Middle school students are participating in an exciting summer science camp this week called "Launch and Learn," part of NASA's Summer of Innovation Program offered by New Mexico Space Grant Consortium.

As part of this program students are designing rocket experiments for a sounding rocket that will be launched into space from Spaceport America on April 1, 2011. Summer of Innovation is designed to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching and learning in partnership with federal agencies, academic and informal organizations, nonprofits, and industry.

One of NASA's goals is to increase the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, with an emphasis on broadening participation of low-income and minority students.

To boost this participation, NASA is partnering with New Mexico Space Grant Consortium to use the agency's out-of-this-world missions and technology programs during summer months.

New Mexico is the only state in the nation where middle school students are being offered an opportunity to fly experiments to space. "NASA is partnering with these states in a pilot program to address our nation's critical science, technology, engineering, and math education needs," said NASA Administrator and former astronaut Charles F. Bolden.

"Summer of Innovation pairs the strengths of the states with NASA's unique resources to engage more young people and their teachers and inspire and equip them to excel in these

critical disciplines."

The Summer of Innovation is offered by New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Partners include SEMAA (Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy), New Mexico MESA (Mathematics, Engineering Science Achievement), and NASA's White Sands Test Facility.

The Summer of Innovation Summer Camp teacher for the Lincoln County Area is Ashley Ivins with Mescalero Apache School. Email Ashley at nmcanchaser@hotmail.com or call 575-993-1455. Or contact the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. For more information on the Summer of Innovation click onhttp://space-grant.-nmsu.edu/soi.html.