National Grid Supports a Summer of Fun and Learning for Students

BROOKLYN, NY (07/13/2011)(readMedia)-- National Grid in partnership with community organizations across New York State is working on programs that provide summer fun, exploration and skill building, as part of the company's Engineering Our Future initiative to inspire young people to pursue science, technology, engineering and math skills.

"National Grid's Engineering Our Future initiative inspires the next generation of engineers essential to developing innovative technologies to meet our customers' energy needs," said Ken Daly, National Grid president for New York.

"Supporting local programs that provide hands-on experience for curious campers to learn about math and science is one way National Grid can help students to find the spark that will lead to a very bright future."

National Grid already has invested more than $3 million in Engineering Our Future to target students of all ages and backgrounds to encourage them to study science, technology, engineering and math skills. The company is supporting many community-based projects, funding research centers to support new and exciting technologies and partnering with organizations that provide programs to educate teachers as well as students in the curriculum.

Following are some of the summer camps that National Grid is supporting around the state:

College of Staten Island Engineering Workshop – middle school students learn how civil, avionics and biomedical engineering make things happen, students will focus on physics, math and biology to build a model rollercoaster, observe principles of flight via simulators and putting together model airplane kits and building basic DNA designs.

The Nature Conservancy Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) – high school students will have paid residential internships on preserves across the Northeast, training for green jobs and participating in conservation activities like trailblazing, shellfish restoration and the removal of invasive species.

Camp Brooklyn – founded by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, young campers learn different skills including an appreciation for nature during two weeks of outdoor fun and hands-on learning at sleep-away camps in the Northeast.

Prospect Park Alliance – through the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment Learning Expedition program high school students put skills they have learned in the classroom and in field study in Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to practical use to study nature and habits in different part of New York and the world.

Summer Energy Academy – designed to jump-start the future by introducing middle school students to careers in the energy industry, the program is developed by the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), hosted by Polytechnic

Institute of NYU with support from National Grid and Con Edison.

Hofstra University National Grid Summer Science Green Research Project – high school students will have opportunities to conduct individual scientific research projects ranging from household energy demand and alternative fuels to environmental engineering.

Long Island Children's Museum Green Teens – high school students develop and teach "green-themed" interactive nature and environmental education programs for Museum visitors, activities include decorate your own pair of binoculars to investigate all the wondrous things in the Museum's Our Backyard exhibit to joining a variety of fun materials to invent your own insects.

Engineering Summer Camp at Stony Brook University – motivated high school students will be introduced to the various fields in engineering through hands-on electrical and computer engineering research and educational activities including building a radio, making a metal detector, and modifying sound.

Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capital Region National Grid Summer Fun – sessions for elementary and middle school students to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on and interactive activities including investigating the basics of chemistry as they bake delicious goods and becoming a detective to solve exciting mysteries with skills to collect and analyze evidence. Students will meet with National Grid employees and learn about careers in the utility industry from engineering to energy efficiency.

Syracuse City School District National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – Summer Engineering and Science Camp program hosted by Syracuse University for middle and high school students interested in engineering, math, robotics and science.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.