CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Summer has officially kicked off with Starbase Camps for military children in West Virginia.
Starbase, a nationwide Department of Defense (DoD) education program, helps introduce 5th grade students from local elementary schools to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and career opportunities via week-long STEM academies held throughout the school year.
Each Summer however, Starbase offers several week long summer camps to military member families and the local community that emphasize both STEM education, and shared bonding opportunities.
West Virginia is served by two Starbase programs; Charleston and Martinsburg.
“The Starbase Camps give kids the chance to spend time around and bond with other children of military families who have gone or are going through the same unique experiences, such as deployments or long family separations,” said Kayla Jusko, Deputy Director for the Charleston-based Starbase program. “A lot of children with military parents can’t really bond with other kids without military parents. This camp gives them an opportunity to spend time building relationships.”
While the Charleston area has one summer camp for children ages 9-14, the Martinsburg Starbase program hosts numerous camps throughout summer for children from ages 5-14.
“Our base members are amazing role models and offer their help throughout the year by mentoring students, offering tours and volunteering their time to enrich our students visit to the base,” said Sherra Triggs, Program Director for Martinsburg.
“We host these camps foremost as a way to thank the military members who so dutifully support our program. Not all of our military kids live in the school districts we serve. These camps offer the STARBASE experience to children who may not get to attend our academies with their school.”
For more information on the Starbase program in Martinsburg, including camps, contact Sherra Triggs at (304) 616-5515. For Charleston, contact Robin Barnette at (304) 341-6440. Additional information may also be found at https://www.wv.ng.mil/Starbase/.