Wrap Up of the Inaugural SAME 2026 Hawai'i STEM Camp

The first Hawai’i STEM/Engineering & Construction Camp finishes an unforgettable week.

SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps have been going strong for over twenty years. Throughout the years, hundreds of talented high school students have experienced the week-long program designed to teach, grow, and inspire STEM focused students and help them develop skills that will serve them in their future careers.

June 7-13 marked the launch of a new STEM/Engineering & Construction Camp in Hawai’i. The lush setting of Camp Paumalu on the North Shore of Oahu welcomed 34 students who traveled to the South Pacific from across the continental United States, Hawaii, and Guam. After orientation and a welcome dinner, students were divided into squads. Each squad was led by two volunteer mentors and two squad leaders who took time off their day-jobs as industry professionals or active-duty service members to guide the students through the week of activities.

Campers experienced hands-on engineering tasks like bridge design, concrete construction, and orienteering. A friendly competition between squads was one of the highlights of the week when each group was tasked with creating a cardboard boat and then testing its seaworthiness in the camp pool. Guest speakers joined the campers throughout the week to share stories and personal career experiences. Wednesday afternoon, a field trip took students to visit the Pacific Fleet Museum and experience a poignant moment at the USS Arizona Memorial.

This summer, dozens of high school students are making their way to military bases around the country to experience military and engineering life firsthand and to develop skills that will serve them well in their future careers.

Participants at SAME/Army Camp in Vicksburg, Miss., the SAME/Air Force Academy Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., the SAME/Navy Camp at Jacksonville, Fla., the SAME/Marine Corps Camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C. finished their programs in June. In mid-July, the SAME/Navy Camp at Port Hueneme, Calif., rounds out the 2026 camp season. Each camp welcomes students into a five-day program of volunteer and mentor-led activities that will introduce them to real world engineering challenges designed to build teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Mahalo to SAME and the SAME Foundation which help to coordinate the Engineering & Construction Camps and provide critical support for our Camps Mentor program, while the SAME Camps COI is instrumental in organizing and managing all of the behind-the-scenes details that keep the camps running smoothly. A special mahalo to the incredible mentors, squad leaders, organizers, and other volunteers who are the real backbone of this program.