Jamie Boothe has one more achievement to add to his r�sum� � West Virginia delegate at the National Youth Science Camp.

Each year, top science students in the U.S., as well as several other countries, vie for the chance to attend the prestigious camp, which is held at Camp Pocahontas in Thornwood.

Growing up in the same county where the camp is held, Boothe thought he would only be a spectator, but he took a chance and sent in his application.

ﾓIﾒve known about this camp since I was in elementary school,ﾔ Boothe said. ﾓI always wanted to go but I never thought, when I was younger, that Iﾒd be able to go. I was really surprised and happy I got in.ﾔ

The month-long camp is a science education program that offers hands-on studies in every science field, as well as in math, art and music. In their time at the camp, students attend directive study classes, do field studies throughout the county and enjoy free time with each other.

Boothe said the camp is a great place for interaction with like-minded peers.

ﾓItﾒs really great to be around all these very intelligent and unique people from all around the country and the world,ﾔ he said. ﾓComing from Pocahontas County, I havenﾒt had much exposure to different types of sciences, but this camp offers a lot of exposure to very different, varied fields in math, science and engineering.ﾔ

With a wide array of programs to choose from, Boothe has taken several different directive studies.

ﾓMy first directive study was practical statistics, then I had an outdoor class with rock climbing and mountain biking,ﾔ he said. ﾓRight now I have a class in particle physics.ﾔ

In the particle physics class, Boothe learned how to make a cloud chamber ﾖ a particle detector used to detect ionizing radiation. Bootheﾒs instructor used dry ice under the cloud chamber, which contained an ethanol alcohol saturated strip. Once the alcohol vaporized, streaks of alpha and beta particles were visible.

As he prepares for college and his future, Boothe said he will always carry this experience with him.

ﾓI think this will be very valuable to me in the future,ﾔ he said. ﾓI definitely think it has prepared me for the future.ﾔ

Two delegates from each state and a few countries are selected from thousands of applications. In the history of the camp, Boothe is the second Pocahontas County student to be selected and the first to attend. PCHS class of 1988 Valedictorian, Mark Seielstad was selected, but did not attend the camp.

Boothe served as Valedictorian to Pocahontas County High School class of 2011 and will attend Columbia University in New York this fall.