Summer Camp 2026 Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE CLICK HERE

Looking for a fun, hands-on way to keep your child learning, creating, and engaged this summer? At the PAL Future Force STEM and Trades Discovery Center, students in grades 1-12 explore STEM and skilled trades through exciting, real-world projects led by experienced mentors in a safe, state-of-the-art learning environment. Every day brings something new to discover! Students have opportunities to explore robotics, engineering, technology, coding, 3D printing, drones, skilled trades, and more through age-appropriate projects designed for all experience levels. Families love Future Force because students aren’t just learning, they’re building, creating, experimenting, and problem-solving. Along the way, they develop creativity, confidence, critical-thinking skills, teamwork, and practical skills they can carry into the classroom and their future. From curious beginners to tomorrow’s engineers, technicians, and innovators, there’s a place for everyone at Future Force!

Future Force Explorers: Grades 1st-5th

Scholarships Available

Students explore STEM through exciting, age-appropriate activities like:

Building and coding with LEGO WeDo and LEGO SPIKE

Solving challenges in Minecraft Education
3D Printing in our 9 machine 3D Printing Room
Building and Flying beginner-friendly DIY Drones
Designing wind turbines with KidWind Challenge
Design, build and race cars with Tamiya Cars
Design, Build and battle with the PAL Combat Robots League, Junior Div.
Programming with Marty the Robot
Intro to Rocketry and Aviation with basic rocket flights

Future Force Innovators: Grades 5th-8th

Scholarships Available

Students explore STEM through exciting, age-appropriate activities like:

Minecraft Education problem-solving challenges
LEGO Mindstorms EV3 & VEX Robotics
PAL Combat Robots
Smart Car & Robot Builds
Building and Flying DIY Drones
KidWind Renewable Energy projects
Dune Buggy Engineering Builds
EV Go-Karts builds
3D Printing & Design
Tamiya Racing
Rocketry and Aviation builds and launches
Hydroponics Club

Future Force Academy: Grades 8th-12th

Scholarships Available

Students explore STEM through exciting, age-appropriate activities like:

VEX Robotics
PAL Combat Robots
LEGO Mindstorms EV3
EV Go-Karts
Flawbot
3D Printing & Design
DIY Flying Drones
Baxter Robot Reverse Engineering
Bomb Disposal Robots Reverse Engineering
Big Green Reverse Engineering
Buddy’s Garage & Mechanics Club
Trades Exploration: HVAC, Electrical, Solar, Wind
Rocketry and Aviation builds and launches

Camp Information

Camp Dates: 7/5-8/20

Camp Hours: 9am-3pm

Before Care: 7-8am

After Care: 5-6pm

Camp Cost: $710

PAL Updates

Beyond the Game: Join Youth Sports This Fall to Build Leadership and Confidence

Register now for PAL’s fall sports programs! We offer something for every athlete, including Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Tee Ball, Field Hockey, and more.

Fall is the perfect time for kids to get active, try something new, and become part of a team. But youth sports are about much more than scoring goals, making plays, or winning games. At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL), sports provide young people with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills, make new friends, and grow into stronger members of their community.

Through PAL’s youth sports programs, children can participate in a variety of activities designed for different ages and skill levels. From soccer and flag football to volleyball, field hockey, tee ball, running and more, there are opportunities for both experienced athletes and kids who are trying a sport for the first time. PAL’s programs emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, and personal growth in a safe and supportive environment.

Learning to Lead

Being part of a team teaches children how to work toward a common goal while recognizing the strengths and contributions of others. Kids learn to communicate, listen to coaches and teammates, take responsibility for their role, and encourage others.

Leadership isn’t always about being the team captain. Sometimes it’s helping a teammate who is struggling, demonstrating good sportsmanship after a tough loss, or stepping up when the team needs encouragement. These are skills that can carry over into the classroom, friendships, and everyday life.

Building Confidence Through Challenges

Trying something new can be intimidating, especially when a child isn’t sure how they’ll perform. Youth sports give kids the chance to step outside their comfort zone, make mistakes, practice, and improve.

Every successful pass, new skill, completed drill, or personal achievement can help build confidence. More importantly, children learn that improvement takes time and that setbacks don’t have to stop them from moving forward.

More Than a Season

PAL’s youth programs are about creating positive experiences that extend beyond the playing field. The organization’s mission centers on providing local youth with educational, social, and athletic opportunities while building positive connections between young people, law enforcement, and the community.

This fall, give your child the opportunity to get active, meet new friends, learn valuable life skills, and discover what they’re capable of. We can’t wait to see you on the field this fall!

Explore PAL’s fall youth sports programs and register today at EHTPAL.org.

Historic Partnership/Effort Brings Atlantic City PAL Youth to Egg Harbor Township PAL Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ – August 28, 2026 – The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL) marked a historic milestone this week, celebrating the first STEM camp experience hosted at its Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center for youth members of the Atlantic City Police Athletic League (AC PAL).

Ten AC PAL youth participated in the week-long summer camp experience, joining EHT PAL campers for hands-on activities designed to introduce young people to science, technology, engineering, robotics and the skilled trades.

On Thursday, PAL welcomed community leaders, law enforcement representatives and funding partners to the PAL Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center to meet the participating youth, see the program in action and celebrate the partnerships that made this opportunity possible.

Guests included New Jersey Senator Vince Polistina; Lt. Will Santiago of the Atlantic City Police Department; Darrell Barron, Partnership Director for O.C.E.A.N., Inc.; Julie Bellezza Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator from OceanFirst; Egg Harbor Township Police Chief of Police, Fred Spano; PAL staff; and youth participating in PAL’s Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center summer camp.

The camp experience was made possible through a combination of state and community support, including grant funding awarded in 2026 with support from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Polistina, as well as funding and support from the OceanFirst Foundation and O.C.E.A.N., Inc.

“With the many challenges facing our young people today, it is encouraging to see the positive impact organizations like the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County are having by providing mentorship, guidance and opportunities for success,” said Senator Vince Polistina. “PAL is a great example of what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors work together. Along with Assemblyman Don Guardian, I was proud to advocate for state funding to expand these programs, and with additional support from O.C.E.A.N., Inc. and OceanFirst Bank, we are seeing that investment make a real difference in the lives of these young people.”

For PAL Founder and Executive Director Hector Tavarez, bringing Atlantic City PAL youth to the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center for an extended summer camp experience represents an important milestone in the organization’s continued growth.

“This is exactly what we envisioned when we created the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center, a place where young people from throughout South Jersey can come together, explore new opportunities and discover talents and interests they may not have known they had,” said Hector Tavarez, Founder and Executive Director of the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County. “For the first time, we were able to welcome a group of Atlantic City PAL youth for an extended STEM camp experience, and that is something we are extremely proud of. These young people didn’t just visit our facility; they became part of our PAL family, worked alongside our members and experienced firsthand what Future Force is all about.”

Tavarez said the program also demonstrates what can happen when government, nonprofit organizations, businesses and law enforcement work together around a common goal.

“Opportunities like this don’t happen because of one organization,” Tavarez continued. “Governor Murphy, Senator Polistina, O.C.E.A.N., Inc., the OceanFirst Foundation, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and our PAL staff all played a part in making this possible. Their investment is ultimately an investment in our children. Our goal is to continue building these partnerships so that where a child lives or what resources are available in their community never determines whether they have the opportunity to explore STEM, the trades and the careers of the future.”

The partnership is about more than providing young people with summer activities. Future Force is designed to give students opportunities to discover interests and abilities that can develop into future educational and career pathways.

“It’s really been great seeing organizations come together to give kids the opportunity to experience STEM in a fun, hands-on way,” said Darrell Barron, Partnership Director for O.C.E.A.N., Inc. “Sometimes, all it takes is one experience to spark an interest in something they may have never considered before. O.C.E.A.N., Inc. is proud to support opportunities that help young people learn, grow and see what is possible for their future. I’m really happy we could be a part of making this opportunity possible.”

Throughout the program, visiting youth had the opportunity to learn alongside PAL members in an environment built around exploration, creativity, problem-solving and hands-on discovery. The Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center introduces students to areas including robotics, engineering, technology, skilled trades and other career-connected learning experiences.

Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Fred Spano said programs such as Future Force demonstrate how PAL’s mission has grown beyond traditional recreational and athletic programming.

“The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County offers such a unique technology program opportunity for youth with their Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center,” said Chief Fred Spano of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department. “Many believe PAL is only associated with athletic programming; EHT PAL has a program whereby children start developing skills, knowledge and abilities that will carry over into their future careers, whether it be in one of the many trades or engineering fields. Witnessing children from communities lacking technology programs have an opportunity to participate in EHT PAL’s STEM programs levels the playing field, enabling children from disadvantaged communities to better themselves at an early age and hopefully achieve success in their future education and career endeavors that otherwise might not be attainable without exposure to the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center.”

The collaboration also reflects one of PAL’s core missions: bringing youth, law enforcement and community partners together in a positive environment where relationships can be built through shared experiences. For PAL, hosting the AC PAL youth is not simply the conclusion of a successful summer program. It represents the beginning of what the organization hopes will become a growing regional effort to provide young people throughout Atlantic County with access to high-quality STEM and trades discovery programs.

About the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County

Since 1989, the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County has served as a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships among youth, law enforcement and the community. PAL provides safe, supervised educational, social, recreational and athletic opportunities designed to help young people build confidence, develop new skills and reach their full potential.

Established in 2026, the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center at PAL provides hands-on opportunities for students to explore STEM, robotics, engineering, technology and the skilled trades while discovering potential pathways to future education and careers.

EHTPAL.org

MEDIA CONTACT

Hector Tavarez, Executive Director and Founder, Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County: 609-839-5860

Summer Camp 2026 Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center