Free for every student · Indianapolis

Join my Rocket Bootcamp

Your student designs, builds, paints, and launches their own high-power rocket, reaching altitudes up to 5,000 feet, while learning aerodynamics, propulsion, recovery systems, and FAA airspace coordination. It is free for every student, and it always will be.

🚀 Sign up now Questions? Start here

For Parents

What you should know

🌟

Free, forever

Grants and sponsors, including Lilly, MEPI, Cummins, Purdue University, and the Indiana State Museum, cover everything. Families never pay for the program.

🛡️

Every rocket certified

As Flyer of Record, I personally inspect and certify every student rocket before it flies.

🛫

FAA-coordinated launches

Launches are run with experienced high-power rocketry partners under FAA airspace coordination, on approved launch sites.

📞

I call every family

After you sign up, I personally call to confirm your spot, answer your questions, and walk you through the paperwork.

💰

$325 delivered per student

Kits, motors, tools, venues, food and transport - about $325 of value for every participant, and always $0 to your family.

🤝

A trained volunteer corps

Four volunteer training cohorts run so far, with 50+ trained adults helping deliver the program and volunteers at every table on build day.

Flagship Program

High-Power Rocket Bootcamp

I founded the bootcamp in August 2025 in Marion County, Indiana, and it is free for every student. Each participant designs, builds, paints, and launches their own high-power rocket - reaching altitudes up to 5,000 feet - while learning aerodynamics, propulsion, recovery systems, and FAA airspace coordination. As Flyer of Record, I personally certify every student rocket before it flies.

220+

Participants Trained

50+

Adult Volunteers

165

Rockets Built

118

Rockets Launched

$155K

Funding Raised

Cost to Families · $325 Value

5,000ft

Altitudes Up To

1,000

Rocket Goal

Cohorts Delivered

10+

Partner Institutions

2,800+

Student Contact Hours

Indiana Communities

Funding partners · MEPI · Cummins · Lilly · Purdue University · Indiana State Museum

Bootcamps in Indianapolis and Fishers · launch days in Muncie · this fall: Lebanon builds and a Sheridan Airport launch

Program partners · City of Fishers · Enlace Academy · Girl Scouts of Central Indiana · Indiana Rocketry · Rocketeers of Central Indiana · 23 US small businesses directly funded

Group photo of bootcamp students and volunteers with their rockets at the launch field — Launch day - students, families, and volunteers with their rockets

Teaching the rocket build at the workshop — Walking the class through the build

Tanaka Chonyera preparing igniters at the field prep station — Prepping motors and recovery at the field station

Freshly painted student rockets drying — Build weekend - freshly painted airframes

Volunteers carrying finished rockets to the range

Details

Quick answers

Who is it for?

Students. Parents and volunteers are welcome too, there is a place for each of you on the signup form.

What does it cost?

Nothing. The program is free for every student. Some cohorts use a small refundable commitment fee that is returned when your student completes their sessions.

What does a session look like?

A hands-on build session runs about 5 to 6 hours: students design, build, and paint their own high-power rocket alongside trained volunteers, then fly it at an organized launch.

What is the next event?

Fishers Maker Playground on August 2, 10am to 3pm. Sign up below and I will call you with the details.

What happens after I sign up?

I personally call every family to confirm attendance, answer questions, and walk you through the waiver paperwork. Your spot is locked in once the paperwork is complete.

Testimonials

What the internet says

Real comments from Reddit threads that reached millions of viewers - parents, teachers, and engineers reacting to the Rocket Bootcamp.

I'm so glad you're doing this for the community in Indy. You're a legend, man!

u/Visible_Nail4859r/indianapolis

As the former president of my sixth-grade rocketry club, I can tell you without any hesitation or fear of contradiction that what you are doing matters. Thank you.

u/Negative_Gravitasr/space

Well done! Your impact to these kids lives is probably immeasurable.

u/treesplease9r/indianapolis

Read the full testimonials page →