TESI Curriculum Module: Aerospace Engineering Camp
Do you have a teen who shows an interest in space, flight, rockets or other craft that fly? Are they interested in engineering? Would you like them to work with their hands building projects that fly, learning the math and science behind that, and to try out a new future now? If so then you’ve found the right spot for them this summer! Our aerospace engineering camp rocks!
TryEngineering Summer Institute sparks enthusiasm in engineering and technology in high school students towards their possible future in the booming aerospace industry. Our intention is to provide high school students a path forward, to see themselves as people for whom aerospace engineering is a towards a future in some aspect of aerospace engineering. Our ten-day program is designed to empower students while giving them real-world skills and a great academic program to put on their college applications.
Simply put, we are out to create the next generation of problem-solvers and difference-makers, and position these innovators for long-term success in academics and in life.
This hands-on course is geared towards students who are problem solves, difference makers, and want to position themselves for long term success within a STEM field. Students will engage in hands-on aerospace design challenges, and get a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to be an aerospace engineer. Our aerospace engineering camp not only looks to help improve students understand the fundamentals of aerospace engineering, but to look to the future and think how they can make real life impact.
Not only will students be able to work with their peers on complex aerospace projects, they will also be able to learn from our staff and world renown guest speakers. Students will also be able to watch firsthand how real life engineers do their job with our behind the scenes tours and field trips.
You can learn more about the aerospace engineering projects that students will work on at the TryEngineering Summer Institute below, but also remember that aerospace is not the only focus of our engineering camp. Students will be able to explore the fundamentals of civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering with our program and find the engineering focus that fits them best. IEEE has provided a wonderful program!
Aerospace Engineering Camp Projects:
While at our aerospace engineering summer camp students will be able to work hands on with our Glider & Wing Design and Rocket Launch project. We believe working hands on is one of the best ways to learn the fundamentals of aerospace engineering, and we have found that students not only learn but have fun with our aerospace projects. Keep reading to see in detail how we teach aerospace engineering concepts.
Glider & Wing Design
Students will work in teams to explore aircraft and wing materials, shapes, and structures to maximize the glide slope of a glider. They will create an optimal wing design that will propel their glider the furthest distance. In this activity we will consider the principles of flight, including lift and drag, and students will design, build and test (from scratch) a glider that will carry the payload of an actual shoebox (which is fairly weighty indeed) the farthest.
Rocket Launch
In this activity we’ll focus on aerospace engineering and how space flight has been achieved from an engineering vantage point. Students will work with instructors to understand the forces acting on a rocket, Newton's Laws, and other principles and challenges of an actual space vehicle launch. Students work individually to construct and test launch a rocket using a basic kit which they customize. Then based on their results, they will re-engineer their rocket and retest for improved accuracy and altitude. Students will build an altitude tracker and use for the competition.
Program Dates and Locations:
University of San Diego (San Diego, California): June 30 - July 9, 2023 AND July 12 - July 21, 2023
Rice University (Houston, Texas): June 30 - July 9, 2023 AND July 12 - July 21, 2023
University Of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): July 9 - 18, 2023 AND July 21 - July 30, 2023
This co-ed day and residential engineering summer camp is open to any student ages 13-17.
Learn more about the TryEngineering summer campuses: University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego, or Rice University
Tuition:
Sleepaway/Residential: $3895 ($3795 for IEEE members)
Commuter/Day: $2495 ($2395 for IEEE members)
Scholarship Opportunities:
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Click HERE for more information.
Other Engineering Focuses within TESI Program:
Computer Engineering Summer Camp
Mechanical Engineering Summer Camp
Civil Engineering Summer Camp
Electrical Engineering Summer Camp
If you want to learn more about all the different fields of engineering, be sure to check out all of our engineering articles below which will help you get a feel of each different subset we have to offer:
At the TryEngineering Summer Institute summer engineering programs for high school students, you’ll explore various engineering fields, such as electrical, civil, mechanical, and aerospace. Our STEM summer course allows you to meet working engineers and experience VIP tours of engineering companies and centers. Learn new skills and engage in hands-on projects that explore how engineers can solve real-world problems.
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a program from IEEE, the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology. Our more than 417,000 members in 160 countries, including more than 120,000 student members, help us provide the trusted "voice" for engineering, computing and technology information around the globe via highly-cited publications, conferences, technology standards and professional and educational activities. Our curriculum is created specifically for this program by IEEE STEM summer specialists.
In previous summers, some of the exciting field trips our TryEngineering Summer Institute students enjoyed included:
- NASA's Johnson Space Center (Rice University students)
"The overall experience was awesome and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. Some of the highlights: the flight simulator and the field trip to the World Trade Tower and ConEdison. Getting out and about was nice and it took the classroom to the real world." - former student
Our Engineering Program: Aerospace Engineering Camp
TryEngineering's 2023 engineering camp gives teens the opportunity to explore a variety of engineering disciplines in a fun, hands-on way. The program is ideal for students who are considering a degree or career in engineering, as well as for those that are curious to learn more. Whether your teen is brand new to engineering, or has taken a few classes in school, every student will have fun tackling a variety of engineering design challenges while developing skills in engineering, communication, and consensus-building. The program is designed by IEEE STEM summer specialists specifically for our TryEngineering Summer Institute.
Students participate in team-based, hands-on design challenges, hear from and interact with working engineers, and experience exciting off-campus field trips to local engineering sites.
The program is perfect for those who want to:
- Find out how engineering is applied in the real world, and how it’s shaping our future.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary projects in electrical, civil, mechanical, aerospace and other engineering disciplines.
- Learn to think like engineers while building critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills.
- Experience how engineers work in teams to solve local and global challenges.
- Gain insight into what it’s like to study engineering at the university level.
- Engage with professionals working in your field of interest.
- See real-world engineering projects while learning about future academic and career possibilities through exciting trips and tours.
- Build awesome projects that teach engineering concepts by making things like rockets, remote control cars, drones, trebuchets, building and soldering circuits, and much more.
…All while having fun with new friends on one of our engineering campuses.
Curriculum Overview
Questions about our programs?
Call us at +1 315-816-4023 or email info@tryengineeringinstitute.org
Program Highlights
Hands-On Design Challenges
Exclusive Guest Speakers
Exciting VIP Tours
and Field Trips
Access University Engineering Labs and Tech Spaces
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available for those that demonstrate financial need. Click the link below to learn how to apply.
With nonstop sunshine and the beaches, strands, shopping and more just a stone’s throw from campus, our USD TESI students will really have a wonderful summer. With such beautiful surroundings, we get the chance to explore and maybe even find the legendary fish taco truck!
TESI will be living in 
The University of Pennsylvania is a fabulous, safe urban campus located in the heart of Philadelphia. This allows us easy access to many of the local sights, sounds and flavors available to us!
Past students have had the opportunity to discover on-campus engineering tools, equipment and technology that will be available to them as future engineering students. In previous summers we have toured the engineering departments at our host venues to meet and greet and see what are the latest aspects and cutting edge work that is being done.
Get a peek at the inner workings of top engineering companies and centers and discover the world inside your dream career! In previous years, our students:
Students will gain valuable knowledge from engineering professionals on how to succeed in college and in an engineering career.
TryEngineering Summer Institute students explore engineering design challenges through hands-on teamwork. Previous students participated in projects such as:
