Campers gain access to George Mason University's notable facilities, such as the Observatory with the second largest telescope on an East-Coast campus, and engage with university faculty, staff, and students.
The Mason Space Exploration Center (MSEC) Summer Camp offers an award-winning, expert-guided program designed to ignite curiosity about space through hands-on STEM activities. Campers engage in programming with Micro:Bit, building solar panels and radar detectors, and launching them on rockets. They explore the physics of motion and gravity, create a campus-wide scale model of the Solar System, and visit the George Mason Observatory to explore the Geller Telescope. The curriculum also includes lab visits to physics and engineering facilities and optical exploration using instruments like the Solar Telescope and Sunspotter. Through small teams and rotating roles, students develop teamwork and leadership skills while gaining valuable knowledge across various scientific disciplines.
A typical day involves expert-guided, hands-on STEM activities, including coding challenges, physics experiments, and rocket launches, culminating in a "press conference" at the end of the week for families.
This camp is best for aspiring astronomers and students in rising 4th through 9th grades who are passionate about science and eager to gain practical STEM experience.
George Mason University Fairfax and SciTech (Manassas) campuses
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