MISSISSIPPI STATE – NASA is partnering with the Mississippi State University Extension Service to bring science, technology, engineering and math content to youth through the Summer of Innovation program.

The program is designed to align with the White House initiative “Innovate to Educate.” Middle school students will have opportunities to build stomp rocket and water rocket launchers, create a candy solar system, construct a solar oven and more as they study gravity, physics and lunar habitats. The goal of the program is to increase the number of future engineers, mathematicians and scientists in the United States.

Interested youth can register through their county 4-H agent but do not have to be 4-H members to participate. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each camp is limited to 30 participants. A Summer of Innovation camp will be held on the MSU campus on June 27-29. For more information, call the local county Extension office or the Computer Applications and Services Department at (662) 325-3226.

Financial support secured by the MSU Extension Service’s Computer Applications and Services Department and 4-H will bring this pilot program to 25 counties in Mississippi. NASA will supply funding, curriculum and staff training, while 4-H and CAS provide the personnel to organize and conduct the camps.