VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Schools may be out for summer but camps are still in session.
In Virginia Beach, eligible students from Title I schools are learning by doing at a three-week summer STEM Camp.
"STEM camp is about trying to reach students outside of a classroom because a lot of students may not fall in love with science, technology, engineering, and math while they're in the class," said STEM Camp Coordinator Heidi Yeager.
This is the second year for the camp, which includes about 320 elementary students and 60 middle school students.
The camp features field trips, experiments and guest lectures from industry professionals including a civil engineer and a commercial pilot. This week students will hear from an arson investigator.
"Our goal is to get them to meet professionals in the field, get them to go on field trips and experience it because a lot of times they'll be taught something but they don't get to see it in action," Yeager said.
During the activities, students work with drones, 3D goggles, LEGO robotics and more.
"I like it because it's science-related and my favorite subject is science. And I like engineering stuff so that's why I like doing this camp," said rising 7th grade student Arturio Woodhouse.
Both the Middle and Elementary School camps continue this week with field trips to the Virginia Air & Space Center and the Aviation Museum. Other trips have included visits with iFly Virginia Beach, the Virginia Aquarium and Dolphin Discoveries Boat Trip and Lynnhaven River Now.
There are 15 Title I schools in the Virginia Beach school district.