Due to the global pandemic and the need to keep our communities safe from COVID-19, we are transitioning from a one-week residential camp to a four-week virtual camp, with online sessions each Monday and Wednesday morning. We will provide updates as we continue to develop the curriculum and structure of this brand-new virtual camp!
We'll hear from PSU faculty and professionals from public and private transportation agencies that operate in the Portland metro area. We're also incorporating some outdoor activities to help improve students' awareness and familiarity with infrastructure and data collection.
WHAT YOU'LL GET OUT OF THE CAMP
- Introduce you to professionals in transportation
- Learn about the broad range of transportation careers and sectors
- Understand the social justice and equity issues within transportation and how it relates to you, your family and your neighborhood
- Introduce you to transportation systems in Portland
- Connect with other high school students who are passionate about careers in transportation too
- Have fun!
TENTATIVE AGENDA*
This agenda is still being developed and is subject to change.
Week | Academic Topic(s) | STEM Skill(s) | Self-Guided Field Activity |
Week 1 Theme: Equity and Transportation
| Welcome, introductions, group project overview, social equity & environmental justice | Collaboration, critical thinking | Neighborhood walk audit |
Week 2 Theme: Transit and Multimodal Planning | Transit and multimodal planning workshop with case studies | Math and science | Transit data analysis |
Week 3 Theme: Geography and traffic engineering
| Planning, geography & placemaking | Engineering and design thinking | Traffic engineering lab |
Week 4 Theme: Networking and presentations | Safety Networking and final presentations | Creativity, communication, inquiry | Presentation |
I loved getting to know the behind-the-scenes of how transportation works in Portland! The opportunities to meet professionals from TriMet, PBOT, the Port of Portland, and many other areas efffctively opened my eyes to careers I had never even considered before. Probably my favorite part was working with city planners to see the different kinds of roads and how they work to accommodate the specific needs of roads — from bike and pedestrian needs, to budgeting, to vehicular traffic requirements. –2018 Participant
After TREC, I realized how much time, effort, and planning is required in city planning, and I notice different aspects of transportation in Portland more than I used to. I am definitely more interested in having a career in transportation. I also learned about the difference between equality and equity, which I was able to apply in school. –2018 Participant
This camp helped me recognize various planning issues in my own town. I found the information in regards to equity in transportation very eye opening. Although I don't intend to enter a career in transportation, I had a really great experience at OSTI. It taught me what I want to look for in a university, what I like and don't like. –2019 Participant
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Oregon resident, entering 9th - 12th grade (2019-2020 school year), 2.0 GPA. We're also offering a girls (*female-identified) camp (July 27 - Aug 19, 2020).
CAMP HOSTS
Hau Hagedorn, Portland State University
Hau is the Associate Director of TREC at Portland State University and is responsible for the day-to-day management, operations and provides overall direction for the TREC's peer-reviewed research and technology transfer programs, and shaping workforce development efforts. She actively participates in national efforts on conducting and implementing research. She also oversees programming and delivery of professional development workshops through the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI). She is co-Chair of the TRB Conduct of Research Committee, and member of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) and Region 1 Area Commission on Transportation (R1ACT). Hau has over 20 years of public and private sector experience in transportation. In her spare time, she runs to escape juggling the busy lives of three active kids.
Nora Stoelting, Portland State University
Nora is pursuing a dual master's in Leadership for Sustainability Education and Urban and Regional Planning. She is excited about the ways these two programs intersect in building a more dynamic, connected, and sustainable world. Though she loves exploring outdoor recreation in the great state of Oregon, she is originally from the concrete jungle of Brooklyn, NY. Nora's background is in garden education and environmental advocacy, and most recently worked in waste minimization with airport businesses at PDX. Nora is thrilled to join TREC to work on education programming through integrating tactical urbanism projects into PSU classes and designing TREC's free summer camp for high school students. She feels strongly in the power of collaborative, holistic, experiential teaching and learning to transform ourselves and the world. Outside of school and work, Nora likes to search for new trail races to run, plan outdoor adventures, answer people's questions about recycling, and go for long walks while listening to podcasts.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You offer an "all genders camp" and a "girls only camp", but do you offer a "boys only camp"?
No, we do not offer a boys only camp. Women comprise 50% of the workforce, but are only represented in 15% of the transportation industry. We seek to increase the number of women and students of color in transportation-focused degree programs, and expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce.
Can you provide a certificate of completion for this camp?
Yes! We're happy to provide a certificate.
This camp is hosted by the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University. TREC is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.