Skip to content

Item

July 10, 2025

Throughout June, rising 5th through 8th grade students dove into the exciting world of STEM at our Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS) STARBASE Summer Camp. Students participated in hands-on activities designed to challenge their critical thinking and inspire innovation. Students worked side-by-side with knowledgeable interns and mentors who brought real-world science and engineering to life. At GEMS STEM Camp, students engaged in a weeklong, hands-on exploration of communication technologies and economic development through interactive modeling and simulation. Campers rotated through breakout sessions where they flew and programmed drones, designed 3D models in virtual reality, built and coded Arduino-powered devices, and collaborated in Minecraft to develop virtual communities. Additional activities included photogrammetry and scanning for 3D prototyping, building radio kits, and engineering challenges like designing drone obstacle courses and building structural models. Each day ended with team challenges that promoted critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. The week concluded with a GEMS Expo where students presented their projects, including their drone missions, virtual worlds, and tech creations. 

Thank you to Ryan Foster, Kenyetta Featcher, Sheri Sico, and Margaret Jaquard, and our teacher volunteers Michael Burgos, Amy Joyce, Michelle Plank, Kelly Clarke, and Erin Braden, for their leadership and involvement with the STEM camps. You truly make a difference in helping our students learn about STEM and the career opportunities ahead of them.A special thank you to Lindsey Spalding and her team with STARBASE and GEMS camp, as well as FLVS Foundation Board member Neal Finkelstein, Chief Operations Officer of National Center for Simulation, for their continued support. Fairwinds Credit Union attended the camp for a day of learning about how the FLVS Foundation supports students through engaging STEM camps. They provided FLVS students with the opportunity to establish a special "Freedom Builder" bank account free of any monthly fees. As a surprise, each student received $125 for participating in the camp.

Related News

February 4, 2025

Celebrating the Artful Expressions Student Showcase

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Artful Expressions Student Showcase! We are so proud of our talented students and their incredible artwork, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share their creations with all of you.

Read more