Cosmosphere International SciEd Center and Space Museum: CosmoCamps

CosmoCamps are immersive, hands-on STEAM learning experiences hosted by the Cosmosphere, designed to inspire curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Structured around a progressive curriculum that serves students from 3rd grade through 12th grade, CosmoCamps allow participants to grow their knowledge and skills year after year as they advance through increasingly complex scientific concepts.

Each CosmoCamp blends interactive education with unforgettable experiences, giving campers opportunities to explore astronomy, rocketry, robotics, engineering, planetary science, and human spaceflight. Programs are carefully tailored to be age-appropriate, ensuring younger campers build foundational STEAM skills while older students engage in advanced problem-solving, technical challenges, and real-world applications. This curriculum-based approach encourages continued participation and long-term engagement with STEAM learning.

Campers learn through hands-on experiments, collaborative missions, and creative challenges that promote critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. Instruction is led by experienced educators who connect classroom concepts to practical, real-world uses and future STEAM careers. As students progress from elementary through high school levels, CosmoCamps place increased emphasis on leadership, design thinking, and independent exploration.

What truly sets CosmoCamps apart is the immersive learning environment of the Cosmosphere itself. As the only Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Kansas, the Cosmosphere provides campers with access to some of the world’s most significant space artifacts. The museum houses the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow, as well as historic spacecraft, including the real Apollo 13 Command Module, Gemini X, and Liberty Bell 7. Campers gain behind-the-scenes access to these artifacts and world-class exhibits, providing direct connections to the missions, engineers, scientists, and astronauts who shaped space exploration. These experiences turn abstract concepts into tangible inspiration and show campers the real history and future of human spaceflight.

CosmoCamps are intentionally designed to be inclusive and welcoming to students of all backgrounds and skill levels. Through shared discovery and collaboration, campers build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging within the STEAM community.

Want to level-up your campers’ experience? Select dates and camps offer the unique opportunity to meet with a real astronaut as they participate alongside your camper, lead them through activities, and share their experience being in space!

CosmoCamps serve as a launchpad for future innovators and explorers. By guiding students along a structured educational journey, CosmoCamps empower young learners to develop skills, curiosity, and ambition, preparing them for future success.