For three Shawnigan students, the summer of 2015 will include a trip to the stars.

The students, Zain K, Olin W and Isabella Z, are heading to the Hawaii's Big Island for the Pacific Astronomy and Engineering Summit.

Leaving on July 19th, they'll spend a couple of weeks mixing with other students, attending seminars, and presenting their own work.

"They've got a pretty packed schedule" says Mr Justin Wilke, who will accompany the students on the trip. "We've got some tours arranged, and they'll get the chance to visit the main observatory there and talk to some of the scientists."

Funded largely by the government of Canada, the group will stay at the University of Hawaii as they mix with other students from as far away as India and Japan.

As for their own work, the three students are working on a self-directed project that will see them launch a helium balloon with a camera attached to it. Set to launch locally in the fall, the balloon will travel 100,000 feet into the atmosphere, and allow them to measure the curvature of the earth as well as make readings of temperature and pressure.

– Jon Zacks