Page 14 - Armed Forces Directory - Aberdeen Proving Ground

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Entomologists with Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen work with campers who traveled from Maryland, Virginia and
New York for the inaugural Bug Camp held July 14 to 18 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Bug Camp, sponsored by
Army Educational Outreach Program and Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science, is a STEM outreach program
for students entering sixth to eighth grade, focusing on entomology basics and highlighting how insects and ticks pose risks
to military and community public health. (Defense Health Agency-Public Health photo by Graham Snodgrass) (Courtesy)

entomologists. They see the diversity and passion of people who have conveyed
their science so well to the students.”

Students embrace hands-on science

For 12-year-old Mariia Shestiuk, going into seventh grade, the camp opened
her eyes to a potential career path.

“I learned a lot of stuff about mosquitoes. I learned about the different types,
and that was really interesting,” she said. “I’m actually quite interested in
entomology; I might even become an entomologist when I grow up.”

Owen Skufis, 12, from Bel Air, Maryland, was struck by the variety of field
experiences.

“It was a really interesting experience. We learned about mosquitoes and ticks
and caught a bunch of ticks in the field. Then we got to search around the lab
building to try and find different bugs,” he said.

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