Camps Community

Community Mission

Working with the network of SAME Posts, volunteers, and sponsors, the Camps Community of Interest (COI) supports the development, maintenance, and growth of a variety of camps to provide in-person experiences to students interested in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills and careers.

SAME camps help participants learn engineering and construction skills and principles through various projects involving complex problem-solving; experience the range of engineering fields they can explore based on their STEM interests; understand career options across the engineering sector; and interact with STEM volunteers and mentors. The net outcome is more STEM professionals available to meet the infrastructure and readiness needs of our nation.

The Camps is application closed on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Overview

Each year SAME supports numerous camps across the country and overseas, including five week-long in-residence Engineering & Construction Camps for high school students, to provide students with first-hand experience in STEM. Posts across the world support additional one-day to multi-day camps, extending the reach of the Society to more students.

This COI is open to any SAME member, strategic partner, member company, or donor interested in ensuring SAME continues to provide such in-person experiences.

COI Goals

• Provide a world-class STEM engagement program

• Recruit campers, staff and mentors at both the national and local level

• Expand the number of camp opportunities to engage more young people

• Ensure high school students continue on a STEM path after graduating

• Foster an alumni network engaged in the work of the Society

Strategic Alignment

Goal 2: Build and Sustain Resilient Communities–Lead efforts to prepare communities to absorb, recover, and adapt from natural and man-made threats, fortify our nation’s resolve directly where people work and live.

SAME Camps’ ability to contribute to technical and leadership skill-building in a competitive environment pushes campers resolve to solve problems. They become an important factor in their community’s ability to be resilient.

Goal 3: Develop Leaders for the Profession–Lead efforts to enhance leadership development and cultivate the talent necessary to address the nation’s grand challenges; ensure the enduring stewardship of the A/E/C profession.

At every turn, campers are presented with problems they must investigate, plot solutions, and test their plans. Success is not guaranteed, but that is part of the learning process. Campers understand that their ability to work in teams amplifies the impact they can make. They learn when to lead and when to follow, skills that contribute to the enduring stewardship of the A/E/C profession.

Goal 4: Enrich the STEM Pipeline for the Nation–Lead efforts to inspire, encourage, and enable youth to pursue STEM careers; help them develop the technical capacity that our nation needs to remain globally competitive.

Camps provide in-person experiences to students interested in exploring STEM-related skills and careers. Campers get to interact with scientists and engineers and hear about the path they followed in pursuing their careers. Campers gain a sense of what it takes to become a STEM professional and what options exist to explore that interest from high school to college and beyond. The net outcome is more STEM professionals available to meet the technical needs of our nation and remain globally competitive.

Upcoming National Webinars

• 
  January 14, 2026

  Webinar

  Journey to SAME Fellow Webinar

  No two careers are the same and our paths may twist and turn as we carry our passions towards out goals. However, those detours don’t need to come at the expense of our long-term goals and achievements! In fact, they may be some of the most rewarding and challenging experiences. Thinking through and making a game plan during these seasons to make sure our long-term goals stay on track is incredibly important if we want to meet those goals.
• 
  January 21, 2026

  Webinar

  Assessment and Inspection Process for Sites with General Radioactive Materials

  A framework has been recently developed which provides a standardized approach in conducting a Preliminary Assessment (PA) and Site Inspection (SI) for sites with a known presence or potential presence of General-Radioactive Materials (G-RAM).
• 
  January 22, 2026

  Webinar

  Business Impacts of the FAR Revisions and Contract Vehicle Realignment

  The government contracting landscape has been redefined through recent revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs). All businesses alike and federal agencies are operating under a totally new set of rules based on recently released FAR 19 revisions and contract vehicle realignment.
• 
  January 27, 2026

  Webinar

  Credentialing for Successful Careers

  This webinar will provide an overview of professional credentialing pathways for individuals transitioning within or into the A/E/C, national security, and public service sectors.