Rust College hosts 2026 Kid’s Discovery International Math Camp with support from Nissan
JANS – Rust College welcomed approximately 75 middle and high school students from across the Mississippi Delta to campus for the 2026 Kid’s Discovery International Math Camp, sponsored by Nissan. Held August 21-22, the two-day camp brought students, educators, and mathematicians together for an exploration of mathematics centered on fun, thinking, friendship, and discovery.
Rather than following a traditional classroom format, students rotated through interactive “Math Worlds” designed to introduce sophisticated mathematical concepts through puzzles, games, coding, collaborative problem-solving, and real-world applications. Activities included Mad Vet, Coding, Arrow Chasing, Card Tricks, Checkerboard, Colliding Blocks, and a Virtual Escape experience.
A distinctive feature of this year’s camp was its international reach. Visiting educators from Germany and Japan joined faculty members and presenters from the United States and St. Lucia, providing students with an opportunity to experience mathematics through a variety of cultural and educational perspectives.
Camp World Leaders included Dr. PJ Couch, professor of mathematics at Lamar University in the United States; Dr. Michael Schmitz, Dr. Uwe Leck, and Dr. Hinrich Lorenzen of Europa Universität Flensburg in Germany; Dr. Miyu Momoda of Osaka Prefectural Otemae in Japan; Skye Glassglow, a Rust College student scholar from St. Lucia; and Dr. Cadavious Jones, dean at Rust College.
Throughout the camp, students were encouraged to do more than simply find the correct answers. They were challenged to experiment, ask questions, identify patterns, collaborate with their peers, and discover how mathematics connects to the world around them. Teachers and chaperones were also invited to participate in the activities, extending the educational experience beyond the students.
The 2026 camp continued Rust College’s efforts to expose young people to mathematics and STEM education in ways that are creative, accessible, and globally connected. With support from Nissan and the participation of local and international partners, students from across the region experienced mathematics not simply as a school subject, but as a tool for exploration, problem solving, creativity, and connection.
