Add as a preferred source on Google

U.S. Department of Education Partners with Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum to Launch "She Can" STEM Summer Camp

  • 05/22/18

Washington, D.C. – Continuing its efforts to emphasize the value and importance of education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the U.S. Department of Education has partnered with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum to launch the "She Can" Summer Camp.

"I'd like to thank the President for donating his salary to the Department, which enabled us to partner with the Smithsonian and double the amount of girls that could be a part of this life-changing experience," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "We know early exposure to the STEM fields helps set students on a strong trajectory. This Camp will encourage girls to seek out future professions in STEM and aviation, and empower them to never stop reaching for the stars."

The Camp is designed for students with an interest in aviation and seeks to empower young women to succeed in STEM disciplines. Throughout the two-week Camp, the students will participate in a number of aviation activities, including hands-on flight instruction on FAA certified simulators, a 30-minute discovery flight with a local flight school, a high-altitude weather balloon launch and indoor skydiving. They will also meet women working in a variety of aviation fields, such as air traffic control, cyber security and commercial aviation.

Open to sixth through eighth grade girls, the museum will offer the free aviation-focused experience to underserved students in D.C., Maryland and Virginia at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.

Participants must be from Title 1-eligible schools or be eligible for free or reduced lunch. Interested students must submit an application. The application is available on the museum's website at airandspace.si.edu/shecan.

The Department will invest more than $200 million dollars this year in discretionary grants promoting STEM education with a particular focus on computer science.

Featured

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

Digital Edition