What is STARBASE?
DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program,
sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE
students participate in challenging "hands-on, mindon" activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math (STEM). The program provides students with 20-25 hours of stimulating experiences at the Air
National Guard Base in Fort Wayne, Stout Field in Indianapolis, and the National Guard Armory in South
Bend, Indiana.
Vision Statement
To raise the interest and improve the knowledge and skills of at-risk youth in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; which will provide for a highly educated and
skilled American workforce.
Mission Statement
By exposing youth to the technological environments and positive role models in civilian
professions and military installations, throughout the course of 20-25 hours of exemplary
instruction, using a curriculum that meets or exceeds the state and national standards.
WWW.STARBASEDOD.COM | WWW.STARBASEIN.ORG
STARBASE Indiana | 3005 W Ferguson Rd | Fort Wayne, IN 46809
Director 260-478-3702 | Office Manager 260-478-3712
Why STARBASE?
DoD STARBASE offers a positive, proven approach to engendering excitement and interest in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). This knowledge is important to our nation's
future because:

During this decade, employment in science and engineering occupations is expected to
increase at almost four times the rate for all occupations.

In the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), U.S. students
ranked 17th out of 65 countries in science literacy and 25th out of 65 countries in math
literacy.

In the United States less than 10 percent of graduate degrees are conferred in
engineering, mathematics and computer science. This places our country 20th
internationally in terms of graduate degrees in these critical areas.

The rapid pace of technological change, and globalization of the economy, simply
demands that our workforce be literate in science and math.

Less than 1% of current elementary school
students will seek advanced education in
the sciences.

Students who attend DoD STARBASE
Academies increase their knowledge and
skills in STEM.

Students who attend DoD STARBASE
improve their attitudes about and their
confidence in STEM.
A History of Excellence and Leadership
In 1989, Barbara Koscak a recognized leader in
education, was invited to the White House by
President Ronald Reagan and awarded the Federal
Aviation Administration's National Educator of the
Year Award. The President selected her because of
her ability to excite her students to learn Science,
Math, Engineering and Technology (STEM) and to
develop their potential for challenging careers.
Knowing that all children love airplanes, she had
created a curriculum built around space and the
physics of flight – a curriculum that was "hands-on, mind-on."
Taking her dream to the next level, she contacted Brigadier General David Arendts, who was
the 127th Wing Commander at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Together, they
discussed the possibility of students seeing the application of classroom knowledge by
observing the work of the men and women of the Air National Guard. They agreed that military
personnel could explain and demonstrate the use of science, math, engineering and technology
in their careers. National Guard personnel would also be great role models who could reinforce
the importance of education, teamwork, goal setting and self-discipline. General Arendts
embraced the idea and lent his full support for the creation of the project.
Rico Racosky, an accomplished F-16 pilot and author, was
working on a project to inspire students to achieve their dreams
through taking action. General Arendts recognized that
Racosky's ideas would be a perfect match for STARBASE and the
model of "dreams plus action = Reality®" or "d + a = R®" became
a critical component of the STARBASE curriculum.
Rick Simms, a local university student, and individuals at the
Mount Clemens School District completed the team. Together
they created an educational program that offered stimulating
"hands-on, mind-on" activities focusing on science, math, technology, personal development,
teamwork, and drug awareness and prevention.
In order to make the dream a reality, the team needed funding. In 1990, the Scott Crossfield
Foundation awarded Koscak the prestigious A. Scott Crossfield Teacher of the Year Award. The
award honors the famous pilot's personal heroes--teachers. Koscak used the award money to
fund a one-week pilot program. She bought supplies, rockets, and treats for the students of the
pilot program called "Project STARS." Teachers around the area donated their time and talents
to the summer program in 1990.
The team's next step was to apply for funding from the
W.K. Kellogg Foundation to offer a year-round program
for students, as well as a one-week training for teachers.
Project STARS was awarded a three-year grant on March
1, 1991. The response and results of the program were
impressive. In 1993, Congress allocated funds to expand
the program to seven states. This was a momentous
occasion, launching the program into its expansion. The
military and educational communities enthusiastically
embraced the program, and by year's end, it grew from
its original site at Selfridge to seven academies. The program changed its name to DoD
STARBASE. The dream of DoD STARBASE, to create a program that would respond to the needs
of today's youth by providing stimulating, "hands-on, mind-on" science, technology,
engineering and math, as well as motivational goal setting and self-esteem activities, is now a
vibrant reality. Military volunteers continue as role models who donate their time to the
program showing students how classroom concepts apply to "real world" situations.
To maintain the students' interest in STEM following their
graduation from DoD STARBASE an after-school mentoring
program, DoD STARBASE 2.0 was piloted in 2010. Five academies
initiated this relationship rich, structured mentoring program for
middle school students. The goal is to increase STEM interests and
knowledge, school attachment, and career awareness. Mentors
were
recruited from the military, academic and civilian communities. Six
additional sites added the mentoring program in FY '11.
In 2010, the curriculum was enriched and standardized. The
rigorous, innovative curriculum no longer includes drug awareness
and prevention; instead it places greater emphasis on engineering
and technology. Students design space modules using professional
engineering software and print their designs on a 3-D computer. Innovations in technology
expose students to nanotechnology; as well as navigation and map reading with "Top Secret
Mission" activities. The curriculum continues its "Wow" factor engaging students in scientific
experiments, role-play, and simulations of real-world activities.
After 18 years of success, the DoD STARBASE dream has blossomed from a single classroom to
classrooms in five regions of the country, in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Indian
Reservations, and U.S. Territories. To date, the program has provided 20-25 hours of
stimulating experiences at military bases for over 600,000 students. National Guard, Navy,
Marine, Air Force Reserve and Air Force bases are home to the program. This rapid growth truly
affirms the children of America have a need and that DoD STARBASE meets that need.
DoD STARBASE… making tomorrow happen today!
Program Description
DoD STARBASE focuses on elementary students,
primarily fifth graders. The goal is to motivate them to
explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM) as they continue their education. The
academies serve students that are historically underrepresented in STEM. Students who live in inner cities
or rural locations, those who are socio-economically
disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have
a disability are in the target group. The program
encourages students to set goals and achieve them.
The program engages students through the inquiry-based curriculum with its "hands-on, mindon" experiential activities. They study Newton's Laws and Bernoulli's principle; explore
nanotechnology, navigation and mapping. They are captivated by engineering as they use the
computer to design space stations, all-terrain vehicles, and submersibles. Math is embedded
throughout the curriculum and students use metric measurement, estimation, calculation
geometry and data analysis to solve questions. Teamwork is stressed as they work together to
explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate concepts.
The military volunteers apply abstract
principles to real world situations by leading
tours and giving lectures on the use of STEM in
different settings and careers. Since the
academies are located in different branches of
the military this experience is highly
varied. Students may discuss how chemical
fires are extinguished, learn how injured are
transported, explore workings of the A-10.
The academies work with school districts to
support their standards of learning
objectives. A teacher whose class
attended DoD STARBASE stated, "STARBASE
teaches science and math in ways that we wish
we had the time, resources and expertise to do
in the regular classroom. It's experiential,
exploratory learning with a direct tie to the
standards."
DoD STARBASE Curriculum
DoD STARBASE is a world leader in introducing the latest Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM) curriculum to elementary students. The inquiry based curriculum, engages
students in exciting "hands-on, mind-on" experiments and technology activities.
A. Physics (3.5 hours):


Newton's Laws of Motion
Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics
B. Chemistry (3.5 hours):



Building Blocks of Matter
Physical and Chemical Changes
Atmospheric Properties
C. Technology (4.0 hours):


Innovations
Navigation and Mapping
D. Engineering (4.0 hours):


Engineering and Design Process
3-D Computer Aided Design
E. Math Operations and Applications (2.0 hours):




Numbers and Number Relationships
Measurement
Geometry
Data Analysis
F. STEM Careers (1.5 hours):


STEM Careers
Personal Investigations