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THE COLLEGES THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA’S (UNO) AIM FOR THE STARS SUMMER CAMP IS CELEBRATING ITS 25TH YEAR OF OFFERING HANDSON LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THE CAMP TAKES PLACE ON UNO’S CAMPUS AND OFFERS DIVERSE PROGRAMS IN FIELDS LIKE ROBOTICS, FORENSICS AND BIOMECHANICS, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THE CAMP’S CONNECTION TO UNO ALSO ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND AN EARLY INTRODUCTION TO HIGHER EDUCATION. Nearly 1,000 kids participate in the Aim for the Stars summer camps each year.
Aim for the Stars: 25 Years of Inspiring Young Innovators From exploring animal adaptations through field trips to the zoo to creating intricate dioramas that demonstrate engineering processes in the biomedical field, to learning how to land a plane in the Aviation Institute’s flight simulator, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Aim for the Stars summer camp focuses on providing students ranging from third through tenth grade with a handson learning experience. “The kids get to interact with the subject that they’re learning about. They’re getting to have actual experiences and are interacting with math and science in a way that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to do. They become immersed in the subjects, and that’s what helps them make connections with their learning,” said Erin Dahl, the director of Aim for the Stars. This year, the camp marks its 25th summer inspiring the curiosity of budding scientists, engineers and mathematicians. The camp’s diverse programs are designed to engage with students in a way that can’t be done in a typical classroom setting. Dahl states that this is due in part to the camp taking place on UNO’s campus.
“Being connected to UNO has had a great impact on our organization. We’ve been able to establish relationships with different departments on campus, which has opened so many doors for the kids,” said Dahl.
they don’t have anyone supporting them. At school is where they feel loved and safe. They may go home somewhere else, but it’s that anticipation of school that makes them feel better about life.”
“Our astronomy camp was able to visit the Aviation Institute this summer and get to try out the flight simulator. Our 3D printing camps visit the creative production lab at the library where they’re able to 3D print their own creations and see the equipment.”
In the future, Dahl hopes that Aim for the Stars can expand their outreach to serve an even larger population of young innovators. The program is looking at the possibility of extending the camp to include after-school outreach programs.
Dahl, who began her term as director of Aim for the Stars in January 2023, says that for many students the impact of camp goes far beyond what they’re learning in their classrooms. As a life-long educator who has been teaching in the Omaha community for nearly two decades, Dahl is committed to curating an environment that fosters stability and safety for kids.
In a world where classrooms might be the only safe spaces for some, Aim for the Stars steps in during the summer months, extending that sanctuary, and making lives better for countless young individuals. Aim for the Stars is more than a camp; it’s a launchpad for dreams, a source of inspiration, and a testament to the power of hands-on education.
“Of course, I want the students who attend our camps to have an intense drive to go into those STEM fields, but I also want them to feel like this is a safe space for them,” said Dahl. “There are so many kids who go to school, and their classrooms are that safe space for them. Then, in the summertime,
Here’s to another 25 years and beyond of lighting up young minds and guiding them toward the stars. — Bella Lockwood