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DAY CAMP: Life in the Universe


  • Science Mill 101 South Lady Bird Lane Johnson City, TX, 78636 United States (map)

Solve cosmic mysteries at this Science Mill Single-Day Camp! Explore planetary science through the lens of biology, geology, and chemistry and achieve your mission! Designed for Grades 3-5 and 6-8.

Dates: July 10 (Grades 3-5) and July 11 (6-8) - One-Day Camp ONLY

Time: 9am-3:30pm

Registration Fee: $35 per student

Grades 3-5

Image Data: Man or Machine - Students will explore the idea that images are a type of data which contain lots of information and they need analysis to be useful. Students will analyze images of celestial objects from deep space and Earth bound telescopes via citizen science through NASA’s website. They will photograph real rock specimens with digital microscopes, then use machine learning to analyze and sort their images by type of rock: igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary.

Galilean Moon Mystery - Students will use dichotomous keys to analyze images and various information collected from a rover to successfully identify various aliens and their moon environments. Students will be challenged to complete puzzles in order to advance to the next level of the escape room.

Lunar Landscapes - Students will be able to create a model representing the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, showcasing their understanding of its unique geological features, and the processes responsible for its distinctive appearance.

Grades 6-8

Galactic Extremophiles - Students will learn via gamified methods about extremophile life and biological adaptations to extreme environments. They will observe a live macroinvertebrate and imagine what kinds of life could exist in the extremes of the Galilean moons. They will design an extreme organism using gaming-inspired character profile development. They will then illustrate their idea with the assistance of image generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), creating a piece of visual artwork representing their organism and environment.

Astrogeology Mystery - Students will identify the unknown sample substances based on their physical properties and determine which Galilean moon the samples most likely came from. They will use the data to determine the identity of the unknown substance based on its unique properties. Students will use a dichotomous key to identify rock samples.

Earlier Event: June 22
Dino Discovery Day
Later Event: July 20
Shark Week
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