STARBASE's mission is to raise interest and improve the knowledge
and skills of youth in math, science, and technology.
The STARBASE program began in 1989 with a dream shared by
three people: Barbara Koscak, an elementary school teacher; Brigadier General David
Arendts, then Commander of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base; and Richard Racosky, an
accomplished pilot and author. Their dream was to create an educational program that
responded to the needs of today's youth through a stimulating hands-on curriculum focusing
on science, math, technology, personal development, and drug demand reduction. The dream
became a reality with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation in 1989, establishing a
successful pilot program in Michigan. By 1993, STARBASE was receiving funding from the
Department of Defense.
Currently, there are over forty-nine STARBASE sites throughout the
United States. Military
facilities provide the perfect setting for STARBASE to accomplish its mission. The
resources available allow for varied and exciting platforms for the STARBASE curriculum,
giving students a new perception of math, science, and technology; the techniques for
development of positive self-esteem; and answers to why and how to avoid substance abuse.
STARBASE Kingsley, located at Kingsley Field Air
National Guard Base in Klamath Falls, Oregon, was
one of the first sites to receive Department of Defense funding in 1993.
Our first
classroom was in Building 239 on Kingsley Air National Guard
Base and allowed us to serve students from the Klamath Falls
City and Klamath County Schools. For several years we had only
one STARBASE teacher. By the 1999-2000 school
year the program had expanded and we added a second teaching position. At the end of the
2001-2002 school year we moved to our current location in Building 302. Our facilities now
feature three main areas: a large classroom, two state-of-the-art computer labs, and an
office area. We look for further growth in the coming years. The
STARBASE Kingsley future looks bright!
STARBASE
Kingsley's main focus is our five-day academic program during the
regular school year. It is offered to all Klamath County,
Klamath Falls City, private school, and home-schooled sixth graders
in the area. Toward the end of the school year, we extend an
invitation to schools outside our immediate area to attend our
program. We also occasionally offer five-day robotics academies during
school breaks to students from
fourth to eighth grade. Students who attend our
robotics academies learn to program vehicles with LegoŽ ROBOLAB
technology sets that include
motors, wheels, axles, sensors, plates, and gears. Math, science, and computer
technology principles are emphasized.
Students who attend
our programs experience an exciting hands-on curriculum and interact with caring
mentors and positive role models. Our current program is staffed by
three Oregon certified school teachers. We are also served by many military volunteers who offer their time for tours and classroom
visits. STARBASE Kingsley students are inspired with an enthusiasm to learn, have more
confidence in their abilities, and are motivated to lead successful, drug-free lives. To
date, thousands of local students have benefited from the STARBASE Kingsley programs.
