Former Astronaut Bernard Harris Inspires Science Camp Kids in Lower Gwynedd

Written by Nicole Foulke

52 middle school students, campers in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC) that is being held at Gwynedd Mercy College this summer, spent their Thursday learning how to engineer space suit models while in the company of Bernard A. Harris Jr., who broke ground when he became the first African American person to walk in space.

Harris, who in this lifetime has been a NASA space shuttle astronaut, a medical doctor, and a businessman, is president of The Harris Foundation (THF), which he founded in 1998 to invest in community initiatives that help build education, wealth, and health, according to the foundation’s Website.

THF works with ExxonMobil and various universities to install the science camp in different sites around the country each summer.  This year there are 20 camps at various universities and colleges, according to Harris.  This summer, Temple University is hosting the camp that is being held at Gwynedd Mercy in Lower Gwynedd.  It is their sixth year hosting it.

Susan Jansen Varnum is the Temple Associate Dean for Science Education and chemistry professor who is overseeing the local camp, which runs from July 7 to July 19.  According to Varnum, the camp was Dr. Harris’s vision: “He just saw a need for working with children of middle grades, and he put up his own money for a camp.”

The camps run for two weeks, during which time the middle schoolers live in dorms and learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in ways that are meant to engage them.  For example, this year, the Gwynedd Mercy site students will study pond life and synthesize Aspirin and Tylenol, said Varnum.

According to Varnum, this year the theme of the camp is “Saving our Future,” which is built on the principle that people may run out of water in some decades. 

Harris travelled early in the morning for Thursday’s exercise to speak to the children and support them as they put office-space materials like construction paper and foam sheets together to engineer space suit material.  He tries to visit as many camps as possible each year. 

 “Be proud of the fact that you’re smart.  Be proud of the fact that you’re a geek,” Harris told the children.

“I really like the camp.  It’s real fun.  Now we’re making Tylenol and I dissected a squid,” said camper Anthony Berta, who is entering 7th grade.

At one point Harris asked the campers what they would like to be when they grew up.  The answers ranged from “astronomer” to “fashion designer,” to “FBI, CIA, or primatologist,” to “microbiologist.”

According to Harris, people often ask him about his history.  “Education was the key to that,” he said.  “I wanted to pass that on to kids and inspire them to do whatever they want to do.”

Note: the author has had a connection to Temple University.