It’s a different and in some respects exciting approach to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Math principles to South Dakota 5th Graders.

The STARBASE Program is funded by the federal Department of Defense and administered locally by the South Dakota National Guard. Local Director Vonny Revell explained that students get a wealth of knowledge in a short time.

“Kids spend 25 hours with us. We have hands-on activities like measuring with a graduated cylinder and a triple beam balance. Plus we do everything in teams.”

According to Revell, concrete proof of the program’s effectiveness is found in STEP Test results.

“Kids do much better on the Dakota Step testing because the teachers hear their students say ‘We learned that in STARBASE.’”

Revell also revealed that STARBASE is not a recruiting tool for the military, but the different military branches utilize a lot of people who enter the STEM field.

STARBASE uses both the Army and Air National Guard facilities at the Sioux Falls Regional airport. Meanwhile in western South Dakota, students are sent to Camp Rapid.

Federal funds cover the cost of salaries and some supplies, however some fundraising is needed for renting space at the sites. Other states have their own STARBASE programs, but only South Dakota offers a mobile classroom to take the teaching into the rural areas.


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