Camp History

Physics and flight camp is entering it's 14th year of providing students with an action packed week of science in the summer. Physics and Flight was one of the first STEM summer programs for 11 to 15 year old students across the country.  It has evolved to match kid's interest with cutting edge technology and fun. The course is a hands-on-approach program where students explore the physics of flight outside of the traditional classroom using remote control (RC) model airplanes and drones.  Students will learn to build and fly model airplanes and UAV/drones, perform physics labs and participate in lectures, experience guest speakers from the aerospace industry, and complete multiple projects while collaborating with team members.  No other camp offers the students the hands on experience at the same level as Physics and Flight.  

With the sudden surge in drone / sUAV (small unmanned aerial vehicle) technology, the camp dedicated significant time for the students to gain a solid understanding of the technology in a sUAS.  Students will build and fly a fully functioning Drone during their 5 days at the camp.  From finding the parts online, soldering control boards, assembling the frame, and uploading firmware, students will leave knowing how to build a drone "DIY" style.  Drone etiquette  is heavily stressed to teach students how to operate drones in the community without conflict.  

Other projects include building an 8-feet tall tissue paper hot air balloon, an Estes Rocket, and a Midwest Right Flyer rubber band powered balsa wood airplane.  All of the previous projects include launching and flying at completion.  Every exciting project of the program unlocks the opportunity to explore more science. For example, while launching the hot air balloons, the homemade heat source is explained to the students in great detail.    

About the Director of Physics and Flight Camp
Joe Warwick has been teaching in the Council Rock School District for 26 years. He has taught mathematics and science at both the middle school and high school level.  He quickly settled into teaching Physics at the High School and serves as the Science Department Chairperson for Council Rock South.

In the last decade, Joe has become involved with 3 other colleagues in educational programs with NASA.  He has participated in NASA's Zero G Experience, ARISS - amateur radio with the International Space Station, ZERO Robotics and the H.U.N.C.H. program for his students.  Joe helped students design a robot to assist the international space station (ISS). He trained in Houston, TX with NASA and flew in the famous "Weightless Wonder" (aka Vomit Comet) to test the robot in zero g.  He recently installed a large HAM radio antenna on the rooftop of CR South to rotate and track the International Space Station as it passed by in orbit.  This allowed contact via HAM Radio to take place giving students time for a live question/answer period with the astronauts on board the Space Station.  

In 2010, Joe was awarded the prestigious Siemens Award for AP Mathematics and Science Teacher of the Year in Pennsylvania.  His work outside of the classroom allow him to share his experiences with his students and expand the walls of his classroom.  He is currently training both Law Enforcement and Commercial UAV/Drone Pilots (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).  He has helped to develop curriculum for college accredited programs in the field of Public Safety using the UAV.