This summer, ARA’s SERVICE Program sponsored an innovative STEM experience designed to spark creativity and technical skills in the next generation of engineers.
The Future Engineers Bootcamp: Build Your Own Lightsaber (BYOL) took place in July 2025 at the Niceville Engineering and Research Development (NERD) Lab, offering students a hands-on, five-day camp focusing on electronics, programming, and design.
Participants gained real-world engineering experience by working directly with lab equipment and learning the fundamentals of soldering. Each student constructed a custom lightsaber blade using addressable LED strips and printed circuit boards, then soldered components for the hilt’s internal chassis. Alongside the hardware, students set up their computers for Arduino development, giving them the skills to program their creations. Using open-source community tools, they customized lighting and sound effects, bringing their lightsabers to life with unique, personalized features.
The camp embodies ARA’s commitment to service and community impact. Through the ARA STEM Community Fund, ARA supports initiatives that inspire young people to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. By blending creativity with technical training, the STEM Community Fund and programs like BYOL help students see the exciting possibilities of STEM and develop the confidence that they can build, innovate, and solve real-world challenges.
