Flying, boating, snorkeling, sailing and more — 15 sixth- through eighth-grade children will get the chance to have a month of adventures, courtesy of the Beaufort County Police Activities League and its sponsors.

The program is a four-week series of events that show the fun, but practical, side of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to underrepresented area youth and PAL organizers are actively seeking to fill the camp with 50-percent minority students, and a representation of both boys and girls, according to Alvin Powell, director of Beaufort County PAL. The camp will be free for those selected to attend.

Aviation activities are first up on the schedule for camp attendees. For two weeks, students will get an overview of aerospace careers and explore the aerodynamics of aviation flight through activities like building a hot air balloon and a glider, and flying a full motion airplane simulator before heading to the skies to operate/pilot a real airplane. This part of the camp is unlike any other offered to middle schoolers in eastern North Carolina, as the Federal Aviation Administration has not only agreed to sponsor the camp, but has designate it an Aviation Career Education camp (ACE) for middle school students, Powell said.

The third and fourth weeks of the camp go from the skies to the sea, as children learn the science of how boats float from members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, then get an introduction to kayaking, snorkeling and scuba, and get a hands-on marine ecology education through representatives from environmental education and advocacy group Sound Rivers, the Blue Region Scuba and Diving School, and the North Carolina Estuarium. The last week is dedicated learning to sail with the Little Washington Sailing School, practicing basic sailing and how to deal with emergency situations. As part of the lead-up to the water-based events, daily swimming lessons will be held from the camp’s start.

It promises to be a fun few weeks for a lucky few, but according to Powell, the fun and education is due to the work behind the scenes, building partnerships and finding funding in a variety of sources: a Burroughs Welcome Fund STEM grant BC PAL was awarded will fund the aviation and swimming aspects of the camp; Washington (noon) Rotary Club is providing scholarship funds for students to attend the Little Washington Sailing School; free breakfast and/or lunches will be provided by Care-O-World Enrichment Center and the Beaufort Area Transit System (BATS) is set to provide daily transportation.

“This camp clearly demonstrates Beaufort County’s commitment to investing in the future of the country — our youth,” Powell said.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays from June 14 to July 10. For more information about the PAL Water and Aviation STEM camp, call Washington Housing Authority-Main Office, call 252-946-0006, ext. 0.