Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) cadets began a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) seminars, also known as STEM Camps, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. and the University of San Diego (USD) in San Diego, Calif. July 15.
    More than 200 NJROTC cadets from United States and Department of Defense (DoD) high schools around the world began the week-long leadership camp to learn more about engineering opportunities and enhance their science and technology skills.
     “The goal of the summer program is to promote the cadets’ interest in post-secondary education, especially in technical subjects, by acclimating them to a college campus environment and exposing them to scientific coursework,” said Dr. J. D. Smith, NJROTC program manager, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC).  “Their experiences at STEM seminars will be another building block of their leadership abilities. Providing these future leaders with bits of insight and allowing them to experience different educational subjects, helps them make personal interest decisions.”
    During the STEM seminar at USD, the cadets will take classes with college professors and participate in team projects, including the building of a robot, construction of wooden catapults, and designing shoes to walk on water. The cadets tested the final products in a competition held at the end of the week. 
    The USD STEM curriculum is structured to introduce thought, implement teamwork and apply decision making.
    At Purdue University, the cadets have the opportunity to explore many research areas while visiting the university, especially in the emerging field of alternative energy.