STEM Day Camps

Question 1

What is elementary day camp?

Accepted Answer

The Elementary Day Camp curriculum is designated for students entering grades 4, 5 and 6 in the fall semester of each year. Elementary Camps are first come first serve. The focus of the overall experience is to expose students to a very broad bandwidth of professions connected to the STEM fields with an emphasis on aviation and aeronautics. This program is designed to foster confidence, curiosity, and capabilities amongst participants to pursue a broad array of STEM education and career opportunities in the future. Each summer there are multi-day and single day events. Please see our website for a full list of camps.

Question 2

What is the itinerary for a multi-day elementary day camp?

Accepted Answer

For security reasons and the safety of the children, we do not publish our schedule / itinerary. Sites that we have visited in past years have included: Huffman Prairie, NMUSAF, Young's Dairy, Sinclair College, Cox Arboretum and a number of stops along the Aviation Trail (Wright Dunbar, Wright Bicycle Shop, Carillon Park). The curriculum changes every year and is highly engaging and very hands on.

Question 3

Is it possible to combine a single day elementary summer camp to create a multi-day camp?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Our summer 1-day Elementary Camps are designed to be unique so that a participant can attend more than one session and receive different immersive experiences.

Question 4

Who supervises participants at air camp?

Accepted Answer

Student participants are all part of the greater Air Camp group of up to 48 students per camp. However, each student belongs to one of four flights for all learning modules: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, or Delta. Each flight is composed of up to 12 students and led directly by a flight leader. It is a priority to employ licensed, practicing STEM teachers who are properly trained flight leaders to facilitate and execute all activities and accompany the students during the day.

Question 5

Is it possible to indicate another person to drop off or pick up my child?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Within the registration process you may indicate other “Authorized Persons” to pick up your child. Authorized persons should be prepared to show proper identification at the designated pickup location.

Question 6

Is there an early drop off / late pick up service available?

Accepted Answer

YES! There is an extended period of time for drop off and / or pick up for students to accommodate family schedules when needed for up to a half hour at the beginning and end of each day. There is an additional cost for this service daily. If an early drop off or late pick up is requested for your child the cost is $10 per day per pick up / drop off. E.g. If your child is going to be both dropped off early and picked up late on the first day of camp the extra cost to you is $20. All payments for early drop off and / or late pick up will be added to your registration fee.

Question 7

Can a student that is not an Ohio resident attend air camp?

Accepted Answer

ABSOLUTELY! Air Camp is a National Camp with participants attending from all over the United States.

Question 8

Additional NATA Scholarships

Accepted Answer

Richard L. Taylor Flight Training Scholarship  - Deadline: Last Friday in March
 	Navigate Your Future Scholarship  - Deadline: Last Friday in June
 	Dan L. Meisinger Sr. Memorial Learn to Fly Scholarship - Deadline: Last Friday in November
 	Pioneers of Flight Scholarship  - Deadline: Last Friday in December
 	NATA Business Scholarship  - Deadline: Last Friday in December

Question 9

Student Contests

Accepted Answer

Aerial Drone Competition - The Aerial Drone Competition offers an exciting educational drone sporting event that focuses on hands-on, student-centered learning. Teams learn about drones, flight principles, programming, documentation and communication skills while expanding their understanding and building interest for Drone-related workforce and career opportunities. Grants are available through DoDSTEM.
 	Bio-Coding Club - The Office for STEM Engagement and Inclusion at the Broad Institute created the Bio-Coding Club as an after-school program to teach students in grades 6-8 about both biology and computer coding. The Bio-Coding Club curriculum combines engaging hands-on activities with coding challenges using the Scratch programming language. Educators are provided with all the tools needed to run successful student-driven coding projects related to biology, and to boost student interest in STEM by making science fun. Modules cover topics related to DNA, Neuroscience, Infectious Disease, Human Microbiome, and Evolution.
 	The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) - The world’s largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing each year.  The contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets with hands-on experience solving engineering problems. 
 	DoD STEM Opportunities - Build robots, solve real world problems, and work at the cutting edge of technology.  DoD STEM has opportunities for students of all ages.  Check out these STEM programs, internships, scholarships, and more by clicking on your state!
 	ExploraVision Science Fair & STEM Competition -The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition has challenges for K–12 students to employ problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork to imagine a future technology. You will find everything you need to implement ExploraVision in your classroom including sample projects, lesson plans, classroom tips, and other resources.  Deadline: February 3, 2026
 	eCybermission - Phenomenon-based STEM Competition free for 6-9 graders.  Students form teams of 2-4 and work together to identify a community problem and use scientific inquiry or engineering design to propose a solution to the problem.  Registration August 15 - February 26, 2025.  
 	FAA - Airport Design Challenge - The FAA Airport Design Challenge is an annual virtual competition for K–12 students to learn about airport design and aviation careers by building realistic airports in Minecraft, guided by FAA experts and structured STEM lessons.
 	FIRST Robotics - Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. 
 	Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) - Perform original research, present findings, and compete for scholarships, aid, and opportunities. JSHS exposes students to diversity of thought, and promotes learning that can be applied to regular studies and real life.
 	NASAO International Aviation Art Contest - This international contest encourages young people to demonstrate the importance of aviation through their art and motivates them to become more familiar with and participate in aeronautics, engineering, and science.
 	Real World Design Challenge
 	STEM BONDS 5811 Robotics Team (Local Dayton Area)

BONDS Robotics is a Dayton community team for students in 7th through 12th grade. The team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition, building a robot for competition each year. Run like a small business, the BONDS team has something for everyone, with students having the opportunity to focus on build, programming, electrical, business, marketing, fundraising, and outreach. Our goal is to bring STEM opportunities to Dayton students, both by engaging in outreach events and by providing valuable skills to team members.

VEX Robotics World Champions

Prepares students to become future innovators with a Robot Skills Challenge online challenges using CAD, animation, essays, and more.

Question 10

Aviation Events

Accepted Answer

Dayton Air Show  (Dayton International Airport | Vandalia, OH) - June 13-14, 2026
 	EAA Air Venture  (Wittman Regional Airport | Oshkosh, WI) - July 20-26, 2026
 	Columbus Air Show  (Rickenbacker International Airport | Columbus, OH)  - August 22-24, 2025
 	Lunken Airport Days (Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport | Cincinnati, OH) - September 5-7, 2025

Question 11

Student Programs/Opportunities

Accepted Answer

Aim High Flight Academy (AHFA) 
 	Air Mobility Command Aviation Summer Camp (Location: Dover AFB, Delaware)
 	American Airlines CR Smith Museum Aviation STEM Summer Camp (Location: Forth Worth, Texas)
 	Aviation Museum of New Hampshire Flights of Discovery Camp (Location: Londonderry, New Hampshire)
 	Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Experience Camps (Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan)
 	Aerospace Museum of California (Location: McClellan, California)
 	Army & Navy Academy Aviation Camp (Location: Carlsbad, California)
 	Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy (Location: Oshkosh, WI)
 	Aviation Museum of Kentucky Aviation Camps (Location: Lexington, Kentucky)
 	Boeing - Student Programs
 	Civil Air Patrol - Youth Cadet   (Organizations across the US)
 	Combat Air Museum Young Aviators Education Classes (Location: Topeka, Kansas)
 	Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Aviation Camp (Location: Mesa, Arizona)
 	Commemorative Air Force National Aviation Education Center Camp SOAR (Location: Dallas, Texas)
 	Cradle of Aviation Museum STEM & Space Camps (Location: Garden City, New York)
 	Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Air Academy   (Location: Oshkosh, WI)
 	Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) KidVenture Program   (Location: Oshkosh, WI)
 	Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program (Organizations across the US)
 	Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum Aerospace Summer Camp (Location: McMinnville, Oregon)
 	Florida Air Museum  (Location: Lakeland, Florida)
 	Frontiers of Flight Museum Summer Camps  (Location: Dallas, Texas)
 	Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)  (Location: Multiple Across US)
 	Georgia Air & Space Museum ASPIRE Aviation Summer Camps (Location: Atlanta, Georgia)
 	High School Tech Internship (Location: Multiple Locations across Ohio)
 	Hiller Aviation Museum Aviation Camp (Location: San Carolos, California)
 	iSpace STEM LEARNING (Location: Cincinnati, OH)
 	Lone Star Flight Museum Summer Camps (Location: Houston, Texas)
 	Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation Junior Pilot Summer Camp (Location: Sioux City, Iowa)
 	Military Aviation Museum Aviation Adventure Camp (Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia)
 	Mississippi Aviation Museum Summer Camp (Location: Gulfport, Mississippi)
 	Museum of Flight Aerospace Camp Experience (Location: Seattle, Washington)
 	National Air and Space Museum S.H.E Can STEAM Camp (Location: Chantilly, Virginia & Springdale, Arkansas)
 	National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) 
 	National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force (Location: Pooler, Georgia)
 	National Museum of the United States Air Force Aerospace Camp (Location: Dayton, Ohio)
 	National Naval Aviation Museum Flight Adventure Deck Camp (Location: Pensacola, Florida)
 	New England Air Museum Aerospace Academy Summer Camp (Location: Windsor Locks, Connecticut)
 	Pacific Coast Air Museum Aviation Summer School (Location: Santa Rosa, California)
 	Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Summer STEM Camps (Location: Honolulu, Hawaii)
 	Pearson Field Education Center Foundations of Flight (Location: Vancouver, Washington)
 	San Diego Air & Space Museum Summer Camps (Location: San Diego, California)
 	USAF Museum of Aviation (Location: Warner Robins, Georgia)
 	US Space & Rocket Center Space Camps (Location: Huntsville, Alabama)
 	Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Summer Camps (Location: Denver, Colorado)

STEM Day Camps

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Resources Beyond Air Camp

AIAA and Club for the Future’s Resilient Student Scholarship

Aim High Flight Academy

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Scholarships

Airline Career Pilot Program

Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) Scholarships

Amazon Future Engineer

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Latino Pilots Association (LPA)

National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA)

National Air Transportation Association (NATA)

Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP)

SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program

Sisters of the Skies (SOS)

Women in Aviation International (WAI)

Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships & Awards (99s)

Upcoming Camps

STEM DAY CAMP: Careers in Airport Technical Operations

Discover Dayton–birthplace of flight

Air Camp Email List