On July 22, 2026, Belize made a landmark move to bridge the gap between classroom STEM learning and real-world industry careers, launching its first-ever STEM Aviation Camp hosted at Tropic Air’s Belize City hangar. Twenty-five students from across the country – coming from Belmopan, Corozal, and Orange Walk – gathered to get an exclusive, hands-on look at the diverse range of careers that keep the civil aviation industry operational, far beyond the well-known role of pilots.
The week-long initiative is a collaborative effort between the STEMU Foundation and Deep Blue Avionics, designed to turn abstract STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) concepts into tangible, engaging experiences for young learners. Jamie Usher, Vice-Principal of Student Affairs at Saint Catherine Academy, noted that the camp has already shifted students’ perspectives on aviation as a career field. “One of the best comments so far has been, ‘Wow, so I don’t only have to be a pilot,’” Usher shared. To date, the program has introduced participants to at least eight distinct aviation career pathways, including aircraft engineering, aviation maintenance, air traffic control, aviation firefighting, and even aviation-focused welding, a hands-on module facilitated by STEMU.
The camp structure balances foundational classroom learning with immersive on-site experience. The program opened with two days of classroom instruction, where students mastered core aviation concepts, from the four fundamental forces of flight to the industry-standard phonetic alphabet used in all air communications. Now, students are applying that knowledge in real-world settings: they have already toured the municipal airport, with upcoming visits scheduled to the Belize Defence Force Air Wing and the national Civil Aviation Department to deepen their exposure.
For many participants, the camp has already broken down long-held stereotypes about aviation careers. Damariel Aguilar, one of the student attendees, highlighted the impact of representation at the camp: “I learned that there are boys and girls who are pilots, and Ms. Terry from Deep Blue Avionics taught me that not only boys, but also women, can be pilots and engineers like her.” Other students shared key takeaways that reflect the camp’s broad curriculum: Skye Williams learned the core physics of flight, Abigail Rivero emphasized how the camp helps students make informed career choices, and Yuvaan Lalwani walked away with mastery of aviation’s phonetic communication system.
Jarrus Mitchell, founder of STEMU, explained that the organization’s mission centers on expanding access to vocational and professional exploration in high-demand fields, including engineering, agriculture, healthcare, and information technology. “For the STEM aviation, the curriculum is really around the basic principles of aviation and what a career in aviation would look like, whether it’s an aviation firefighter, whether it’s a pilot, whether it’s an air traffic controller. Showing the kids these jobs and giving them something to aspire to,” Mitchell said. He added that while Belizean students are eager to explore these growing fields, hands-on learning opportunities have historically been limited. Many of STEMU’s programs in Belize are adapted from successful models in the United States, but adapted to address the unique gap in accessible industry exposure for young Belizeans.
Organizers report that the inaugural camp has already exceeded early expectations, with strong cross-sector support from local aviation partners making the one-of-a-kind initiative possible. The camp’s leadership plans to build on this year’s success, expanding the program annually to reach more young learners across Belize and cultivate a new generation of talent for the country’s growing aviation industry.