There's a massive glider taking up most of my dining room table.
I'm OK with this, because my daughter built it last week at Grand Valley State University's Science, Technology and Engineering Preview Summer Camp.
The camp is limited to girls going from sixth grade to seventh, and is intended to introduce them to engineering as a potential career.
Engineering Dean Paul Plotkowski said engineering positions are among the most difficult to fill in the United States.
"We think engineering is a lot of fun -- we always have the best toys," he joked to the girls and families at last Friday's "Fly Night."
Plotkowski said women are under-represented in the field. The goal of the camp is to get them thinking about engineering when they're young so they start taking electives that could prepare them for college.
It was an amazing experience. The students learned the concepts of flight, including a trip to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo to see airplane parts and how they work. They also ventured to the Gerald R. Ford Airport for a tour of the air traffic control tower and radio room, plus explored some private planes.
Then they applied that knowledge to build their own planes, using equipment at GVSU's School of Engineering.
Finally, on Friday the students brought their planes to the Warped Wings Fly Field in Allendale, where volunteers from the field's model airplane club added engines and remote controls and let the girls take their creations to the sky.
My daughter was one of those students who didn't think she was good at math. North Rockford Middle School teachers Brian Barr and Jonathan Bates knew better and encouraged her, and recommended her for the STEPS camp. I'm grateful.
Plotkowski said the program is in its eighth year, and draws students from across the state. There's another camp for freshmen, held in the Detroit area and focusing on cars instead of planes.
The event is coordinated by GVSU's Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, the School of Engineering and the Regional Math and Science Center. Sponsors include the Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa Howmet-Whitehall, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Educational Foundation and the Michigan Space Grand Consortium.
E-mail Dave Murray: firstname.lastname@example.org