More than 25-full scholarships to attend children’s space science and environmental science summer camps are now available through the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center in Hutchinson. Interested children — or their parents or grandparents — can apply for a scholarship by submitting a brief essay on why the child wants to attend camp this summer. The only qualifications are residency and grade level, based on the following:
Exploration Earth Camp is for students in Reno, Harvey and Sedgwick counties entering the 5th or 6th grades this fall. The four-day commuter camp includes one overnight stay and explores how various ecosystems support life. The camp includesactivities at local nature centers, zoos, wildlife areas and the Siemens Wind Turbine Nacelle Assembly Facility. Sessions are available June 12 – 15 and July 10 – 13. Ten scholarships, valued at $199 each, are provided by Siemens Energy in Hutchinson.
“Siemens believes in supporting programs that help engage school-aged children in science, technology, engineering, math and the environment,” said Claus Ungstrup, Plant Manager at Siemens Energy in Hutchinson. “By exposing children to these concepts at a young age, they have a greater chance of growing up to become electricians,engineers, scientists, machinists, welders and assembly workers – all careers that can contribute to the growth of our local industries and businesses.”
Mars Academy Camp is for children in Reno county entering the 6th or 7th grade this fall. In this three-day residential camp, campers plan a Mission to Mars, design and build robots, and participate in Mars-themed experiments in the Cosmosphere’s Martian Lab. Eighteen scholarships, valued at $249 each, are available for sessions from July 6 – 8 and July 27 – 29. Scholarships are provided through the generosity of the Stallman Foundation.
To apply for scholarships, essays and contact information should be submitted via email to laurieg@cosmo.org, or call Laurie Givan at 620-665-9323 to request a scholarship application.
For more than 27 years, the Smithsonian-affiliated Cosmosphere has provided internationally recognized space science and environmental science summer camps for children of all ages. The Cosmosphere is home to the world’s largest collection of U.S. and Soviet space artifacts housed anywhere outside of Washington, D.C. or Moscow. It is located at 1100 N. Plum in Hutchinson. Visit www.cosmo.org or www.cosmospherecamps.org