Students are turning into scientists during a Washington Township summer camp.

More than 180 students in Grades 4-8 are attending Learning Under the Sun through Tuesday.

The two-week camp, themed Science Sleuths and More, introduced campers to physics, dissection and science experiments as well as field trips throughout the city to places like Victory Field and Lucas Oil Stadium.

Incoming Eastwood sixth-grade student Sean Szolek-Vanvalkenburgh, 11, placed third in the marshmallow catapult contest that measured accuracy and distance from a device built with a mousetrap, plastic spoon, tongue depressor and eraser.

During the two-week camp at Nora Elementary, Sean’s favorite stop was a field trip to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point.

“We learned that the lions eat three pounds of meat a day,” Sean said. “We got to see their camouflage and watched (veterinarians) do surgery.”

Veterinarians were removing a tumor from one of the tigers, said Mike Pomerenke, Allisonville Elementary principal and camp supervisor.

“We got to see animals you wouldn’t normally see,” said Amelia Lasbury, 11, who said EFRC also was her favorite stop. “They focused on tigers, bobcats and pumas.”

Students also dissected snakes, which made Amelia cringe to think about.

“The snakes we dissected didn’t have eyelids, and their teeth slant backwards,” she said.

Allisonville Elementary fifth-grade student Adam McGoff, 10, enjoyed touring the interactive NCAA Hall of Champions.

“There were interactive games and videos that said stuff about sports,” said Adam, who also enjoyed playing a basketball game on a 1930s-era court.

Purdue University physicists also visited the students for three days. Students were broken into age groups and did experiments to create marble roller coasters and charted airplane distances on graphs.

“We made bridges,” said Jason Stutsman, Fox Hill Elementary fourth-grader. “We had to see what bridge would hold the most weight.”

Before watching an Indianapolis Indians game, students learned about the physics of baseball and played Wiffleball. They also held a Hacky Sack contest, and Nathan Frankovitz won with seven consecutive juggles.

“We like to give the kids something they can take home with them like a jump rope, yo-yo or Hacky Sack,” Pomerenke said.