Mission to Mars Student Challenge for Summer Camps
This summer, immerse your youth in the exploration of Mars with the Mission to Mars Student Challenge for Summer Camps! A 7-week series of hands-on activities take youth from learning about Mars, planning a mission, launch and landing, and exploring the surface – all while following the Perseverance Rover’s current exploration of Mars!
To help you implement one or more of these activities in your program, this series of one-hour trainings show camp and afterschool leaders how to guide activities from each phase of the challenge. A variety of activity styles from hands-on to online, focusing on the science, engineering, and art of exploring Mars are presented. The focus is on upper elementary and middle school, but with options for younger and older kids.
![]() |
January 21/ STEM Enrichment Training – Mission to Mars Student Challenge
|
![]() |
April 29 / Learn About Mars Both artists and scientists need careful observation skills to interpret and understand the scene being viewed. This STEAM-oriented session grows kids’ skills and their understanding of the surface of Mars using basic concepts of art.
|
![]() |
May 13/ Plan Your Mission What instruments would help you learn more about Mars and answer the questions you are curious about? In this session kids consider what tools to include on a rover, and play a game to design a full mission from launch to landing.
|
![]() |
May 27/ Design Your Spacecraft Guide kids in gaining the skills to think like an engineer as they construct their own rover and helicopter!
|
![]() |
June 10/ Surface Operations Kids play a board game to move a rover to a spot on Mars where it can study interesting rocks, then learn to think like a scientist to describe rocks made from clay.
|
![]() |
June 17/ Sample Handling Get your tech on and code in Scratch to address rover and helicopter challenges. No coding experience needed!
|
![]() |
July 15 / Mid-summer check-in |
KEY LINKS
Also, check out these summer camp-targeted Mission to the Moon trainings and more summer resources from NASA STEM Engagement |
This special resource has been made available to all viewers. Please note that (free) membership is required for full access to the Museum & Informal Education Alliance site; please visit Join Our Community to learn more.