About SAME Camps

Each summer, SAME Camps provide aspiring engineering students from across the country an opportunity for hands-on learning in collaboration with military engineers and SAME members.

The week-long camps, held in conjunction with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps are designed for high school students who excel in math, science and technology courses and are interested in pursuing engineering, architecture, or a related field in college. The camps are led by a professional staff of engineers from both private industry and the uniformed services. Many former campers have gone on to STEM careers in both the military and civilian capacity and come back to the camp as mentors.

If you are interested, your first step is to determine if you are eligible and then go through the application process for the camp you select.

Am I Eligible?

To qualify for consideration, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be at least 15 years old and have completed their freshman year of high school at the time he/she departs for camp.
• For the US Army Camp, you must have completed your sophomore year in high school.
• Be enrolled in school at the time of the camp.
• Be on a high school track that will provide a basis for attending an accredited engineering college or university (i.e., taking appropriate math and science courses).
• Have an intent to pursue a degree in architecture, engineering or a related field.
• Have demonstrated leadership characteristics through participation in extra-curricular activities, sports, and/or community activities.
• Be physically fit and healthy.
• Be of high moral character.
• Students cannot attend more than one SAME Camp in the same year.

There are more details on the Camp Application.

Additional Information for the U.S. Air Force Academy Camp:

• If the student is completing their junior year of high school, they must provide proof of an expressed interest in applying to a Service Academy or ROTC Program (this does not include JROTC).
• Proof of being a qualified applicant.

Questions?

Contact Jeannine Finton, Camps Program Manager.

STEM Camper Alumni

Congratulations on becoming an alumnus of a SAME camp. We hope you continue to strengthen and grow the relationships you developed while at camp. Here are more resources you can access as camp alumni.

SAME College Scholarship Application

SAME offers former campers from any of the camps an opportunity to compete for a $5,000 scholarship (four-year, continuing scholarship with annual stipends of $1,250).

In addition to having attended a SAME camp, qualified applicants must be high-school seniors preparing to enter college and who will major in engineering, architecture, or other STEM field. The scholarship is not intended for those who have already been accepted to a service academy.

Download the application instructions and submission form

SAME Membership

Student members represent the next generation of innovative STEM thinkers ready to take on society’s challenges. Recognizing the need to cultivate this valuable asset, SAME offers FREE membership to all full-time students enrolled in high school, 2-year or 4-year colleges and universities (through the undergraduate level), trade schools, and military academies.

Go to the student member section for information on member benefits and how to join.

What is SAME?

A professional organization that supports your technical knowledge and career development. SAME offers a wide variety of professional development opportunities to help you stay current on issues facing the nation.

The benefits to joining SAME include:

• Scholarships ––SAME provides over $1M in scholarship money annually from the national society and our local Posts.
• Opportunities to serve as a camp mentor.
• Contacts at College chapters to learn more about the college experience.
• Participation in a Virtual Student Chapter, an online community of STEM interested students.
• Free attendance to SAME national conferences and training events.
• Networking with other SAME members.
• Access to cutting-edge professional development opportunities.
• Volunteer leadership opportunities at the local, regional and national levels to grow your skills.

Join SAME today to start building your professional network! In addition, you can also follow SAME on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to begin engaging with the organization.

Student Chapters

Student Chapters promote the goals and objectives of SAME and encourage the advancement of careers in STEM by connecting college students with private, public, and military professionals.

Student Chapters are listed in the Post directory. Scroll through the list to find a chapter near you.

Can't find a SAME Student Chapter? Take lead and start one! Find relevant information under the College Outreach Committee on how to start a Student Chapter in your local school or university. Students interested in starting a Student Chapter should contact the nearest SAME Post and ask for a mentor to assist them.

The Military Engineer

Want to keep up on what’s happening in the world of engineering, then read The Military Engineer, the official journal of SAME. Originally published as Professional Memoirs, since 1909, TME has been the leading voice championing the contributions, the achievements, and the legacy of military engineers and those aligned with ensuring the national security of the United States.

View the Special Inserts on the SAME camps

Sept/Oct Issue, 2016 | Sept/Oct issue, 2017

Mentors, Assistant Mentors, Squad Leaders & Staff Application Instructions

Be a Camp Mentor or Camp Staff

The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) annual STEM Engineering & Construction Camps offer Young Members, Non-commissioned Officers, teachers, strategic partner staff, and individuals with a STEM background a valuable opportunity to support tomorrow’s leaders and STEM professionals.

The success of the SAME camp program depends on the experience and talents contributed by the staff, cadets, college students, and other volunteers that come from our many SAME Posts and partner organizations. They fill critical mentor and staff roles.

As part of the 2022 camp season, SAME is recruiting candidates for the following positions:

• Mentors – 8-20 per camp
• Assistant Mentors/Squad Leaders - 4 to 10 per camp
• Support Loggies – 3 to 10 per camp
• Staff – 3 to 10 per camp

Want to know what being a camp mentor is like?

Kate Staebell, US Army Corps of Engineers, a 2013 camper, shares her reflections as a 2019 mentor for the SAME Army E&C camp.
(sponsored by the Rock Island Post),

Know someone that would make a good mentor or staff?

Have them submit an application

Instructions are detailed below.

The 2022 E&C camps

Mentors should plan on arriving a day or two before the camp starts for orientation.

In-Person Camps
Mentors, Assistant Mentors, & Squad Leaders

Mentors, Assistant Mentors (AM), and Squad Leaders spend the week (though some camps can accommodate shorter-term commitments) at a camp working with outstanding high school students from around the world. These individuals are assigned to groups of students to help guide, train, educate, coach, lead, and mentor the campers through each day’s activities. Mentors and AMs will work with the staff and students from first call in the morning until lights out and be with the campers 24 hours per day for the week of the camp. Additionally, mentors and AMs are asked to stay in contact with their campers after the camp is over, continue in the mentoring process, and assist in guiding the student in their future academic and professional choices.

Support Loggies

Loggies spend the week working to provide the logistical materials and supplies for all camp activities. They serve as back up support for the mentors, Assistant Mentors, and Squad Leaders. Shorter term commitments may be possible.

Criteria for Mentors:

• Ideally a SAME member, or member of another professional organization, sustaining member or strategic partner staff, or a teacher with a STEM background
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be able to successfully pass background check
• Record of active participation in SAME or another organization.
• Obtain an endorsement from the organization sponsoring you, such as the Post President, Post STEM Coordinator, or a Fellow of your SAME Post or another leader in your organization.
• Have experience in mentoring/coaching young students
• Preference is given to mentors that can spend the entire week at camp. However, the priority is to have mentors that are FULLY engaged (mentors and assistant mentors are encouraged to minimize distractions from mobile devices, emails, phone calls, etc.), so shorter-term commitments may be possible
• Experienced and working in the STEM field, including teachers – we encourage a very broad and diverse set of STEM backgrounds to provide better exposure for the campers
• Be physically fit – you will be on your feet much of the day

Criteria for Assistant Mentors, Squad Leaders, and Support Loggies:

• Have experience in mentoring/coaching young people
• Available for the duration of the camp
• Be physically fit – you will be on your feet most all day
• Must be able to successfully pass background check

In addition, to apply for a position at the Air Force Academy camp, you must be:

• College/Academy student in a STEM major
• Enrolled in a ROTC program (preferred but not required)

Staff Positions

Some camps need individuals to support the camp in a staff or leadership role. If considering volunteering, you should contact the specific camp to assess what the needs are. Positions include:

• Event Leaders — Lead an event by providing basic instruction, guidance and feedback on the unit'’ execution of the event.
• Logistics, transportation, curriculum assistant, first aid

Criteria for Staff Positions

• Ideally a SAME member, or member of another professional organization, sustaining member or strategic partner staff, or a teacher with a STEM background
• Record of active participation in SAME or another organization
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be able to successfully pass background check
• Obtain an endorsement from the organization sponsoring you, such as the Post President or a Fellow of your SAME Post or another leader in your organization
• Have experience in volunteering or working in a camp environment.
• Some staff positions may require a full week-long commitment. The priority is to have staff that are FULLY engaged (staff are encouraged to minimize distractions from mobile devices, emails, phone calls, etc.). Shorter-term assignments may be arranged. Some event positions are for a specific period
• Experienced and working in the STEM field, including teachers – we encourage a very broad and diverse set of STEM backgrounds to provide better exposure for the campers
• Be physically fit – you will be on your feet much of the day. Those engaged as logistics support should be able to occasionally lift 50 lbs.

Application Process (Deadline to submit: TBD)

• Submit an application using the link below
• Completed applications will be forwarded to the individual camp directors who will make the final selections
• Camp directors will contact the selected applicants to coordinate travel instructions and go over roles and responsibilities

Submit your Mentor/Staff Application

Got questions about serving as a mentor/staff

contact the specific camp director, or email the STEM Coordinator Jeannine Finton.

Please note: Mentors/Assistant Mentors/Squad Leaders/Loggies are encouraged to ask their Post, organization, or firm to fully support or mitigate their transportation cost. SAME will help connect you with a local Post for travel assistance. Airport pick-up, meals and lodging will be provided.

Host a Camp

For posts looking to host a camp, SAME has resources available to you.

• Camp Project Management Plan
• Camp Requirements Checklist

Contact

Cindy Miller, Chair, SAME Camps Community of Interest

Jack Seibert, SAME National Asset on Camp Development, 404 660-9063

Video

Watch STEM Camp — How to start The Exploring Engineering Academy camp.

Partnering with BSA

Want to partner with the Boy Scouts of America to develop a camp or engineering merit badge event? SAME has a national agreement with the BSA’s Learning for Life Program. Please contact Jack Seibert to connect to the Boy Scouts.

Watch the BSA promotional video: "Exploring Engineering Academy".

STEM Activities

If you need assistance with activities as part of your camp curriculum, take a look at the Boy Scouts of America STEM related merit badge requirements.

View the list of STEM related merit badges.