8th to 17th March is British Science Week, an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that features a range of fascinating, entertaining and engaging national, regional and local events across the UK. Organised by the British Science Association (BSA), the campaign provides an opportunity to stimulate and support teachers, STEM professionals, science communicators and the general public to produce and participate in STEM events and activities across the UK.

As supporters of British Science Week, we’ve partnered with the BSA to hold Camp Amazon STEM workshops in our sites for over 1,200 school children across Britain. Workshops are accredited by the BSA for contributing 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.”

Camp Amazon 2
UNP - Amazon EDI4 - 39825 Derek Reid (derekr) presents the teachers and pupils with gifts, from left, Alisha Bishop (11), Logan Whitelaw (10), teacher Chelsay Montgomery, Euan Leiper (11) and Aneshia Ulhaq (11).
Photo by Fraser Band/Fraser Band

Local schools close to our public tour sites are taking part in a week-long series of events at our Fulfilment Centres to celebrate British Science Week 2019 and starting their journey to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.
Pupils from the local schools enjoy a morning of BSA-approved activities 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.

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, during British Science Week, 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.”