STARBASE Victory is a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to providing engaging, hands-on STEM education to students in Portsmouth, Virginia. We are a 501(c)3 organization, and our success is built on a strong partnership with Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS). Every 4th, 5th, 6th grader, have opportunities to be engaged in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to learn and prepare for a better future! Our mission is to provide early access to innovative and experiential STEM learning opportunities for all students.

IMPACT & HISTORY

We’ve been serving the Portsmouth community since 2002, and for over 20 years, our program has consistently delivered positive outcomes. We’re proud to be the only public/private STARBASE partnership in the United States.

The STARBASE program began in 1989 as a community relations project for the Department of Defense and was brought to Hampton Roads in 1996. While many of the original federally funded STARBASE programs were impacted by budget cuts, our Executive Director, Bill Hayden, was determined to continue the program’s legacy in Hampton Roads. In 2002, he founded STARBASE Victory after the local Norfolk program lost its sponsorship.

Today, we serve over 3,600 students throughout the school year, and our popular summer camps bring many of them back for an extended curriculum.

WHAT WE DO

STARBASE Victory provides a one-of-a-kind, four-day experience for every 4th, 5th, and 6th grader in the Portsmouth Public School system. We transport students from their schools to our facility, where they participate in a curriculum that is continuously updated by our team of dedicated teachers. Our program:

Provides STEM Education: We engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math through our experiential curriculum, which aligns with state Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Encourages Participation: Each student receives a “team jersey” (a program T-shirt) and a unique call sign to foster a sense of belonging. Through hands-on projects, such as building and launching their own rockets, students create lasting learning moments while improving their reading and writing skills through mission logs.

Instills Critical Thinking: We help students develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills through our experience-based curriculum.

Introduces Career Skills: We expose students to marketable technologies and teach them valuable skills like goal-setting and teamwork, preparing them for future careers.