The ISS National Lab-PGA STEM Summer Camp (June 18-22, 2012)

Our first the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab/PGA STEM Summer Camp was a huge success! Middle-school students from five different schools in the St. Lucie County School District attended the weeklong camp at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie.

Throughout the week campers used the dynamics of golf to hone their math and physics skills. They built models that helped them learn about mass, weight gravity, projectile motion, and trajectory – all key elements in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. They also learned about the history, purpose and potential of conducting research on board the International Space Station and the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.

On the final day of the camp, students had an opportunity to speak with an aerospace engineer, as well as a research and development engineer about the importance of studying math and science and the benefits of choosing STEM-related careers in adulthood.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration Astronaut Jon McBride attended the Recognition Ceremony on the final day and spoke to students and parents about NASA’s space program and the ISS, emphasizing the skills he acquired throughout his education and career to ultimately become a U.S. astronaut. He reinforced the importance of pursuing STEM-related careers for the benefit of their own futures and that of the nation.

the ISS National Lab was thrilled to work with the PGA to make this an extremely successful camp. Here at the ISS National Lab, we look forward to continuing to develop educational programs for today’s students that utilize the ISS and space-related curriculum to engage and inspire the next generation of engineers, mathematicians, research scientists and space explorers.