Registration is now open for the Girls’ Astronomy Summer Camp hosted by UIUC Department of Astronomy and NCSA's Center for AstroPhysical Surveys! This two-day camp for rising 10th and 11th graders focuses on hands-on astronomy projects, including working with real astronomy data and a tour of UIUC’s historic observatory.
GASC Overview
💡 Do you want to learn:
- How to make galaxy images from Hubble Space Telescope data?
- Science and coding skills for college?
- What Astronomers do every day?
Then this opportunity is for you! This summer camp for high school students will be focused on hands-on astronomy projects. Join this two-day summer camp to play with real astronomical data and hang with UIUC professors and graduate students!
Eligibility
- High school students entering grades 10-12 who are interested in astronomy and programming and want to learn in a girl-centered environment
- This camp aims to support girls interested in astronomy and related fields, but students of any gender can apply
- Space is limited to 25 students, and selection will be based on the camp essay
- Essays will be evaluated based on interest in astronomy, and past experience with the subject is not required
Camp Details
- Dates and Times: June 21-22, 9:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
- Optional in-person night observing, weather permitting
- Location: UIUC Astronomy Building, 1002 W. Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
- Transportation will be provided from the Astronomy Building to other locations on campus and the Staerkel Planetarium for camp activities
- Highlights: Work on real astronomy data, explore space with a planetarium show, observe stars and planets in a nighttime observing session, and talk to UIUC astrophysicists about their research
COVID-19 Safety Information
The Girls' Astronomy Summer Camp will abide by UIUC's COVID-19 safety regulations. The current guidelines for summer camps can be viewed here.
We will have masks available to all campers and camp staff. All campers will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival each day of the camp. If a camper tests positive for COVID-19 or develops COVID-19 symptoms during the camp, we will contact their parent or guardian to pick them up.
If a camper or camp staff member is in close contact with a positive case (defined as someone who was indoors and less than 6’ away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period), fully-vaccinated persons will need to test for COVID-19. Non-fully-vaccinated persons will be sent home from the camp to quarantine.
Parent or guardian permission is needed for camp staff to administer COVID-19 tests to campers under 18. We will send a testing participation agreement to all accepted students.