Report from the fun-filled holiday club
CSES hosted a three-day Summer STEM Challenge – our first since 2019 – over the period 28 to 30 July 2026. A lively and committed group of 32 students in Year 8 and Year 9, some travelling significant distances, attended across all three days.
The core delivery team comprised Ed Bye (lead organiser), David Humber and Wai Bhone Myat (Jayce), with additional support from Rebecca Lyall on Tuesday and Nisha Rai on Wednesday.
They delivered three days of high-energy, hands-on STEM fun. Students were fully immersed in launching rockets, building structures and discovering the excitement of practical engineering. Students also rose to the challenges of paper bridges, tensegrity models and geodesic domes. Even the toughest builds became moments of pride, with students celebrating successes, laughing through setbacks and showing real determination to make their structures stand tall.
Read on to find out more about the activities that took place...
Stomp Rockets
The stomp rockets were an instant hit, giving students a fast, explosive introduction to hands-on engineering. Indoors, they built their rocket tubes, fins and nose cones with real care; outdoors, the launches produced huge smiles, cheers and plenty of friendly competition.
The highest flight of the challenge reached almost 25 metres, jointly achieved by Ibraheem and Max – a standout moment that secured a prize for each.
CO₂ Bottle Rockets
The CO₂ bottle rockets delivered another high energy highlight. Students assembled their rockets indoors before heading outside for the dramatic launches.
The sudden burst of acceleration and unpredictable flight paths – or the one that occasionally exploded on the launch pad – made this activity unforgettable.
The top CO₂ rocket height was achieved by Jemmy, whose rocket soared to just over 22 metres, earning a well-deserved prize.
Geodesic Dome
Building the 4-metre geodesic dome was the toughest challenge of the event and very demanding.
Indoors, students rolled 315 paper tubes and assembled 105 triangles in 1.5 hours.
Outside, they attempted to combine the triangles into a full-scale dome. Unfortunately, the students learned the valuable lesson that engineering projects do not always meet the deadline.
Despite the disappointment, there was a genuine sense of shared achievement and teamwork.
Tensegrity Models
The tensegrity model offered a delicate, puzzle-like engineering experience. Students focused intently during the build, making the lolly-stick structure, attaching cords and refining until the structure suddenly “clicked” into place.
The finished models were a source of real pride, with many students surprised at how satisfying and elegant the final result looked.
Paper Bridge Building
The paper bridge challenge blended creativity with classic engineering thinking. Students folded beams, rolled tubes and reinforced their designs before testing them under load.
The winning bridge – judged the most efficient and strongest relative to its mass – supported over 6 kg, another prize winner.
Feedback
The strength of the programme was reflected not only in student feedback but also in the messages received from parents afterwards. One parent wrote:
“I just wanted to email to say how much my son enjoyed the summer challenge workshop! He was so proud of everything he built and enjoyed every moment of it!”
Another parent shared:
“I’d just like to say a massive thank you for holding the STEM challenge. My son has really enjoyed it and would love to do it again if you hold any in the future.”
These comments capture the spirit of the event perfectly: enjoyment, pride, and a genuine appetite for more STEM opportunities.
Overall, the Summer STEM Challenge delivered outstanding enjoyment, strong engagement and meaningful learning. Students left inspired, proud of what they built and eager for more.
Our President, Gary Cousins, closed the event with a short, uplifting address before presenting certificates and prizes, bringing the three days to a conclusion.
Thanks go to everyone involved in the delivery of the event.