Science Camp volunteer Bob Smith teaches his students aircraft flight basics during a classroom session at the second annual Summer Science Camp held at NAWCWD China Lake, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo)
NAWCWD Educational Outreach program holds second annual Summer Science Camp
CHINA LAKE, Calif. – The China Lake Museum Foundation, with support from the NAWCWD Educational Outreach program, conducted its second annual Summer Science Camp July 12 – 14. The camp's theme “Science of Flight” focused on aircraft and rockets. Twenty-six fifth-grade students from the “Moving On Up” program at China Lake attended.
Students learned the basics of aircraft flight from Bob Smith, former chief engineer of the Weapons and Energetics Department, during classroom lectures and then gained hands-on experience using computer simulations. A “take off and land successfully” competition was conducted using the simulations to stimulate interest. A flight demonstration of a radio-controlled model airplane completed the aircraft science portion of the program.
The science of rockets was explained in classroom demonstrations and exhibits then the students, using two-liter bottle water rockets, conducted hands-on experiments outside. Each student personalized a rocket and launched it as part of the program. To add interest and excitement, a "second stage" tennis ball rocket was set on top of the water bottle rockets. The second stage appendage flew two to three times higher than the first stage, and remained in the air for more than six seconds. Students also experimented with the performance by varying the amount of water used as a catalyst and using different weights and diameters of the second stage balls.
On the last day of the camp, students visited the air traffic control center at the Range Control Center (RCC) and saw the bays where range tests are controlled and monitored. The students then migrated to Armitage Airfield and were met by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX)31 pilot, Capt. Chad Hamilton, who gave them an overview of a pilot's mission and provided a tour of the facility.
A second Summer Science Camp session will be held July 26-28 and is designed specifically for sixth-grade students. Twenty students are slated to attend. The second camp will focus on aircraft and rockets and will include some basic programming of Texas Instruments calculator robots. The summer science camp is a special event in conjunction with our education outreach efforts for school-age children who are enrolled in the “Moving On Up” program.
Using two-liter water bottle rockets, Science Camp volunteer Bob Smith conducted outdoor hands-on experiments. Each student personalized a rocket and launched it as part of the program. (U.S. Navy photo)
Volunteer Bob Smith assists a young student set up a launch experiment as part of the hands on training during the second annual Summer Science Camp. (U.S. Navy photo)
“Blast Off!” A successful water bottle rocket launch is captured during the outdoor hands on training exercise. (U.S. Navy photo)
Capt. Chad Hamilton, NAWCWD VX-31 H-1 pilot and project officer, describes his specialized equipment to the second annual Summer Science Camp students who visited the VX-31 flightline at Armitage Field July 14. (U.S. Navy photo)