SAME STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps

# SAME STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps The Society of American Military Engineers, the professional society linking military and civilian engineering, runs a national network of week-long summer camps hosted at military installations. The 2026 camps ran at six sites: Vicksburg, MS (Army), Jacksonville, FL and Port Hueneme, CA (Navy), Camp Lejeune, NC (Marine Corps), the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and Honolulu, HI. Uniformed and civilian engineers lead every activity, and lodging, meals, materials, and mentoring are included. ## What You'll Do - Take on hands-on engineering and construction challenges: building and breaking concrete beams, surveying, and designing and racing cardboard boats - Operate drones and remote-controlled submarines alongside military engineers - Tour active installations and see how engineer units support real missions - Build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in a structured, camp-wide competition environment ## Who Should Apply US high school students who are at least 15 and have completed their freshman year by departure; rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are prioritized, with a recommended 3.2 GPA, demonstrated leadership, and physical fitness. Registration fees range from $100 to $800 depending on the camp, and over 80% of campers receive partial or full sponsorship from local SAME Posts. Applications for 2026 closed March 11, 2026; the next cycle typically opens in late fall. ## Outcomes Campers graduate with a week of intensive, mentor-led engineering fieldwork, connections to SAME Posts that also fund college engineering scholarships, and a realistic look at military and civilian engineering careers.