The NASA Stennis Space Center Office of STEM Engagement has announced collaboration opportunities for “2019 ASTRO CAMP® In the Community.”
The ASTRO CAMP® program combines an evidence-based curriculum with a proven out-of-school learning methodology to provide universities, schools, museums and youth-serving organizations with a hands-on, NASA-unique STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) engagement experience for 2nd-12th grade students across the country. Currently, organizations from six states comprise this year’s list of collaborators: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and South Carolina.
ASTRO CAMP® activities are aligned to Next Generation Science and College and Career Readiness Standards that support the work of NASA’s four mission directorates (science, science technology, human exploration, and aeronautics) in an effort to produce a more “STEM-centric” workforce. Particular emphasis is placed on increasing the participation of learners traditionally underserved and/or underrepresented in STEM fields and students in special needs populations.
The theme for this year’s ASTRO CAMP® is “Next Generation Exploring the Moon Today … Mars Tomorrow!” It includes the pilot of the new MOON to MARS curriculum modules directly supporting NASA’s four mission areas. ASTRO CAMP® also incorporates math and science principles through fun, hands-on activities that teach teams of campers to work together to complete NASA science-directed missions with real-world applications.
ASTRO CAMP® sessions provide campers the NASA experience of aeronautics from first flight to space flight; space technology engineering design with robotics applications; and Solar System-and-Beyond activities featuring planets, moons, stars and galaxies, with an encompassing survey of the Earth. Human exploration in space activities include real-world applications for living and working in low-Earth orbits and for preparing the next generation of explorers who will travel deeper into space to live and work on the Moon today and Mars tomorrow.
ASTRO CAMP® provides collaborators professional development, the 2019 ASTRO CAMP® Facilitators Guide, activity supply lists, on-line resources, NASA completion certificates and the on-line support of education specialists (as needed). Collaborating organizations must provide: 1) a camp leader, 2) support staff, 3) facilities, 4) supplies/materials and 5) camp management for each camp site. Camp leaders and facilitators must take part in a one-to-two-day Educational Professional Development workshop provided by NASA education specialists in order to be designated as an official NASA Stennis 2019 ASTRO CAMP® Site.
For more information about becoming a community collaborator contact:
Maria Lott at maria.m.lott@nasa.gov or 228-688-1776.
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