I was recently privileged to serve as a volunteer with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Engineering and Construction Camp at Naval Base Ventura County. The camp is a one-week experience for rising high school juniors and seniors from across the country. SAME sponsors these camps at five military base locations. Held in conjunction with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps, SAME’s Engineering & Construction Camps offer an unparalleled experience for students to experience hands-on learning in collaboration with military engineers and SAME members.
The 40 students arrived by plane and by car – one even piloted a private plane to and from the event – and were eager to start getting their hands dirty on engineering and STEM tasks. Projects included building and then breaking a concrete beam, and a popsicle-stick bridge; building and operating both a small aerial vehicle and a small underwater vehicle; and building and racing cardboard boats. Each task included both a design phase and a construction phase. The campers also heard from a variety of senior speakers from the military STEM community. The Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps Officers School, Seabee School, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and even the Seabee museum all generously supported the camp with personnel, facilities, and resources.
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. is facing a significant need to develop adequate talent in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, with the number of jobs requiring substantial STEM expertise growing by 34% over the last decade. The SAME Engineering and Construction Camps attempt to help fill these shortfalls by giving these talented young students the opportunity to experience engineering first-hand.
As a first-time volunteer at the camp, I was mostly assigned to routine support and logistics duties, from transporting students, food and materials, to prepping project demonstrations. I was also able to use my experience to advise the students, along with the other camp staff, squad leaders, and mentors, as they developed their designs and completed their construction for each project. As the only Army veteran on the staff – all others were Navy military or civilians – I was also able to present an alternate viewpoint when it came to career options. All of the campers indicated interest in a future STEM career; many of them also indicated an interest in potentially joining the military.
Overall, my experience volunteering at the SAME Engineering and Construction Camp was rewarding and worthwhile. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge to shape young minds, and hopefully inspired a few to pursue a career in STEM or the military. Mentoring students and sharing experiences from our careers is a great way for engineering and construction professionals to strengthen the future of our industry.
