Faculty Lead: Dr. Mohamed Bayoumy and Dr. Gaoxiang (Gavin) Zhou

Outreach Type: PK–12

The Pitt ECE Summer Camp is a multi-day engineering experience designed for middle school students, hosted in partnership with the Pitt Community Engagement Center (CEC) in the Hill District.

The camp introduces students to the foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering through hands-on activities that include:

• Programming microcontrollers
  
• Building and racing electronic vehicles
  
• Designing and flying basic autonomous drones
• Exploring embedded systems, circuits, and engineering design

Each year, approximately 20 middle school students participate in the program, gaining early exposure to engineering principles and practical problem-solving.
Beginning in 2025, the camp will expand from its traditional summer format to include additional spring sessions at the CEC.

Impact and Learning Outcomes

Students develop:

• An understanding of microcontroller programming and electronics
• Hands-on experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, and embedded systems
• Engineering design skills through vehicle and drone construction challenges
• Teamwork, troubleshooting, and analytical thinking abilities
• Early insight into ECE career pathways and college opportunities

The camp strengthens Pitt ECE’s engagement with local communities and expands access to high-quality STEM programming for students in the Hill District and surrounding neighborhoods.

Support

• Hosted in partnership with the Pitt CEC Hill District