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Mission Moon – Youth Space Camp

Your Mission Awaits – Two Options Below

Traveling Youth Camp Grades: 4-12

Registration: Open late 2025*

A new program to spur interest in space and aerospace-related subjects for 4-12 students.

Mission Moon offers youth the opportunity to interact with a variety of STEM role models while taking part in STEM and space themed experiences. The program will feature many hands-on and interactive resources which will immerse students in realistic activities that reflect space and aerospace-related knowledge. 

*Please note this option is currently piloting and will open for requests late 2025.

On-Site Youth Camp: 8-12

Registration: Open

Presented in Conjunction with the Iowa 4-H Annual Youth Conference
When: June 24-26, 2025
Where: Iowa State University Campus in Ames, Iowa
Who: Youth who have completed grades 8-12
*Note: The camp is limited to 25 youth and requires an application with two essay questions. Please see the timeline below for the review and notification process.
 
Cost: Registration Fee Covered by Grant from ISU E&O and Iowa Space Grant Consortium under NASA Award No. 80NSSC20M0107
 
Join us for the inaugural Mission Moon Space Camp on the beautiful Iowa State University campus! Mission Moon is a three-day program for youth in grades 8-12 interested in aerospace and STEM. Youth will spend time at Iowa State University’s Aerospace Engineering Department, participating in various STEM and aerospace opportunities. Evening activities are the same as the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference delegates. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/iowa4hyouthconference
 
Following the conference, youth will be asked to implement a small service project in their community focused on teaching others about space and enroll in the Iowa 4-H State Aerospace Interest Group. This group will meet virtually four times in the 2025-2026 school year.
 
Applications will open on March 5, 2025, and close on April 16, 2025.
Applicants will be informed of the review committee’s decision by April 30, 2025. 

STEM Simulation

A multi-part, immersive STEM simulation for middle and high school students that emphasizes key concepts in NASA’s Artemis missions.

Scout a Landing Site

Teams will use small drones to collect data on potential landing sites while learning about the Moon’s geologic features.

Design a Rover and Launch

The engineering design process will be used by teams to build a small rover capable of transporting individual team members and materials.

Collect Regolith and Build Habitat

Using their tablets, teams will scan mock regolith to determine mineral composition, collect regolith with their rover, and then build a habitat using life size magnetic tiles.

Search for Water Ice

Using micro:bits as scanners, teams will use radio signals to locate hidden reserves of water ice on a mock lunar surface.

Visit the Planetarium

A large inflatable StarLab Planetarium is integrated throughout the experience.

Collaborators and camp developers include

  • Iowa 4-H Youth Development
  • Collins Aerospace
  • Iowa State University College of Engineering
  • Iowa State University College of Design
  • Iowa State University College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum
  • Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Iowa Children’s Museum
  • Ericson Public Library