Camp students build, launch and (hopefully) recover rockets with fragile egg payloads.

Space STEM Camp, a collaborative educational initiative between the Martz-Kohl Observatory, Falconer Central Schools, and Jamestown Community College will return from July 13-17.

The weeklong program offers students entering seventh through ninth grades an opportunity to engage in hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Registration for the camp opens today.

The curriculum is designed to move beyond traditional classroom instruction, challenging students to apply technical skills to real-world projects. Participants will gain experience in robotic rover programming at JCC, investigate the physics of aerospace engineering through rocket construction, and explore the chemical composition of stars using spectrometry. Furthermore, every camper will construct a Galileo-type telescope to retain for their personal use. Program director Mary Plumb emphasizes that the camp transforms students from spectators into active participants, equipping them with the practical tools necessary for future scientific inquiry.

The program utilizes the professional facilities of the JCC campus and the Martz-Kohl Observatory in Frewsburg. A highlight of the curriculum is the Wednesday “Late Night” session, which shifts operating hours from 4 to 11 p.m. to provide students with the opportunity to observe the night sky using the observatory’s 24-inch telescope. Beyond technical expertise, the camp addresses the humanitarian side of exploration by introducing students to international space policy and the importance of global cooperation in scientific endeavors.

Open to students from public and private schools across Western New York and northwest Pennsylvania, the camp is made accessible through local grants, resulting in a registration fee of $50. Families are responsible for daily transportation to the JCC campus; however, bus transportation between the college and the observatory is provided for the duration of the program. While snacks and select meals, including dinner on Wednesday, are provided, students are asked to supply their own lunches on other days.

Now in its fourth year, the Space STEM Camp serves as a vital bridge between middle school curiosity and professional pathways in engineering and physics. The week concludes with a celebratory reception on Friday, where families are invited to observe the projects completed by the students. For more information or to complete the registration process, visit martzobservatory.org/space-stem-camp.