Explosives Camp

Session I: June 2–7, 2024
Session II: June 9–14, 2024

The Summer Explosives Camp - the first and best camp of its kind! - provides a unique opportunity for hands-on learning experience with explosives. Participants will experience a variety of demonstrations, presentations, projects, and handling and shooting explosives. Camp culminates in the setup and shooting of a fireworks display.
It will encompass detonators, high explosives, blasting agents, rock blasting, display fireworks and demolition. You will have a behind the scenes look at how explosives are used in industry and entertainment. But the number one thing that you will do at the Summer Explosives Camp is have fun!
Explosives campers make arts and crafts with C-4 before detonating the objects at the experimental mine.
  • Registration Details
  • Camp Activities
  • Transportation Policy
  • Campus Cancellation Policy

Registration Details

Dates: Session I: June 2–7, 2024; Session II: June 9–14, 2024

Capacity: Space is limited to 15 students per session, early application is recommended.

Eligibility: Requires application and acceptance.  Application is open to rising 11th and 12th graders, fall 2024 (must be 16 years of age and U.S. citizen or permanent resident).  A background check is required for students age 18 and over. Canadian residents must get ATF relief prior to application.

Registration Fee: $1,450 which includes room and board, activities, and transportation during the week.

Do not send registration fee with your application. Registration will only need to be paid if you are accepted into one of the camps.

Check back for 2024 Application

The application requires a 300-500 word response to, "Why I am interested in a career that focuses on application of explosives". You may wish to prepare this text prior to processing online application.

  • In addition, we require the following:
    1. one page resume - include any work experience, community/School involvement, academic achievements and awards
    2. letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor

You can attach your recommendation letter and resume to your camp application or email the resume and letter of recommendation to stemcenter@mst.edu

 

Acceptance Notification
Notifications of acceptance will be sent to the email address provided in application by May 14, 2023. Be sure to use an address that is regularly checked. Accepted applicants must then submit registration and payment online to reserve spot, online payment link will be provided with your acceptance notification.

Your acceptance is considered complete only when registration fee is received. Spots that have not been confirmed with payment will be considered incomplete and offered to other wait-listed applicants.

REGISTRATION CANCELLATION POLICY
All camps will have a $50 registration fee (non-refundable, but applied to camp fee). Persons wishing to cancel their registration must do so two weeks (14 full days) prior to the first day of their chosen program. No refunds will be made after this date.

Camp Activities

Ever wonder how dynamite works? How about fireworks? You will learn how these things work from experts like lead instructor Dr. Paul Worsey, who co-hosted “The Detonators,” which aired on the Discovery Channel.

You will have hands-on experience learning the following:

  • Safety precautions when handling explosives
  • How to prime and shoot dynamite
  • Where explosives are used
  • What explosive-related careers are available
  • How underground blasts work
  • How pyrotechnics are used in special effects
  • How to make a 3" fireworks shell
  • How to set up and shoot off a fireworks display
  • Basics of explosives demolition

You will experience hands-on activities, as well as, participate in various field trips, including an underground blasting operation, a quarry to view surface blasting, and a pyrotechnics tour of Premier Pyrotechnics.

Transportation Policy

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. USA Express provides shuttle service from St. Louis Lambert Airport to Rolla. You can contact USA Express by calling 1-800-872-9399 or visiting their website at http://www.usaxonline.com/. If you are having challenges arranging transportation, please contact the STEM Center for additional assistance.

 

Campus Cancellation Policy

Missouri S&T reserves the right to cancel any program in the event of insufficient registrations, severe weather or natural disaster. In the event of cancellation, registrants will be notified immediately via email and phone, and all fees will be returned in full.

Contact Us

Are you ready for your next adventure?

For questions on camp content, contact:

Mr. Stephen Casey, Coordinator of Explosives camp

For questions on logistics, application or registration, contact:

Kummer Center for STEM Education
Missouri University of Science & Technology