Math and science aren't everyone's favorite subjects, but somehow math and science enter into our lives every day. So we should not be afraid of them. I remember my experiences in those subjects in elementary school and junior high, and it wasn't much. However, when I had my first real science teacher show me how to run an experiment ... my eyes (and my future) opened up. Not everyone will grow up to be an engineer ... but everyone should get the opportunity to understand why an airplane flies or a rocket goes way up in the air! It's the fascination of discovery that starts us down a road we may never have found otherwise.

Six years ago, we brought STARBASE to Portsmouth Public Schools as a prototype program to see if sixth grade students would enjoy learning about airplanes and rockets. They do! They also enjoy working together to solve simple problems. And they gain self-confidence in school as they discover that math and science can actually be fun.

This year, the concept of experiential learning is expanding into the fifth grade where students will learn about climate and environment. At ENVIROBASE, taking measurements and plotting data will no longer be a mystery as they observe temperatures and cloud coverage around the world. Our classes will be part of an international effort called the GLOBE Protocol, and students will be able to understand day-to-day weather as well as the changes in seasons.

Science is not a mystery to be feared, it is an exciting world to be enjoyed. At STARBASE Victory, we are indeed "Launching Futures, One Child at a Time".