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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.

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