Packages

Imagine planets around a distant star using the properties we can discover from Earth and relating them to planets and moons in our own solar system.

In science, it is often necessary to produce images of things that cannot be seen yet in detail, or are beyond human senses.  The techniques used to inspire and explain places and concepts in space science are employed very deliberately by the people who make artist’s interpretations of the universe.  Campers will learn some of these techniques and try their hand at making images to show what we cannot yet capture any other way.

“Art is not this kid’s favorite, but he enjoyed it and stayed engaged through the whole activity” –Parent of 8th grade camper.

“This activity inspired younger siblings to jump in, we all learned something.” –Parent of 6th grade camper.

Plants provide, food, oxygen, and comfort in environments far from home. 

From the first emotional support organism sent to space by Russia, to the crops we hope to some day grow on Mars, plants in space is a long-term experiment in astrobiology.  Campers receive everything they need to grow and care for plants that are grown in space today and chart their progress.  They’ll learn about how the discoveries made so far have changed how we envision our future beyond Earth.

“The plants were fun to grow, and it was interesting to see how high they grew.  I bet they grow higher in space.” –Summer 2020 camper 11th grade.

“I can’t wait to eat my mustard greens!” –Summer 2020 camper.

No camp experience is complete without warm gooey marshmallows and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers.

You won’t need to start a campfire in your home to produce these treats.  You will explore other methods of transforming ingredients into this classic camp sandwich and taste the results.  Will you discover the ultimate method for smore production?

“13 year old boy + food = the most interesting activity ever!” –Camper parent.

“It was awesome!” –Summer 2020 camper, 6th grade.

Create a projector and a model of the celestial sphere to explore locations and regions of the sky.

Learn how the movements of planets and the location of constellations have led to the coordinate system we use to chart the sky.  You’ll build your own model with a bit of geometry to aid your navigation of the stars.  This kit also provides what you need to make your own projector to show off your favorite constellations and asterisms in your own home.

“The hands-on painting helped cement this activity’s information” –Camper parent.

“I want to make every constellation!” –Summer 2020 camper, 6th grade.

The distances between planets can be held in the palm of your hand, if the scale is right.

Beginning by making their own “Pocket Solar System” with, campers will accurately create a model that shows scaled distances between planets.  They’ll then move on to styrofoam balls of different sizes and learn how to match the proportions to a pair of moons or planets in our solar system and decorate them.  Finally they’ll be shown extremes of sizes between star systems, exoplanets, and types of stars.

Learn to stay fit without relying on gravity.  Everything you need for a space style workout.

Can you lift weights in space?  Sure, but you won’t get a workout from doing it.  It’s hard to stay in shape, and as people spend more time there it will be more and more important to use exercises that maintain bone and muscle mass.  Learn how astronauts exercise and some techniques you can use on Earth that don’t rely on gravity to make your body work.

“This activity was really fun to do with a friend.  It was easy to follow and was a good workout.” –Summer 2020 camper, 11th grade.

“This one was my mom’s favorite.” –Summer 2020 camper.

Chemistry, light, and creativity combine to produce a wearable view of the night sky.

Campers start with a plain black t-shirt and design their own stencils to stick to it.  They then dilute bleach in water and using a spray bottle, create a negative image on their shirt by bleaching away some areas of it.  A light mist technique will allow them to create a starry background.  They’ll learn about chemical reactions and how this process is analogous to how photons hitting chemicals on glass plates allowed astronomers to capture images of the sky.

“The chemistry information was really interesting.” –Summer 2020 camper, 8th grade.