Well, in my youth scientifically inclined boys [can't remember anything about the ladies of similar predilections, though. What did Larry Summers say about women in science?]- so, scientifically inclined boys used to go through "pyrotechnic phase". That included pyrotechnics, rocketry, and homemade high explosives. Maybe these energies could be usefully channeled into something like Junior special forces [akin to Junior ROTC], to better serve the national interest.
Still true, I think...the most frequently asked question from boys in physical science is "When are we going to blow something up??" ;-)