Since 1963, The Monongahela National Forest has hosted the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). The National Youth Science Academy in Davis welcomed this year’s class of delegates from nearly all 50 states, overseas military postings and eight Western Hemisphere nations for this year’s camp.
The three-week flagship program of the NYSAcademy is a prestigious, fully funded residential experience, “that honors and challenges rising young leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).”
“Each year, I’m amazed and impressed with the delegates, their passion for STEAM, and their dreams for the future,” said Kiona Y. Meade, NYSCamp Director. “Camp invites delegates to the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, while encouraging them to share unforgettable experiences, learn from leading experts, and make lifelong friends.”
The camp began in Washington, D.C. with activities that included an international simulation hosted by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). During their time in West Virginia, the delegates will stay at Camp Horseshoe in Pocahontas County. They will engage in a variety of advanced lectures and hands-on sessions taught by prominent STEAM professionals. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to explore West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest through outdoor activities, including backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking and caving.
Throughout the camp, various STEAM professionals present to the participants. In the past this has included: TV personality and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, mathematician and Nobel laureate John Nash, subject of the film “A Beautiful Mind,” General Chuck Yeager, the first man to go faster than the speed of sound, Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and current director of the National Institutes of Health, Julie Robinson, Chief Scientist for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA, Marissa Mayer, former president and CEO of Yahoo!, and David Hackleman, inventor of the ink for HP’s inkjet printer.
More than 50% of the program’s alumni earn a doctorate and over 85% pursue careers in STEAM fields. More than 99% of camp alumni receive at least a bachelor’s degree and nearly 60% of alumni report that the camp influenced their career choice. Some notable alumni include: Bill Conner (AR 1977) CEO of Silent Circle; Marissa Mayer (WI 1993) CEO of Yahoo; David Thompson (SC 1972) Founder and CEO of Orbital Sciences Corporation; Cuong Do, VP of Global Strategy for Samsung; Dr. Anita Riddle (AZ 1980) Procurement Manager and Global Advisor for ExxonMobil; Dr. Julie Robinson, Chief Scientist for the International Space Station, NASA; Wesley Bush (WV 1979) CEO & President, Northrop Grumman; Gino Tubaro (Argentina 2013) Founder, Atomic Lab and Ernie Ting (NJ 1972) CEO & Founder, CivImpact Labs.
The 2026 National Youth Science Camp was scheduled from July 11 to Aug. 1. For more information about the program, please visit nysacademy.org.
