AFOSR logoThe MSU Science Math Resource Center was awarded funds from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to create Geospatial Skills Camps for Rural Montana Youth. Read the project abstract for MSU and other previously funded projects on the Air Force Office of Scientific Research K-12 STEM website.

Map of camp locations

Congratulations to the eight Montana communities that will be hosting a camp this summer:

Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation; Dawson Community College; Flathead County 4-H; Powder River 4-H; Meagher County 4-H; Plenty Coups High School; Thompson Falls High School; Sidney High School

About MSU's Geospatial Skills Camps for rural Montana youth

The camps will serve rising 9th and 10th graders in rural Montana communities, and will include topics such as:

  • maps for analysis and navigation;
  • collecting, analyzing and disseminating imagery from terrestrial, satellite and other sources;
  • awareness of the skills and required credentials for piloting UAVs;
  • remote sensing;
  • basic electronics and circuitry related to sensor development and use; and
  • geospatial analysis tools.

Students will learn aboutpotential career pathways and fields of studyrelated to geospatial science and engineering, particularly thoseconnected to the Air Force and other organizationsthat offer employment in rural areas.

Students will be encouraged to relate camp skillsand experiences to

  • their individual interests such as robotics, human performanceor aviation;
  • community needs, such as natural resources management, precision agriculture or meteorological forecasting;
  • and national topics of interest such as security, energy or climate change.

Camps will run June 10-14, 2024 and community organizations to host the camps will be recruited in late fall 2023. 

In the news

Geospatial news article

Thanks to MSU News for the article about the camp!

An informational Webinar was hosted Wednesday, Nov. 29. 2023.
You can watch the recording here.

Survey for geospatial professionals - thanks to all who shared!

OUR SURVEY HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR ALL WHO OFFERED GREAT IDEAS AND SUPPORT!
Do you use geospatial skills or technologies in your job? Help us create the camp curriculum and support rural youth! Please take a short survey to help identify what skills are important to the profession and can realistically be introduced in this youth camp format.

Applications for community organizations

Applications will be accepted from organizations, not individuals. Organizations must have the capacity to host a week-long camp June 10-14, 2023 (see all details and expectations in the application). Please read the application in its entirety; some materials are required from both the lead educator and the person who is applying on behalf of the organization.

Applications were due Dec. 22, 2023 and have now closed.

Budget worksheet: Excel // Word.doc -- You MUST download and submit this with your online application

Application in PDF // Application as a Word document

(for reference only; applications have now closed)

This material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award numberFA9550-23-1-0563. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Air Force.