AVON, Connecticut USA — Budding student scientists are reaching new heights in Avon. They're learning how to build rockets. These kids aren't spending their summer out to lunch. Instead, they're off to launch rockets they've spent the week building. Part of the Talcott Mountain Science Center's Summer Kamp, these 4th-6th graders are in rocketry class.

"We've got them building rockets, all kinds," says the center's John Pellino. "They got to watch footage from the space shuttle launches and they got to see a preview of a rocket launching September into space."

Tristan Enkler has one goal and it isn't lofty.

"Are you looking for a record?"
"I dunno. I just want it to launch."

The students spent the week designing, building , and painting their model rockets. Under a few clouds at Fisher Meadow Park in Avon, Thursday was launch day.

And after a successful launch it's back to the drawing board for the next one.

Alijah Prophet is already a rocket scientist of sorts. This is her second season as an engineer and already she's seeing improvement.

"That was pretty cool!"
"Why?"
"Others didn't go as high and weren't in a wide open field like this."

While the kids are launching their projects, they're also reaching new heights when figuring out what they want to be when they grow up. Bill White wants his eyes on the sky for the government.

"What do you want to do for NASA?"
"Probably design planes and rocketships," white said.

Pellino says the students "come here with an interest in science. This is a way of putting hands on a real world application."

Talcott Mountain Science Center
http://www.tmsc.org/