Natalie Cramer
8th Grade, St. Helen Catholic School, Pearland
G.R.A.D.E. Camp
“My friend Claire was going to come and I was interested in engineering too, because you can create something on your own and improve lives.
My favorite part of G.R.A.D.E. Camp has been making a flowchart (putting together step-by-step instructions) for the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. It was pretty funny because some of the instructions weren’t very clear so the sandwiches ended up pretty weird. One of the flowcharts never said to separate the two pieces of bread so the girl making the sandwiches had to go between the two slices of bread while they were still stacked up.
I learned that you have to be very precise when you’re making a flow chart and you have to double check your work to catch mistakes and missing steps.
G.R.A.D.E. Camp is not necessarily school, but you’re still learning and having fun. Everyone here – the counselor, adults and other girls – are very nice. It’s fun to see all the girls and we’re all working for something.”
G.R.A.D.E. stands for Girls Reaching And Demonstrating Excellence. G.R.A.D.E Camp is a one-week program for girls ages 13 to 17 at the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston.