Home > Educational Outreach > Outreach Programs > JROTC STEM Outreach Program

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The military presence at the NSC is strongly evident in our outreach to Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) summer camp and in-school programs. The NSC provides Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum and materials for 8 hours of activities (4 hours of science and 4 hours of math) that involves “learning by doing.” Two available phases of the eight 1-hour activities provides a total of 16 hours of hands-on activities. Cadets at JCLC (summer camp) or in-school programs accomplish activities such as constructing battery-powered cars, spinning coil motors, series and parallel circuits, flashlights, burglar alarms, telegraph keys, electromagnets, and engraving pencils, often using such simple materials as wire and paper clips. But it all comes down to the fact that they’re learning science, specifically basic electronics! These activities also provide an introduction and foundation for some engineering principles. The math activities consist of problem solving, role-playing, and modeling.

Feedback and survey results confirm that this program fosters team-building, a sense of accomplishment, and self-confidence in the cadets. The NSC provides all necessary instructional materials and supplies to participating camps or schools across the nation. We also conduct Train-the-Trainer workshops as needed and when practical.

Through a partnership with the Army’s Cadet Command, the NSC’s JROTC Summer Camp program began in 1993 at five Army sites. The Army’s In-school program started in 1998. Both programs remain popular and continue to grow. The Air Force JROTC has recently become an active partner with the NSC to provide this worthwhile program into Air Force summer camps and schools. The Navy JROTC is the newest participant in the program.

For additional information, contact JROTCSTEM@nscdiscovery.org.