Challenger Space Center announces innovative summer camp for tweens

Challenger Space Center Now Offering Two separate investigative camps for ages 11-14

Peoria, AZ – The Challenger Space Center is now enrolling students entering 6th-8th grade for its all-new CSI-Apollo (Cosmic Scientific Investigative) Summer Camp programs.

CSI-Apollo is part of the Center’s overall summer camp theme this year, “Adventures in Space,” which was chosen to reflect the International Year of Astronomy as well as the 400th Anniversary of Galileo’s use of the telescope to explore the skies. 

Campers interested in the CSI-Apollo program have two different week-long camps to choose from, each specifically designed to encourage hands-on learning among budding young scientific explorers.

Starting June 22 and repeating July 13 is “CSI: Advanced Cosmic Systems,” in which campers will become junior scientists and physicists, exploring potential career choices while utilizing some of the fun and fascinating equipment that professionals use to study the cosmos.

Starting July 6 and repeating July 20 is “CSI: Astronomical Discoveries,” in which campers will travel beyond our solar system and experience a dynamic universe filled with galaxies, nebulae, planets and moons that are just now being explored and identified.

Jon Van de Water, a Challenger Space Center Flight Director who helped design the CSI-Apollo camps, is excited about this summer’s all-new programs.  “Campers will explore the basics behind the cosmos and see what is out there.  We have brand-new equipment that the kids will be using while conducting their investigations and research, much of it identical to what researchers and scientists use around the world.  I’m looking forward to camp and having a lot of fun exploring with the kids.” 

Each week-long camp runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and students need to bring a sack lunch.  Tuition is $250 per week and all campers receive an official ID badge, 2009 Summer Camp T-shirt, and much more.

Although registration for summer camp is ongoing, early enrollment is encouraged as sessions fill up quickly and will close when the maximum attendance of 25 is reached.

Along with encouraging an interest in math, science, and space exploration, Challenger Space Center’s summer camps are designed to be fun for children while encouraging positive character traits and workplace skills such as goal-setting, leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.  Participants often develop lifelong friendships through their Challenger summer camp experiences. 

In addition, programs are created with state educational standards in mind and are underwritten in part by companies that hope to employ participants in the future, keeping local businesses and the Arizona economy strong. 

The Challenger Space Center still has openings for its regular summer camp programs, which began June 8 and continues through July 31.  Half- and full-day sessions are available for ages 5-14.  For more information, call (623) 322-2001 or visit the Space Center’s Web site at http://www.azchallenger.org/.

Submitted on behalf of The Challenger Space Center
The Challenger Space Center is a world-class educational facility located in Peoria, AZ, that inspires visitors of all ages to develop a lifelong interest in math, science, technology, and space travel.  Its mission is to excite and educate people of all ages about the mysteries and wonders of space, science and the universe in which we live.

The Center is located at 21170 N. 83^rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382.  For more information, visit the center’s Web site at http://www.azchallenger.org/.

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