About STARBASE Victory

Helping Portsmouth kids discover what’s possible since 2002.

OUR IMPACT & HISTORY

STARBASE Victory is a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing hands-on STEM learning to children across Portsmouth and surrounding communities. Through community partnerships, we help students explore science, technology, engineering, and math.

Our mission is simple: Give every child the chance to discover, learn, and grow.

Since 2002, STARBASE Victory has helped thousands of Portsmouth children explore new possibilities. We are the nations’s only public-private STARBASE partnership.

Our roots trace back to a Department of Defense program launched in 1989. When local program lost its sponsorship, Rear Admiral Bill Hayden, U.S. Navy (Ret), founded STARBASE Victory to continue bringing hansd-on STEM learning learning to local children.

For more than 20 years, we served over 3,600 students each school year through its partnership with Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS). Students in fourth through sixth grade visited our local facility for four-day STEM experiences where they built and launched rockets, explore new technology, and solved real-world challenges. Our lessons supported Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOLs) while helping students develop creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills.

OUR NEXT CHAPTER: MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE

Today, STARBASE Victory is building on that foundation by expanding summer camps and welcoming children from across our communities.

Our camps give curious young minds more opportunities to test, build, create, and explore through exciting hands-on projects. Along the way, they practice creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.

With the support of our community partners, we’re creating more ways for children to explore new technologies, discover career possibilities, and build skills that help prepare them for the future.

Big Futures Start with Hands-On Discovery.