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Clavius holds seventh annual Jamboree, biggest turnout to date

The Clavius Project, an organization dedicated to providing valuable STEM education to underprivileged students across the St. Louis area, held its seventh annual Jamboree in its eighth year of operation. The Jamboree unites all students that take part in the weekly activities in a final celebration of knowledge and science to demonstrate what they have learned on their STEM journeys.

A view of the Jamboree from above. Photo: Jonathan Dickmann

Clavius provides an opportunity for budding lovers of science to find their niche. One of its main components is the use of robotics.

“Clavius is just like a sports organization. It helps kids find their hobby if they don’t necessarily find sports interesting,” said sophomore Clavius volunteer Nicholas Hammond. “There’s something to look forward to.”

Led by science teacher Robyn Wellen, the students had an immersive robotics experience spearheaded by veteran mentors.

SLUH students were sent to individual middle and elementary schools to prepare the young engineers for the big event: the Jamboree.

“Not every school got a SLUH volunteer, but many of the schools that needed them were able to get a SLUH volunteer to help them after school,” said Wellen.

Whereas soccer players and swimmers get their championship game or final tournament, Clavius members get their big game equivalent: the Clavius Jamboree. 

Essentially, the students were guided by volunteers from station to station. There were 12 distinct stations where the students had to complete tasks and innovate to do so. The challenges varied in difficulty and field, so the students were constantly overcoming mental roadblocks and switching gears, mentally and robotically.

“The big challenge was the candy sweep where the kids tried to knock as much candy as they could out of a box; it was definitely my favorite station to watch,” said Hammond.

At the event itself, SLUH volunteers roamed the floor to make the experience for the young students unforgettable.

“I went around and asked them questions: what their favorite task was, how they were liking it, what I could do to make it better,” said Hammond.

This year, Saint Louis University managed the event. SLU provided all of the funding and grant writing as well as additional mentors that helped the students during the meetings with the individual schools, pre-Jamboree. 

“SLU had their own mentors that they were sending to the different schools who are able to go during the school day,” said science teacher and Clavius coordinator Robyn Wellen. “So where we couldn't send a mentor because of school it was during school hours, SLU was able to.”

In addition to the up front help SLU provided, the university provided behind the scenes work as well.

“SLU was in charge of organizing and really bringing together a bunch of people to be able to work on the Clavius project and fundraise. They did a lot, even kept track of the data and logistics,” said Wellen. 

Despite not seeing the actual Jamboree, plenty of volunteers rallied to the Danis Field House before and after the event to provide an atmosphere of a lifetime. 

“It was good to be able to do something that we knew was important to a lot of kids, and that was something that would inspire them to go into a new field of robotics or help grow a passion for something,” said junior Clavius volunteer Carl Hurley. 

In retrospect and from a statistical standpoint, the Jamboree was a smashing success. The project encompassed more than 37 schools from across the greater St. Louis area and touched the lives of many more.

“This year, it was very successful, the biggest it's ever been,” said Hammond. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

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