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Electrical Engineering with Solar Energy

Have you ever wondered what the future of energy looks like? In this program you will explore exciting real-world applications of solar energy while you design and build solar-powered gadgets, from sun-charged solar cars to creative water fountains. In team-based hands-on design challenges, you will investigate electrical circuitry, discuss real world energy challenges, and hear from STEM professionals about their work and how it’s shaping our future. You will become familiar with the iterative design process and deepen your knowledge and understanding of the sustainable power of solar energy. Teens end the week by identifying a real-world challenge and designing and building a solar solution.

Parents are invited at 4 p.m. on the last day for teens to share their projects.

Two students work together on an electrical engineering project.

Program Info

Food: Lunch is provided. Teens bring a water bottle and snacks from home.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Tuition: $1,465.00
Seeking Financial Aid? Learn More >

Session 1: 06/23/2025 – 06/27/2025
Optional Residential Add-on runs Sunday, June 22, 5:00 p.m. to Friday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. Residential add-on includes additional programming, on-campus housing, breakfast, and dinner. Limited spots available!
Residential Tuition: $1,255

Session 2: 07/07/2025 – 07/11/2025
No Residential Option

Session 4: 07/21/2025 – 07/25/2025
No Residential Option

Sample Day

7:30 a.m.

Wake-up for residential teens!  Residential teens enjoy breakfast & walk together to campus

9:00 a.m.

All teens sign in with instructors
Welcome activities and icebreakers
Opening Circle- group check-in and framing the day
Explore STEM concepts and hands-on investigations in your track
Mid-morning break with teens from other tracks
Hands-on investigations and exploration cont.

11:45 a.m.

Lunch break in campus cafeteria Social time with teens from other tracks

12:45 p.m.

Continued investigations and explorations in your track
Various lab tours and guest speakers
Afternoon break with teens from other tracks
Closing Circle- reflection prompts and preview of what’s ahead

 4:00 p.m.

College Pathways Programming
Campus or other tours 
Meet and talk to current college students 
Meet and talk to professionals from a range of STEM career fields

 5:00 p.m.

Commuter teens sign out with instructors
Residential teens walk together to dorms and enjoy some well deserved downtime 

 6:30 p.m.

Dinner
Evening program 
Free time

10:00 p.m.

Lights Out!

Activity Hightlights

  • Activity Highlights
  • Design, build, test, and improve prototypes of solar cars
  • Build and test electrical circuits
  • Design and engineer efficient solar energy fountains
  • Lab tour
  • Address climate change challenges with solar energy solutions
  • Meet and mix with teens across other STEM tracks
  • Meet and talk to students and STEM career professionals
  • Project presentations and certificates

A Visual Journey Through Solar-Powered Creations in Electrical Engineering

Staff Bios

Erik Takada

Erik Takada is an electrical engineer in the solar energy industry with a passion for solar and STEM outreach. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Yale University and acquired his M.Eng. in E.E.C.S. from U.C. Berkeley. Prior to entering the solar industry full-time, Erik worked and volunteered as a STEM camp instructor and spent many summers teaching at his local science museum. 

Erik is from sunny Arizona and enjoys spending his free time playing tennis, watching movies, and skiing.

Maryum Syed 

Maryum is a current undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying bioengineering. She loves all things related to biotechnology and in particular, learning about how we can apply engineering techniques to advancing the field of healthcare and medicine. In high school, she was a student researcher as part of the Waksman Student Scholars Program where she interpreted DNA sequences and analyzed gene expression in proteins. Previously, Maryum served as a research intern for a nanotechnology lab at Berkeley where she learned about the functionalization and structure of carbon nanotubes. 

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, baking, playing tennis, traveling, watching true crime documentaries, and trying new foods with her friends!