SAME’s 2026 STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps in Full Swing!

Mission: Accepted! SAME’s 2026 Camp Season Underway

SAME’s 2026 STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps are past the midpoint of its summer season. Nearly 300 high school students have made their way to military bases and campuses around the country to experience the unique blend of service and engineering firsthand, and to develop skills and confidence that will serve them well in their future careers.

Campers from across the country at the SAME/Army Camp in Vicksburg, Miss., the SAME/Air Force Academy Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., the SAME/Navy Camp at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., the SAME/Marine Corps Camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and the SAME/STEM Camp in Hawai’i finished their programs in June. In mid-July, the SAME/Navy Camp at Port Hueneme, Calif., will round out the 2026 camp season.

Each SAME national camp welcomes high-school students into a week-long program of volunteer- and mentor-led activities that introduce them to real-world engineering challenges designed to build teamwork, communication, and critical-thinking skills. The camp venues, many on active military bases, provide the students with a peek at military life, and provides a unique perspective on STEM fields and the array of opportunities available to them from the broad world of engineering, design, and construction. This year also marks the debut as a national camp of the SAME Hawai’i Camp, which was first held in 2025 at the local level and was started as part of SAME’s Leader Development Program.

Take a look back at photos capturing the memories made in some of the amazing activities and STEM-focused competitions that challenged these talented students. Stay tuned for even more photos and a comprehensive wrap-up of all of the camps as we finish the 2026 summer camps season in August.

SAME and the SAME Foundation are committed to investing in the success of the STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps while also providing critical financial support for the 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. It takes a village, they say – in our case, it takes a community of dedicated volunteers.

An extra special thank you to all of organizations, partners, and people whose generosity has made the 2026 camps season so successful. (View the list of benefactors and sponsors)

Last week the Vicksburg District successfully led the 23rd Annual SAME Engineering & Construction Camp for 40 high school students, advancing our Army’s STEM outreach while strengthening community partnerships. This is the only SAME camp sponsored by the U.S. Army, and we do it right—in Engineer City, USA. … Thanks to SAME National for the continued support, and to MG(R) Hill for spending time with our young engineers. We are already planning next year!

– COL Jeremiah Gipson, USA, Commander, USACE Vicksburg District

Check Out 2026 Camp Photos

SAME/U.S. Army Camp

Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 7-13

SAME/STEM Camp Hawai’i

Camp Paumalu, North Shore, Hawai’i, June 7-13

SAME/U.S. Navy Camp

Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, June 21-27

SAME/U.S. Marine Corps Camp

Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, June 21-27

SAME/U.S. Air Force Academy Camp

Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 22-27

More Camp Photos on the Way

Check back for photos and wrap-ups of all of the camps at the end of the summer. Find more information on the SAME STEM/Engineer & Construction Camps.

SAME Camps Related Articles

Read the recent article published by NAVFAC Southeast reporting on the Navy Camp in Jacksonville: "NAVFAC Southeast Helps Inspire Future Innovators at SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camp at NAS Jacksonville."

Find out more about how the passion and commitment of camp mentors elevate the student experiences: "Building Relationships for a Lifetime at SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps."

Stay up to date on all SAME news and more; download SAME Mobile today!

Download App