The Spring Lake Campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College is gearing up for the first summer STEM Academy. Students from Spring Lake Middle School, which includes many military families, will have the unique opportu-nity to participate in a five-week summer academy that focuses on science, technol-gy, engineering and math.

For four weeks, students engage in exciting hands-on learning activities that are designed to excite and increase curiosity about how things work. Each week, students will have the opportunity to complete projects, such as building/constructing a Tetrahedron Kite, obtaining knowledge about the principles of flight and basic construction, and learning how to select the proper materials for the best results. Another project students will complete will be a Solar Oven. Students will learn the basics of energy and how scientists constantly discover new energy resources. They will use virtual blueprinting and raw materials to design and construct an oven that actually bakes cookies. The final project will involve the use of modern-day technology for navigation. With the use of a Global Positioning System, students will locate objects needed to con-struct a specific project. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in online learning.

Volunteer instructors from R. Max Abbott and Spring Lake Middle School will provide instruction, and mentors from the FTCC’s Male Mentoring and Future Seekers will assist in the classrooms throughout the summer.

During the week of July 30-Aug. 2, workshops will be offered for family members to increase their awareness of community resources and support the overall mental health of these families. Below are some of the workshop topics:

• Career Exploration

• Preparing for High School

• How do I Afford to Send My Child to College?

• Coping with Deployment

• Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying

• Gang Prevention•

• Help with Homework

And end-of-program awards ceremony will take place Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon, with student projects on display and a luncheon for the families.

Applications may be picked up at Spring Lake Middle School and at FTCC’s Spring Lake Campus (171 Lake Tree Blvd., Spring Lake). Applications must be sub-mitted by May 31. Students will be noti-fied of their selection by June 4. The STEM Academy begins on July 2, and runs through Aug. 3. The hours are from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The project is sponsored by Fayetteville Technical Community College, Town of Spring Lake and Wal-Mart Foundation through the Community Blueprint/Give-an-Hour grant.

We look forward to a summer of fun, exploration and adventure.

Photo: At the STEM Academy students engage in exciting hands-on learning activities that are designed to excite and increase curiosity about how things work.