YouTube Science & Engineering Camps for Kids - ESD

ESD PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE | April–May 2009
We Owe It to the Kids!
s with many of you, I am a
baby boomer following on
the heels of the “Greatest
Generation.” Since we are
now entering retirement,
we need to look at what
we have accomplished
and what we are
leaving behind for future generations.
The “X’s” and the “Y’s” are as
much a part of now as we are, but
what are we leaving behind for our
children’s children? These future
generations will all too soon become
the decision-makers of our world.
What will the late 21st century and
early 22nd be like? Fortunately,
despite the current and likely
temporary economic downturn, we
are well into the “information age.”
The decline of manufacturing
has highlighted that future jobs will
be less about punching in at 6 a.m.
and all about what you know and
how you can manipulate knowledge
and information to create value.
Fortunately, for anyone who has
seen a 12 year old work all the
functions on the latest generation
of cell phones, modern kids retain
their natural curiosity and the ability
to grasp new concepts quickly and
easily. Our responsibility, then, is to
facilitate these learning opportunities
and ensure that all segments of our
society are given equal access to the
vital skills of the future.
A critical half of the mission of
the Society is to “…foster the next
generation of engineers.” We take
this challenge seriously, and even
in the face of the need to provide a
wide range of training and opportunities
for the current generation
while struggling with the reinvention
of our industries, we are proud with
this issue of Technology Century
to highlight many exciting and
compelling adventures for kids.
The pages that follow highlight
events, camps, outings, and lots of
chances for kids to explore, learn,
practice, and do what kids do: learn
while doing. What is your kid doing
this summer? What might he/she
like to do? If you don’t have kids,
or they (like mine) are well beyond
camps and projects, what about the
kids next door, or in the scout troop
at church, the nieces, nephews, or
grandkids? In addition to the kids we
know, there are those we don’t know,
but who deserve and equally need the
chance to explore. Perhaps sponsoring
a kid or two would be a good project
for your service club, your firm, or
your fraternity? The experiences these
kids have now are the blueprint for the
success of our technical community
of the future. What we do today will
ensure our ability to compete technically
with the rest of the world.
In addition to the information in this
issue, ESD also attacks the challenge
by continuing our wide-ranging Junior
Membership program. In January, we
hosted our first ever “SciEngiMathe-
Ploration Saturday,” with over 40 eager
young minds at our offices exploring
the exciting world of forensic science.
Based on this success, future Saturday
programs are currently being planned.
We continue to produce and distribute
nationwide our award-winning
children’s television science program
SciEngiMathePloration, now in its third
year of production.
Each January, ESD holds the
regional Future City competition, which
brings over 400 excited young people
together to demonstrate their ideas for
the future of society. All of this activity
contributes to your future, your region,
your state, and your family. Please join
us at ESD in touching the future. We
owe it to the kids!
Sincerely,
Richard J. Haller
ESD President, 2008–09
President and COO, Walbridge
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 5