The GEMS programs at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico are a joint/collaborative effort between the U.S. Army DEVCOM Analysis Center (DAC) and the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command (ATEC). 

Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Analysis Center’s mission is to ensure that U.S. military personnel and equipment survive and function effectively in hostile circumstances. ATEC’s mission is to provide the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense, and other customers with high-quality resources and services for experimentation, test, research, assessment, development, and training in support of the Nation at war. DEVCOM Analysis Center & ATEC both employ many engineers, scientists, physicists and military personnel to accomplish their missions.  These same employees coordinate and conduct our GEMS programs.

The GEMS Summer Program in Vicksburg provides students who are going into 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th grade in 2024 the opportunity to learn more about U.S. Army engineering and STEM. Programs are free of charge. If you enjoy hands-on activities and want to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers, apply to GEMS in Vicksburg!

About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS helps solve the nation’s most challenging problems in civil and military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and environmental sciences for the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, civilian agencies, and our Nation’s public good. ERDC’s vision is to become the world’s premier public engineering and environmental sciences research and development organization.

GEMS program is a joint/collaborative effort among several organizations, including the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s (DEVCOM) – U.S. Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM-ARL), South, academic partners, and the U.S. Army Futures Command.

The GEMS Summer Program in Austin, TX provides students who are entering 7th – 9th grade in 2025 the opportunity to learn more about U.S. Army problems related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Programs are free of charge.

Join us on an exciting and fun adventure as we learn Engineering principles, Additive Manufacturing, Autonomy, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Public Policy! We’ll be forming teams to explore STEM together. Join us and learn how rewarding it is to pursue a career in STEM, as we discover how important STEM expertise is for our military to safeguard our nation. During the week we will learn and rely on Python to program robot ground vehicles to maneuver an autonomous navigation challenge. Learn how to design a functioning mechanism using real world engineering software and Engineering principles, or learn all about drones and program it to fly!

GEMS at U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – U.S. Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL West) is a STEM enrichment program for students. This year, DEVCOM ARL West will be hosting the program in-person at DoD STARBASE in Los Alamitos, CA. STARBASE is a school-like campus at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos that is dedicated to year-round STEM activities with middle and high school students including a chemistry lab, a robotics room with Mars table, a computer room, and a lunch area with a basketball court.

GEMS Los Alamitos is a FREE one-week session for middle and high school students. This year we have three offerings:

  • GEMS I: rising 6th-8th graders
  • GEMS II: rising 9th and 10th graders
  • GEMS III: rising 10th – 12th graders

No prior experience required! If you’re interested in learning more about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with activities that go beyond the normal classroom offerings, then this program is for you!

Past hands-on STEM Activities include:

  • Chemistry (silly putty/bouncy balls, endothermic/exothermic reactions, creating biodiesel fuel, pH challenge, Tollen’s reaction)
  • Biochemistry (gel electrophoresis, micropipette, crime scene investigation)
  • OnShape CAD and 3D printing
  • Flight Simulation
  • Arduino, microchip design
  • Lego Spike Robotics challenges
  • Engineering challenges
  • Rocketry (building and launching model rockets)
  • Various topics presented by career academic and government scientists/engineers (i.e. neuroscience, statistics, robotics, biomimicry, and more!)

About DEVCOM ARL West and DoD STARBASE

Started in April 2016 as part of the DEVCOM ARL Open Campus Initiative, DEVCOM ARL West is the Southern California hub of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory with a research focus on Human and Information Interaction. DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The GEMS Los Alamitos program represents a unique partnership between DoD STARBASE and DEVCOM ARL West.

 

Do you Play? We do in the modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T) workforce! Our play saves time, money and lives! Join us this summer for serious play and learn more.

The GEMS Summer program at U.S. Army Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) in Central Florida, inspires rising 6th-10th grade students to take the challenge and explore the high-wage MS&T careers found within their community. Together with our collaborators we work closely with subject matter experts across careers in the MS&T Industry. We invite near-peer-mentors from previous camps who show exceptional leadership to help engage current GEMS campers.  If you enjoy hands-on activities and want to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers in the MS&T Industry, apply to GEMS Central Florida!

To ensure all students have the opportunity to grow their STEM skills GEMS programs are free of charge to all families. As part of career explorations, each student will be treated as a young professional and be paid $ 125.00 for completing five days of serious play as a MS&T future leader!

The GEMS Summer Program in San Antonio provides students who are going into 6th through 12th grades the opportunity to learn more about U.S. Army medical science and STEM. Programs are free of charge. If you enjoy hands-on activities and want to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers, apply to GEMS in San Antonio!

About the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research

The United States U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research is the proud host of Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)!

Welcoming middle and high school students, our summer program exposes student to laboratory-based experiments and encourages the development of teamwork and leadership skills. It is a four day camp with three sessions to choose from.