May 19, 2025

By Louis Huler 

For most kids spring break is a time to relax, get outside, and spend as much time as possible away from school. That was not the case for a group of elementary school students from Esperanza Academy. While their peers were sleeping in or playing video games, this group of about a dozen girls attended a day-long animation camp hosted by the Informal Learning Linking Engineering, Science, and Technology (ILLEST) lab. 

The ILLEST lab employs the philosophy of not just familiarizing Philadelphia’s youth with STEM but gives them a space to learn about these concepts and connect them with artistic expression and creativity. At the camp, the students learned the basics of animation, starting with their own drawing of a character. Through a mix of tools in the lab and online applications, the student drawings came to life, moving across a computer screen with its own theme music recorded using sound equipment in the lab.  

As the kids progressed through the day, they worked with Drexel students, who took them through a rotation of animation stations. “It's so fun to get to create things with younger kids because they still have their creativity and all of these wild thoughts and ideas.” says Skyla Jackson, a first year BS in Film and Television student. “Getting to live through that vicariously, but then also partner with them to make things that they envision come true is one of the most fulfilling experiences.” 

The ILLEST lab is co-led by Kareem Edouard, PhD, assistant professor for the School of Education. Dr. Edouard has extensive experience with animation as a producer for the PBS Kids show, “Work it out Wombats.” The activities and research in the ILLEST lab are very personal to him. Dr. Edouard grew up as a black kid interested in things like STEM, comics and animation, often white-dominated fields. “I'm one of the few black men in my space... so designing opportunities for black boys, black girls, where they can engage in animation and tell stories to me is to give back.” He goes on to add, “I have an opportunity to be in those spaces and tell stories, but then it's also important to create a pathway so that the next generation behind me could... create a critical mass so they can tell their stories.” 

Learning about animation was not the only thing happening at the camp. You could see the inspiration the children drew from their college-age peers. The lab created a safe space for the kids to be themselves and see older students who look like them and have similar interests.  

The lab also helps students see themselves in careers they may not previously thought possible. “This club has definitely helped me see that, but representation is so important in media,” said Jewel Peterson, a first year BS in Animation and Visual Effects major. Citing Dr. Edouard as a resource, she adds, “when we come in here, he advocates for us as young black people to just be creative and make sure that we feel comfortable and just tell our stories.” 

The camp was also well received by the staff of Esperanza Academy. Jerrick Medrano, activities coordinator for the school emphasized the impact the experience had on the students. He said, “I know a lot of these students are always in the school, walking around with a sketchbook and they're always interested in drawing something, so for them to have the opportunity to draw and animate and physically make a 3D object... it's absolutely fantastic.”