Summer Camps

SPEND YOUR SUMMER WITH PARI AND REACH YOUR NEXT FRONTIER.

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PARI’s summer STEM and space exploration, and astronomy camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.

Learn about scholarships and new camps as soon as they become available!

PARI has a camp for every student scientist:

Mission Control

Engineering Challenge Based Camps

Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space.

These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.

Teams will research real technologies and techniques to meet a space science challenge. They’ll show how their solutions meet the mission goals and requirements and put their problem solving skills on display.

Above & Beyond

Research Based Camps

PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.

Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.

The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.

2026 Summer Camps

Above & Beyond

-Models the research process followed by professionals in space science!

Our signature and most academically intensive camp explores the universe through astronomy, physics, and astrobiology. Use real research-grade instruments and data to investigate objects like super-nova remnants and distant star clusters, or map the Milky Way. One small step as a space explorer, one giant step in launching your career in space.

This camp is designed for high school aged campers.

Mission Control: Secrets of a Spy Station
Secret messages and invisible signals, at a former spy base!

Campers will explore the origins of codes and ciphers and how they have evolved from written messages to complex digital encryption methods in use today. They will learn how to recreate these techniques themselves and crack the messages sent by their fellow cryptographers, all while reinforcing skills in math, language, and pattern recognition. We’ll also learn how wireless and radio technologies are used to send these messages from place to place on Earth, and into space, while keeping them safe and secure.

This camp is designed for campers entering grades 6-9.

Learn more about camps:

Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and space exploration camp programs.

Camp Refund Policy

No refunds will be given

If a camper is unable to attend for any reason we must receive notification at least 14 days prior to the start of their camp session. We will attempt to transfer to another session if capacity allows. If this is not possible a credit to be used for a later camp will be issued.

Refunds are not given for partial attendance. If a camper leaves camp early, cannot attend the full session, or does not attend the full session, no refund will be given.