Anne Schiano, Assistant Director
Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology

2008 National Youth Science Camp Delegates

The New York State Education Department is pleased to announce that Vanessa Baratta from Thomas High School in Webster and Sheel Tyle from Pittsford Mendon High School in Pittsford have been selected as the two most promising young scientific leaders in New York State’s 2008 high school graduating class.  At the invitation of Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, they will participate as delegates in the 45th session of the National Youth Science Camp held near the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, West Virginia.  Emily Melvin from General Douglas MacArthur High School, William Hutchison from Warwick Valley High School, and Cornelia Willis from Clarence High School have been selected as first, second, and third alternates, respectively.

Established in 1963 as a part of West Virginia’s Centennial Celebration, the National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) is an annual summer forum where two delegates representing each state exchange ideas with leading scientists and other professionals from academic and corporate worlds.  Lectures and hands-on research projects are presented by scientists from across the United States who work on some of the most provocative topics in science today - topics such as fractal geometry, the human genome project, global climate change, the history of the universe, the fate of our rain forests, and robotics.  Delegates to the NYSC are challenged to explore new areas in the biological and physical sciences, art, and music with resident staff members.  Delegates also present seminars covering their own areas of research and interest.

The National Youth Science Camp’s diverse academic program is complemented by an outdoor recreation program, which leverages the Science Camp’s location in the Monongahela National Forest. The Science Camp’s outdoor program offers backpacking, caving, rock climbing, mountain biking and kayaking.

Sheel and Vanessa will be flown to Charleston, West Virginia, on Sunday, June29 and will return home on Saturday, July 26, 2008, after participating in this provocative educational program.  The National Youth Science Foundation®, based in Charleston, West Virginia, covers all expenses, including travel.  More information is available online at www.nysf.com and www.nysc.org.