Do they launch anything?

Model rockets, yes, with the flight predicted on paper before it leaves the pad.

Is there a telescope night?

Where the camp site allows it. Otherwise the observation work is done with real archived imagery.

What ages get the most out of it?

Nine and up, though seven-year-olds do fine with the building half.

Space & Astronomy Summer Camp in Codington County, SD

Codington County is one of 66 counties in South Dakota. Somewhere in it are children who would love space & astronomy summer camp and have never been offered one within driving distance.

Ages 7-14 · For families · South Dakota · Midwest

Space & Astronomy Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Codington County, SD

What the week actually is

Space is the best bait in STEM and the easiest to waste. This week uses it properly: orbital mechanics as ratio problems, rocket stability as a physics argument, distance to Mars as an exercise in numbers too big to feel.

Day by day

Scale: how far is far
Build the rocket, predict the flight
Launch and measure the error
Orbits as ratio problems
Showcase: present the flight data

Codington County, SD — what applies locally

Codington County is one of 66 counties in South Dakota.
Every public school district inside Codington County is eligible for the district licensing terms.
State: South Dakota · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from Codington County, SD

Do they launch anything?: Model rockets, yes, with the flight predicted on paper before it leaves the pad.
Is there a telescope night?: Where the camp site allows it. Otherwise the observation work is done with real archived imagery.
What ages get the most out of it?: Nine and up, though seven-year-olds do fine with the building half.

Other camp themes in Codington County

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Space Camp elsewhere in South Dakota

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