A Civil-Military Youth Program
Hands‑on, minds‑on STEM at Vandenberg
Fifth graders from across the Central Coast spend 25 hours over five days with us exploring Science, Technology, Engineering & Design, and Mathematics, and meeting the people who use STEM every day at Vandenberg.
Hands-on, minds-on
What students do at STARBASE
Science
Science fundamentals, characteristic properties, motion & force, and science explorations: hands-on experiments in chemistry, physics and rocketry.
Science
Science fundamentals, characteristic properties, motion & force, and science explorations: hands-on experiments in chemistry, physics and rocketry.
Technology
Applying technology: students put the tools scientists and engineers rely on to work, from programming robots to collecting and graphing data.
Technology
Applying technology: students put the tools scientists and engineers rely on to work, from programming robots to collecting and graphing data.
Engineering & Design
The Engineering Design Process: students plan, build, test and redesign their own solutions to real challenges, from bridges to rockets.
Engineering & Design
The Engineering Design Process: students plan, build, test and redesign their own solutions to real challenges, from bridges to rockets.
3-D Computer-Aided Design
Students design in 3-D with computer-aided design (CAD) software, the same kind of tools engineers use to build real hardware.
3-D Computer-Aided Design
Students design in 3-D with computer-aided design (CAD) software, the same kind of tools engineers use to build real hardware.
Mathematics
Mathematics operations and applications: number relationships, measurement, geometry and data analysis, put to work in every experiment and design challenge.
Mathematics
Mathematics operations and applications: number relationships, measurement, geometry and data analysis, put to work in every experiment and design challenge.
STEM Careers
STEM careers on military facilities: students meet positive civilian and military role models, see STEM at work on Vandenberg, and carry out personal investigations.
STEM Careers
STEM careers on military facilities: students meet positive civilian and military role models, see STEM at work on Vandenberg, and carry out personal investigations.
Inside the classroom
Science you can touch
Our mission
To expose our nation’s youth to the technological environments and positive civilian and military role models found on Active, Guard, and Reserve military bases and installations, nurture a winning network of collaborators, and build mutual loyalty within our communities, by providing 25 hours of exemplary hands-on STEM instruction and activities that meet or exceed the national standards.
Hear from students and teachers
STARBASE in action
News and events
See what we're launching next
Across the Central Coast
School districts we serve
- Lompoc Unified School District
- Lompoc Unified School District
- Santa Maria-Bonita School District
- Santa Maria-Bonita School District
- Orcutt Union School District
- Orcutt Union School District
- Buellton Union Elementary School District
- Buellton Union Elementary School District
- College Elementary School District
- College Elementary School District
- Santa Ynez Valley Charter School
- Santa Ynez Valley Charter School
- Vandenberg Homeschool Group
- Vandenberg Homeschool Group
Bring your 5th graders to STARBASE
Teachers and districts: reach out to schedule a week of hands-on STEM at Vandenberg.