Summertime is often a chance for kids to have a well-deserved break from school.

But, for many students, summer can also be a chance to expand their knowledge and skills, through camps, like the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp.

"I have a very good interest in science. I've liked science since elementary school, because I like the experiments we do," said Mauricio Garcia, 7th grade, Lefler Middle School.

For nearly fifty Nebraska middle school students, two weeks in July were dedicated to their interest in science, as part of the camp.

"We've learned about everything to do with water, and we've got to participate in a lot of different things, like having Bernard Harris come," said Sadie Fisher, 6th grade, Lux Middle School.

Not only is he part of the namesake of the camp, but Bernard Harris was also the first African American to walk in space.

Harris says that is just one reason he believes it is important for kids to enjoy and study math and science.

"I can come in as an astronaut, who's also a physician, who's also in business, and show them what can be done if they are educated. Then, that opens their minds to the possibilities of things they can do, and that's what it's all about," said Harris. "The idea is to make science and math fun, and show how it's applied to the day to day life."

As part of the camp, students get to participate in hands-on experiments, like trying to build a floating raft out of tin foil and straws, seeing how many pennies it can hold before it sinks.

"I always learn better when I get to actually do it, or get to actually see it, rather than just learn about it in a book. There are no books here. Everything is hands-on, which I think is really cool," said Fisher.

Plus, help from a real-life astronaut doesn't hurt.

"It helps inspire me, because he was kind of where I'm at now. I didn't really know what I was going to do, and I still haven't had that inspiration point, but seeing that he had an inspiration point, and he turned out to be a success, it inspires me to be able to be a success too," said Garcia.

"We want to ensure that these kids not only finish middle school, but that they finish high school, and go to college. When they go to college, we want them to think seriously about careers in math and science," said Harris.

"His entire message, and this entire camp definitely reinforce that anything is possible," said Fisher.

This is the first year UNL has received the Bernard Harris ExxonMobil contribution for the camp.

Students from 26 schools participated in the science camp, from July 19 to July 31.

For more information on the program, click the link below.