SUN ‘n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL – The Florida Air Museum (FAM) at SUN 'n FUN has received grant assistance from the Impact Lakeland initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland (CFGL) for development and administration of the Museum’s innovative “STEMtastic Saturday Camps,” an engaging series of one day weekend camps that will help middle school students improve their understanding and appreciation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) skills. The original partial support of $5,500 awarded by CFGL in January of this year has recently been supplemented by a generous contribution of $3,800 from the George Jenkins Fund within the CFGL to complete the grant request for the FAM program.
“This valued support of CFGL now allows the Florida Air Museum’s Educational Department to implement an imaginative series of weekend activities that will provide students with fun educational experiences that relate math and engineering to real-life learning,” says John Burton, President of SUN ’n FUN Fly-In, Inc. “In recent years,” says Burton, “American student interest and achievement in math and science has declined and must be rekindled if our nation is to compete in the 21st century global economy. The camp curriculum is aligned with current Sunshine State Standards for FCAT preparation, with the goal of helping students demonstrate an improvement in STEM.”
The Florida Air Museum STEMtastic camp program will offer a minimum of seven sessions planned throughout the academic year with each Saturday being devoted to a particular topic such as flight simulators, rocketry and robotics. Campers may choose to attend all sessions or pick a session that is of particular interest to him or her. The cost of each session will be $25; scholarships will be offered to qualifying students particularly targeting organizations such as Florida’s Take Stock in Children drop-out prevention program. For information about the Florida Air Museum’s camping programs call 863-904-4073, email [email protected], or visit www.FloridaAirMuseum.org. The Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland (CFGL) founded in 1997, is dedicated to strengthening the quality of life throughout the community, the CFGL works to encourage charitable giving in all of Polk County. In July 2000, the CFGL received IRS non-profit status, and was touted as the fastest-growing community foundation in the Southeast. Since its founding 14 years ago, the CFGL has distributed more than $65 million to charitable projects in the Greater Lakeland community. For more information, access the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland website (www.cfgl.org) or call the CFGL office (863–683–3131).
