Student Comments

“The Universe Within has been so fun and it taught me to be in touch with my creative side. I learned about Newton’s Laws of Motion, what a sundial is and how to use my creativity for different things. I see things from other perspectives now. I can see that if I push on something, it pushes back. Writing in The Daily Doodle and creating a planetary circular story for my world helped me use my original ideas. I have a creative genius and so do you!” – Ava

“I really liked The Universe Within experience because we learned and had fun at the same time. Some of my favorite activities were the ball launcher to learn Newton’s laws of motion, creating my own digital book for my planetary story and imagining what the shapes on the computer looked like. Making a sundial taught me a new natural way to know what time it is.” – Ana Paula

“What I enjoyed about The Universe Within is learning and doing. Making the time-space machine showed me that you can use simple things to make something more complex and cool. It was fun to create our own world while doing activities that helped me learn about the world. I used to think that science, engineering and math were boring since at school we don’t get to make our own things. But after The Universe Within, I have a whole new perspective on these subjects. Using your brain can take your creativity to a whole new level, and help you create so many amazing things!” – Saumya

“The Universe Within was a good experience. I learned to be able to let my imagination be free and that I have no limit while I imagine. I learned how to make a sundial and that a ball bounces up because the floor pushes it up. When I walk, I push on the floor and the floor pushes on me. The program changed my life by teaching me how to think outside the box.” – Sandy

“In The Universe Within I liked that I got to make and name my own planet. I got to decide how many days are in my planet’s year and make my own story about my planet. I liked making a sundial and seeing the shadows move through time. The camp taught me about time, different types of energy and physics.”  – Gema

“I loved everything about The Universe Within. It was amazing! I learned about new things and had fun. I learned about Newton’s Laws of Motion, how shadows work and how a sundial works. I earned confidence from being able to speak to audiences and not be afraid while doing it. The Universe Within made me happy that I was able to be with my friends while doing it and having fun. The opening videos taught me about physics and motion and I also learned from people sharing what they know. I am more interested in math and science subjects now. And I figured out how to make a book and how to write a story. Don’t be afraid to show what you know!” – Mariam

“My experience at Summer Camp was fun and challenging. I learned a lot that will help me in school this year like types of energy, the pulley system and forces between objects. Through The Universe Within I gained knowledge about how I can solve more problems quickly and efficiently. Before science was my least favorite subject, but now that I have more knowledge, it will be my second favorite subject! The projects and staff at Summer Camp were very cool.” – Geovanna

“I really enjoyed The Universe Within Summer Camp because I made lots of new friends. I learned how a sundial tells us the time, how to make things out of clay and how to be creative. Every day the theme song from the opening videos kept playing in my head. I loved everything we did because it was so fun. I loved making my planet. Writing my planetary story changed my way of thinking about how to write with more detail. The camp taught me lots of things about physics and motion that I did not know.” – Regina

“The Universe Within helped me be my true self. I learned how a sundial works, how the solar system works and how to be yourself and be confident. I have learned to be calm and relaxed. The camp taught me about matter and push and pull forces.” – Pia

“I liked that in The Universe Within we worked together and imagined how we could fix that’s happening in the world. I liked that we made creations with our hands, especially the headdress made from cardboard. I also liked decorating my headdress and tools and being part of the Pedestrian Carnival.” —Analucia

“The Universe Within was all about crafting—building and making artifacts—and recording our ideas in The Daily Doodle. I made an aquatic creatures’ tool, that’s uses water to help stop fires. My headdress was an artifact for my character. I made it look like it’s in motion and it looks old. I liked all the opening videos because they helped me get ready.” —Eric

“I liked that we got to write a poem, read it and show off the hats we made in the Universe Within Pedestrian Carnival. In the first part of The Universe Within we started building just a little, and learning how to work with cardboard, then what we made grew and grew. I made a hamburger headdress which was a tool to help solve hunger. I liked that we got to collaborate and work together.” —Andrea

“In The Universe Within we were are able to be creative and do our thing. I don’t get a lot of opportunities do be original like this. I liked building tools with cardboard. The Daily Doodle guided me through all the activities like finding my superpowers. I got to be creative, which I loved!” —Giselle

“The Universe Within was fun! When my mom said I was going to a STEM camp, I thought “I don’t want school in the summer.” Then I found it was about cardboard I was so excited. I really liked the videos and when the students showed us how to work with the cardboard because then I got ideas about how to build my headdress. I love drawing and using the blanks sides of The Daily Doodle to make geometric shapes.” —Gia

“I love The Universe Within Club because it lets my creative juices flow. I also like to make things with my hands, and draw and write which I get to do in The Universe Within lessons. I get to go crazy with my creativity!” —Camila

“In The Universe Within we use science and imagination to build headdresses and tools. The opening videos show us a real model of Ned‘s world that has robots in it. I like when Dr. Bayly’s character spins out into the black hole…I assume he gets stretched like a noodle by gravity!” —Andres

“I felt like when I was in The Universe Within, I was free, because I got to build, which I don’t get to do a lot. I really liked the Daily Doodle notebook we used to write down ideas for The Universe Within lessons.” —Julian

“The machines do smart stuff in The Universe Within opening videos because they move and they’re made of junk. The tips that the creative directors and Dr. Bayly give us are very helpful. I love math and science, and now we get to learn much more!” —Madison

“I enjoy the activities we do during The Universe Within. They are fun and I get to use my creativity and imagination, which I love. I also like working with my hands. The opening videos help me get for the activities that day.” —Sebastian

“I liked that in The Universe Within we worked together and imagined how we could fix what’s happening in the world. I liked that we made creations with our hands, especially the headdress made from cardboard. I also liked decorating my headdress and tools and being part of the Pedestrian Carnival.” —Analucia

“The Universe Within was all about crafting—building and making artifacts—and recording our ideas in The Daily Doodle. I made an aquatic creatures’ tool, that uses water to help stop fires. My headdress was an artifact for my character. I made it look like it’s in motion and it looks old. I liked all the opening videos because they helped me get ready for activities.” —Eric

“I liked that we got to write a poem, read it and show off the hats we made in the Universe Within Pedestrian Carnival. In the first part of The Universe Within, we started building just a little, and learning how to work with cardboard, then what we made grew and grew. I made a hamburger headdress which was a tool to help solve hunger. I liked that we got to collaborate and work together.” —Andrea

“In The Universe Within we were are able to be creative and do our thing. I don’t get a lot of opportunities do be original like this. I liked building tools with cardboard. The Daily Doodle guided me through all the activities like finding my superpowers. I got to be creative, which I loved!” —Giselle

“The Universe Within was fun! When my mom said I was going to a STEM camp, I thought “I don’t want school in the summer.” Then I found out it was about cardboard, and I was so excited. I really liked the videos and when the students showed us how to work with the cardboard because then I got ideas about how to build my headdress. I love drawing and using the blanks sides of The Daily Doodle to draw geometric shapes.” —Gia

“The Universe Within was a creative project that made me feel good about myself by being even more smart. It helped me get more imaginated! I barely knew geometry and physics, but now I know much more. I didn’t know that I could do so much, but the class helped me with my creativity.” —Priscilla

“The museum made me feel awesome because I’m part of creation. The Universe Within course was fun and I liked that we got to use our imagination and use cardboard, because cardboard never messes up. I just rip, rip, rip the cardboard to make my tools and my headdress. My social issue was saving the ocean. It was relaxing to take my energy out on creating and solving problems.” —Daniel

“My favorite part of The Universe Within was making our headdress for my character Angel Lover because you got to create with your imagination. I use my imagination more than I did in the past. This helps me succeed with problems I need help with. I rarely have to ask my friends to help give me ideas. The ideas come and I see them now. —Vivi

“I like The Universe Within because I liked creating things. I liked how I was able to create the hat and a poem for my character, Calm Knight. We got to design and decorate our worlds and all our hats in a completely unique way. There were no limits and no right or wrong.” —Diego

“The Universe Within helped me express what my mind was thinking and it was fun to invent. When I invented my headdress …it came out crazy but inspiring. I put hair on my headdresses, eyes and a mouth made from recycled items. There was a mini person hiding who was my character. She was hiding but she wanted people to know she was there because she was part of my creation.” —Erika

“The Universe Within helped me find myself. I found the very creative side of me. To make a character and write a presentation about the character, you had to be creative about it. The headdresses were very creative because you have to make it look cool, and also be functional.” —Kannon

“My favorite part of The Universe Within was creating our headdresses and wands. I liked making things. My character tried to help people who were mad at each. My heart wand helped people work things out. The Universe Within was the first time that I learned about geometry and physics…how things move.” —Losorem

“What I really liked about The Universe Within was that I got to build things with my hands. I also liked watching the videos. I got to see how other people think and how creative they are. I thought Ned’s creativity was good and he built really, really cool and interesting things.” —Alex

“The visit to the museum showed me things that people just throw away can get back to use. We can use plastic again and again rather than throwing it away. The class taught me that if you have stuff, you can’t give up just because something failed. You have to work with what you have and keep going to see what happens. The group exhibition gave me a chance to perform with my class and share what I’ve created with others.” —Jazlyn