150 pupils in Scotland benefit from BSA accredited Camp Amazon intiative

A campaign led by the British Science Association (BSA) to inspire pupils to embrace STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects in the classroom was given a major boost by Amazon during British Science Week when over 1,200 school children across the UK including over 150 pupils in Scotland, took part in the latest Camp Amazon STEM workshops.

Camp Amazon was launched in 2018 in the UK, and the STEM activity was recently accredited by the British Science Association for its contribution to the learning of young minds in STEM subjects as part of the CREST Awards programme. The workshop counts as two of eight SuperStar challenges that children can earn to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.

CREST is a scheme that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers, while taking part in challenging and thought-provoking real-world STEM projects.

Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive, British Science Association, said: “Hundreds of primary school children will have the opportunity to be inspired by the innovation and systems at Amazon, and take the first steps on their journey towards a CREST SuperStar Award by participating in Camp Amazon activities at Amazon’s fulfilment centres across the UK. The workshops are based on the guiding principles of CREST: problem solving, decision making, practical hands-on activities and reflective practice.”

During British Science Week 2019, local schools in Fife took part in a week-long series of BSA-approved activities at Amazon in Dunfermline which included a behind-the-scenes tour of the fulfilment centre and a STEM-based workshop that simulated a day in the life of an Amazon fulfilment centre and started their journey to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.

The tours of the Amazon fulfilment centre were delivered by the team behind the new public tours of the building. Free public tours are available to book today, free of charge, at www.amazon.co.uk/fctours. The Amazon fulfilment centre public tours are available to anyone over the age of six.

Amazon’s Dunfermline General Manager, Graham Allison, said: “Hosting these bright young minds in our building is one of a number of ways that we’re helping to unearth and inspire the next generation of STEM SuperStars. We created Camp Amazon as part of our aim to help as many young people as possible get excited by STEM subjects. We are delighted that the Amazon STEM workshop has been accredited by the CREST award programme. I hope the pupils and their teachers have enjoyed taking part in Camp Amazon and we look forward to seeing them all come back to visit us on a free public tour with their families in the future.”

Chelsey Montgomery, Primary 6/7 Teacher from Cowdenbeath Primary School, said:

“Camp Amazon has been a brilliant experience for our pupils. To have the opportunity to take part in a STEM workshop, in such an innovative and technologically advanced environment is a thrill for us and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Amazon in Dunfermline for inviting us to their site. The opportunity for our pupils to see first-hand how STEM works in the real world was unmissable and start their journey to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.”