Welcome To
STARBASE OKC
Welcome to STARBASE OKC, where curiosity thrives, challenges inspire, and students discover just how exciting learning can be. Located on the Oklahoma City Military Complex, we offer a unique, hands-on STEAM experience that puts real-world problem-solving front and center. By partnering with local schools and military leaders, we create an environment where students build skills, explore new technologies, and discover their strengths.
Through our 25-hour program, 5th graders dive into hands-on STEAM learning that sparks imagination and builds confidence. At STARBASE OKC, students step into the roles of engineers, scientists, and designers. Through robotics, engineering challenges, applied science labs, and computer-aided design (CAD), our cadets learn to test ideas, work together, and push their creativity further than they thought possible.
Our mission is simple: Ignite a passion for learning and open doors to future opportunities. With a dedicated team guiding and supporting every activity, we ensure each lesson is engaging, every challenge is meaningful, and every student feels encouraged to explore their potential and new possibilities.
At STARBASE OKC, we do more than teach STEAM, we bring learning to life!
Contact
Mike Baarlaer
6500 N. Kelley Ave
BLDG MAO80 EDU Center
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Testimonials
Meet the Staff
Mike Baarlaer
Director
Mike Baarlaer brings three decades of educational experience to his role as Director for StarBase OKC, following a distinguished career teaching 5th grade in Michigan. He is dedicated to shaping engaging, inquiry-driven learning experiences at STARBASE and is committed to fostering an environment where students reach their “ah-ha” moments through meaningful, hands-on exploration. Why does Mike love STARBASE?
“I love watching the students see that ‘ah-ha’ moment when they are learning and having fun understanding scientific principles.”
When he’s not inspiring the next generation of scientists, you’ll find him spending time outdoors with his family, kayaking, hiking, playing tennis or pickle ball, and reading.
Brian Reed
Deputy Director
Brian Reed serves as Deputy Director at STARBASE OKC and has been part of the program for seven years. He began his career at STARBASE as a Program Assistant, advanced to Program Instructor, and now supports the organization through his experience and long-standing involvement in STEAM education.
Throughout his time at STARBASE, Brian has contributed to engaging, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and creativity in students. His background in classroom instruction provides valuable insight into the program’s educational approach and day-to-day operations.
Brian’s passion for learning is reflected in a haiku he wrote about the STARBASE experience:
Knowledge fills young minds
Humanity’s vow renewed
Circle is complete
Olivia Hernandez
Program Instructor
Meet Instructor Olivia Hernandez, call sign “Proton.” Known for bringing energy, joy, and positivity into every STARBASE classroom, Olivia is passionate about creating learning environments where curiosity thrives and students feel empowered.
Outside of work, Olivia finds joy in photography, a passion she’s nurtured for years, and she currently manages the STARBASE OKC Facebook page. She treasures time with her family and friends, loves being outdoors, and often recharges by taking in the beauty of God’s creation. She’s also a proud dog mom and a lover of all fur babies.
At the heart of everything she does is her belief in lifelong learning. Olivia loves showing students that they can achieve anything, that STEAM is for everyone, and that discovering new things should always feel fun, inspiring, and full of wonder.
Michelle Swedlow
Program Instructor
Meet Instructor Michelle Swedlow! Call sign “Photon” a passionate educator who brings science to life with energy, creativity, and real-world experience. Blending her love of physics with hands-on learning and Army-honed discipline, she sparks curiosity and inspires the next generation of critical thinkers. What she loves most about teaching STARBASE:
“Teaching science lets me do what I love most: to excite electrons and young minds. I fuse Physics education, creativity, and Army-honed discipline to make science real and hands-on, to ignite a lifelong love of science, mathematics, exploration, and critical thinking for our next gen kids.”
Dominique Phillips
Program Instructor
With 15 years of experience and a heart fully in it, our newest program instructor Dominique Call sign: Quanta is here to back the education system and help people grow into their best selves. Quanta is deeply committed to supporting the Department of Defense’s mission to ignite a love for STEAM and expand access to opportunities for marginalized communities, ensuring no talent goes untapped.
Her life motto— “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” sums up the way she lives life with emotional connection and empathy preceding knowledge and achievement in building relationships with the students, families and communities around the world.
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🚀✨ Kicking off their Tuesday STEAM adventures with our amazing friends from St. Philip Neri Catholic School! ✨🚀
Day 1 was full of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on fun and it was so great to have Ms. Benas back with us again! 💛 Even with a new group of students, the energy was just as exciting as ever as they jumped into their first set of challenges and started thinking like true innovators 🧠⚙️
We love seeing familiar educators return and bring new bright minds along for the journey, it makes each experience even more special! 🌟
We can’t wait to continue their STEAM adventure with Day 2 next Tuesday… it’s only getting better from here! 🔥
#STEAMeducation #TuesdaySTEAM #DayOneFun #FutureInnovators #HandsOnLearning #STEMtoSTEAM #StudentSuccess #InspireCuriosity #NextGenLeaders #5thGrade
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🚀✨ STEAM in action with our amazing friends from Bishop John Carroll School! ✨🚀
Day 2 yesterday was a blast, and we’re still buzzing from all the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking we saw! 💡 From hands-on challenges to innovative problem-solving, these students showed up ready to explore, build, and THINK like future engineers and scientists.
Today we’re highlighting some of our favorite moments from BOTH Day 1 & Day 2 missions and let’s just say… they understood the assignment 👏🔥
The energy, the teamwork, the excitement… THIS is what STEAM is all about! 🧪⚙️💥
Stay tuned… because these bright minds are just getting started 💫
#STEAMeducation #FutureInnovators #HandsOnLearning #STEMtoSTEAM #StudentSuccess #CreativeMinds #LearningThroughPlay #InspireCuriosity #NextGenLeaders
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Day ✌🏽 with Kelley Elementary School🚀✨
Our young innovators from Ms. Rumsey’s (split class 💛) and Ms. Kroupa’s class jumped right back into action designing, building, and launching their straw rockets! Watching their excitement as they tested their creations on the rocket launcher was everything 🔥
These photos highlight just half of the group, but trust us the other half put in just as much effort, creativity, and teamwork. We see you and celebrate you too! 👏🏽💫
Keep reaching for the stars, future engineers 🚀
#STEMinAction #FutureEngineers #HandsOnLearning #STEMEducation #RocketLaunch #ElementarySTEM #KelleyElementary #STEMKids #LearningThroughPlay #NextGenInnovators #ScienceIsFun #STEAMeducation
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We’re so excited to celebrate Russell Babb Elementary 5th graders as they graduate from our program ✨🚀
What an incredible group of students who showed curiosity, creativity, and growth during their time with us. We’ve loved watching them explore, learn, and rise to every challenge along the way.
We are so proud of each of you and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will accomplish in middle school and beyond. This is just the beginning of your journey, keep exploring and learning ! 👨🎓✨🧑🎓
#ParrotPride #5thGradeGraduation #SoaringToSuccess #FutureLeaders #StudentSuccess #STEAMKids #ClassOf2026 #ProudMoment #KeepSoaring
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