Reported by Elissa Song
From the 21st of June to the 27th of June, 2026, AYLUS Lake Washington branch members Elissa Song and Anthony Cao (TA) hosted a week-long AP/Honors Biology Summer Camp for middle and high school students. The camp offered an enriching educational experience, helping students explore advanced concepts in biology and introductory concepts to chemistry based off of the typical Advanced Placement curriculum. During each session of the camp our team members served as instructors, provided homework support, answered student questions, dedicated time to reviewing and correcting assignments, and corresponded with parents about camp information or sending them slides and videos. Over the course of seven sessions, participants engaged with core topics that are essential for scoring well on the AP exam, and also learned how to answer AP-style biology practice problems.
Day 4: Cell Communication & Cell Cycle (June 24)
Students learned about the cell cycle and how cells communicate with each other. We covered cell communication, different types of cell signaling (endocrine, paracrine, juxtacrine, autocrine), ligands, different types of receptors, feedback mechanisms, homeostasis, the cell cycle, mitosis, cell cycle regulation, and cancer. We went into the specifics of each topic, detailing the reception, transduction, and reception mechanism of cell communication, different types of receptors, and more. We also did some AP practice problems.
Volunteer hours:
Elissa Song: 3.5 hrs
Anthony Cao: 2.5 hrs
