Starbase Robins continues mission of the minds Published April 18, 2014 By Brian Shreve Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Getting schoolchildren excited about their core curriculum can literally be a matter of rocket science. But, that happens to be a specialty of Starbase Robins, an academic program which has more than accepted the challenge by gaining young students' interest in the vital areas of science, technology, engineering and math - STEM - for nearly two decades. The Department of Defense educational initiative offers an unconventional, hands-on learning environment for kids all in the name of equipping the next generation with the pragmatic skill sets needed for America's future. Starbase Robins is sponsored through a partnership with Air Force Reserve Command, the Museum of Aviation Foundation and the Museum of Aviation. Though the regular school year program is winding down, a new summer curriculum kicks off in June for students entering 6th through 8th grades. The summer program runs through the month of June and offers a different lesson plan each week, including classes in robotics, investigative science and a Pink STEM academy, which allows middle school girls to experience a variety of hands-on challenges to "establish the engineering habits of the mind," according to the program website. Those wishing more information on registering for the summer academies can visit www.starbaserobins.org. The regular Starbase program, which caters exclusively to fifth graders, arrived at Robins in 1996, starting with a small group of classes; since then, it has grown to about 30 classes with participating schools from Bibb, Houston, Bleckley and Twiggs counties. "Fifth grade is that prime age of getting them into the pipeline of becoming interested and staying interested," said Wesley Fondal Jr., Starbase Robins director. "We know that somewhere around eighth grade, most students lose interest in math and science, so we're trying to keep them interested along the way." The fifth-grade program spans the entire school year, beginning at the end of August and running through May with students spending 25 hours spread out over five weeks. Students participating in Starbase may be quickly relieved to find that the program is not classwork as usual. A typical day may include students' education in nanotechnology or even building a lab module for the international space station, which they are then able to produce using a three-dimensional printer. "We tell them they don't want to build a multi-million dollar lab module without prototyping it first," said Fondal. "So we're able to take them through that prototyping with the 3D printer, and they get to literally see the engineering design process at work." Each day consists of a new lesson, ranging from Newton's Law of Motion or molecules to rocket science and marshmallow science. Fondal said, though students seem engaged with all aspects of the curriculum, some courses are tremendously popular among children. "Rocketry is always fun with the students," he said. "Robotics is pretty interesting, and the kids really love that piece as well. During the summer, we do investigative science at camp. That one seems to be pretty popular too." Starbase Robins now features an after-school program as well, which includes STEM professionals, college students and teachers. Fondal said the program began with one school participating and has since grown to seven. Though today's students may represent the most technologically savvy generation in history, they still often lack fundamental skills in STEM curriculum, Fondal said, and that instilling these lessons in them is more challenging than ever. "They have many things to distract them - the technology itself, ironically," he said. "We want to teach them what the science is behind those things. And, that ultimately helps the United States. "You can call it national security interests as well, because we need those scientists and engineers, and in order to get that, you have to start them off early," he added.