RAMAPO, New York USA — Brian Malin is the program director of the Awesome Science camp at Rockland Community College, but yesterday his title could have been "Rocket Man."

"You feel the excitement, Derek? Do you feel the suspense," Malin asked his camper as he prepared a model rocket for launch.

Sam Brozinsky, 11, of New City watches a model rocket he built soar into the sky yesterday at Rockland Community College in Suffern. Mike Wu, 9, of Bardonia launches a model rocket he built yesterday with the help of instructor Sandra Hernandez of New City at Rockland Community College in Suffern. Wu was one 38 students who learned to build model rockets as part of the Awesome Science camp program. Brian Malin, program director of the Awesome Science camp, demonstrates how different parts of a model rocket work yesterday. Photos: Peter Carr.

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Awesome Science campers stage a model rocket launch August 1, 2008. Video by Peter Carr.

"I hope it's going to work," said Derek O'Hanlon, 11, of Goshen, seconds before his rocket launched high into the sky.

Malin was joined by 38 campers yesterday morning for a model rocket launch. The campers built the rockets themselves earlier in the week.

"It was an amazing experience," said Derek. "It doesn't smell very good, though."

Before soaring to heights of approximately 1,000 feet, the rockets were launched at the push of a button by the campers.

"It felt like I was blowing something up," said Eric Tursi, 10, of Hillburn. "When you press it it makes a loud noise."

The Awesome Science camp is part of Kids College, a summer camp program at RCC. The science camp runs for six weeks and is for children between the ages of 7 and 13.

"The purpose of the camp is for the kids to have a good time and learn something," said Kids College director Emil Willis. "If they don't have fun, then the camp isn't successful."

The camp teaches children about science and lets them apply what they learn by making projects and by participating in other activities.

"We work on mechanical and engineering projects, we made little gliders and today we're learning about the solar system," said assistant program director Sandra Hernandez.

Yesterday's launching session behind the Eugene Levy Fieldhouse at RCC was putting the words Malin imparted to the children into action.

"We want to achieve the understanding of flight," Malin said.

Javier Fernandez, 12, of White Plains, launched rockets with the camp earlier in the summer.

"It was really fun because I was helping my friends build them," Javier said.

For 10-year-old Sammy Estrin of Suffern, the rocket launch also wasn't a first-time experience, but it was memorable nonetheless.

"I launched a rocket at school. But this is higher. It's cool," Sammy said.

In the afternoons the camp has a rotating schedule of activities that includes everything from swimming to learning Chinese to learning guitar.

"My favorite part of camp is making things fight," Sammy said. "Like robots fighting."

Malin, 26, is also an adjunct professor of biology at RCC, and is attending Long Island University for his master's. On his way to becoming a secondary education teacher, Malin has found the opportunity to head the Awesome Science program a good experience.

"It's been fantastic, personally, for me," Malin said. "I developed the program, which included the curriculum and planning projects. But I can't do it without everyone helping out here."

Helping Malin out with the program was his assistant director Hernandez, and counselors Kayta Charles, Tiagra Johnson, Junior Senate, Mark Simon, Rahkeem Smith and Justin Villanyi.

Simon, 23, a college student from Hackettstown, N.J., said he was attracted to the science camp for the opportunity to work with youngsters.

"I wanted to work with kids at this stage in their lives because they are learning so much right now," Simon said.

Copyright © 2008, The Journal News.