STARBASE Hill program shuts down due to lack of government funding

SALT LAKE CITY — A national program that gives kids hands-on learning in STEM fields was suddenly canceled in Utah because of funding cuts.

STARBASE Hill has been operating out of Hill Air Force Base since 2011.

Last week, David Amparan, the STARBASE Hill director for Utah, was informed that they were effectively shut down.

“It took us by surprise,” explained Amparan. “We had to shut down immediately. So there’s a lot of schools that we’ve had scheduled this year that are unable now to come out to enjoy the program that we have, and receive the benefits from it.”

Amparan said their funding is allocated by the U.S. Senate through the national Department of Defense STARBASE program. He said that this year, STARBASE asked the Senate for $60 million to allocate to sites across the country. Instead, they were given $20 million.

“There was a huge disparity. Because normally, the funds would usually be like $53-$56 million.”

Because of this disparity all payments towards many of the STARBASE locations, including Utah’s, were cut off.

STARBASE STEAM program

STARBASE Hill is known for two STEM programs that continue throughout the year.

In the off-site program, a team is sent to schools across Utah to hold seminars for students in the sixth through ninth grades about science, technology and engineering. 

The on-site program, called STEAM, has fifth graders come to the base for a five-day event. During the week, students rotate through classes where they receive lessons, conduct experiments and participate in other activities that have to do with science, technology, engineering, art and math.

When Angela Dixon heard that the STEAM program was ending, she was angry and disappointed.

“My oldest son did it last year, and he loved it,” Dixon said. “It was a fantastic program. He came home every day telling us about physics and chemistry and just all these things he was learning.”

Dixon said her son, who goes to Woods Cross Elementary, even got a keychain with a 3D-printed charm for every achievement he made that week.

“We need these types of hands-on learning for our kids to get excited about science and technology and engineering because they’re the ones that we’ll be building tomorrow,” she said. “And you don’t always get that in a classroom.”  

What next?

Amparan said they have not lost hope. Their program in Utah, and others across the country, are now turning to senators for support.

“If we could get that number up to that 60 million figure… that would help us out a ton.”

Angela Dixon said she hopes this program comes back. Not only for students across the state but for her own children who were looking forward to the experience.

“My girls were really excited to go do it,” Dixon said. “It was supposed to be in like two weeks, and suddenly it just canceled out of the blue for no good reason.”

Related: Watering Utah’s child care ‘deserts’