WALLOPS ISLAND, VA — The Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA), a non-profit educational organization based in Wallops Island, Va., is celebrating 26 years of its highly successful and widely praised Space Adventure Camp at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility with several notable achievements. This fast-paced, dynamic camp provides hundreds of diverse students nationwide with unparalleled access to NASA’s cutting-edge aerospace technology and facilities.
VASFA’s Space Adventure Camp is the only space-themed camp with behind-the-scenes access at an operating NASA facility. This unique experience inspires campers to pursue STEM careers by bringing their aspirations to life and reinforcing their passions.
Every summer, over six weeks, approximately 220 campers aged 11 to 16 arrive at Wallops Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for an unforgettable residential camp experience that combines state-of-the-art STEM education with traditional, fun summer camp activities.
VASFA’s Space Adventure Camp is proud to announce several mission milestones in 2024 aimed at expanding access to innovative learning experiences, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities to foster interest in STEM careers:
- Gender Equality Achieved: For the first time, the camp achieved gender equity, with an equal number of female and male campers. Notably, the Advanced Aerospace Camp during the fifth week included more female campers – marking a significant milestone in VASFA’s longstanding commitment to inclusion.
- Commitment to Diversity: Additionally, this summer, 43% of space campers were people of color, demonstrating VASFA’s dedication to fostering equity and diversity in STEM education and careers.
- Increased Scholarship Awards: VASFA awarded 50 scholarships this year, up from 27 in 2023. This increase ensures that all students have the opportunity to experience VASFA’s unique STEM programs.
- Launching Careers: VASFA is proud to have two camp staff members who were once campers themselves, with one having attended Space Camp multiple times. Additionally, several camp staff will continue with internships and jobs after camp with VASFA’s industry partners, furthering the legacy and impact of the camp experience.
Kim Check, Executive Director of VASFA, expressed her pride in the camp’s achievements, stating, “We are thrilled to celebrate these significant milestones in our 26th year. Achieving gender equity and increasing diversity among our campers are essential steps toward building a more inclusive STEM community. In 2023, the gender gap in STEM remains significant, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Our mission at VASFA is to inspire and empower the next generation of diverse STEM leaders, and we are proud to see our efforts making a real impact.”
VASFA’s successful mission of empowering all students to see themselves as future STEM leaders is greatly supported by generous contributions of the Bahethi Family Foundation, begun by Om and Sara Bahethi, founders of Science Systems and Applications, Inc.; the Richard A. Henson Foundation; and generous individuals such as Paul and Betty Bibbins.
VASFA is proud to see many inspirational young people fulfilling their dreams each summer. These campers are our future. Perhaps one day, this year’s Space Adventure Camp alums will lead innovations in aerospace, such as engineering new spacecraft and contributing to groundbreaking discoveries in the aerospace and space exploration fields.
For more information about VASFA, please visit www.vasfa.org.
For more information about NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, please visit www.nasa.gov/wallops.
