game, simulation, chatbot or comparison.

Launched wk 4 · Built wks 4–6
3 Research

Research poster & presentation

Background, Methods & Solution, Discussion, Conclusion, and Resources, presented at the end-of-program research symposium.

Poster wk 6 · Symposium wk 7
7-week breakdown

Week by week

Each week pairs an AI & machine learning session with a research methods session. Bold items are deliverables.

Week
AI & Machine Learning
Research Methods
1What is AI? What is research?
AI & ML
  • Train and upload a Teachable Machine model (no code)
  • Data Detective and Data Expedition dataset activities
  • Python basics
Research
  • Research slide activity: what research looks like
  • Supplemental reading and practice
2Data and questions
AI & ML
  • Python basics, continued (partner notebook)
  • Exploratory data analysis and linear regression on Ames Housing data
Research
  • Finding your topic
  • Developing a research question
  • Learn about your topic
  • How to read a research paper
3Measuring models, finding sources
AI & ML
  • Polynomial regression
  • Mean squared error walkthrough in Colab on California Housing data
  • Overfitting vs. underfitting
  • Technical solution idea
Research
  • Source hunting with research databases
  • Note cards for each source
  • Drafting your own section
4Projects launch
AI & ML
  • Capstone project launch (AI/ML and chatbot groups)
  • Track your methods: a running build log
Research
  • Refined research plan and group topics
  • Literature review outline
5Building and writing
AI & ML
  • Capstone build with volunteer mentors
Research
  • Scientific writing practice: single-source, stacked-agreement and contrasting-source paragraphs
  • Literature review draft
6Results to poster
AI & ML
  • Finish capstone builds and collect results
Research
  • Research poster
  • Poster writing guide with sentence starters
7Symposium
AI & ML
  • Final capstone demos
Research
  • Research symposium presentations
  • Student feedback survey
Program flyer

Summer 2026 flyer

The flyer families saw when registering: 14 live sessions, office hours and a research symposium, with a capstone that moves from a refined research plan to a literature review, an AI prototype or technical solution, and a research poster and presentation.

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Summer STEM Lab 2026 flyer: Camas High School, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 to 11 AM, June 30 to August 13, for students entering grades 7 to 11, with the four-step capstone project