Get ready for lift-off into STEM-powered fun! At Space Center Houston’s Explorer Camps, kids engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math challenges that bring space exploration to life. From programming robots and designing space habitats to launching rockets and solving real-world engineering problems, each day sparks creativity and critical thinking.
Perfect for curious minds in Pre-K through 11 years old, our camps inspire future astronauts, engineers, and innovators. Campers build teamwork skills, gain confidence, and learn from expert educators at the official visitor center of NASA, Johnson Space Center.
Check-in | 8:00-8:30 am (ages 4-7)
8:30-9:00 am (ages 8-11)
Check-out | 3:00-3:30 pm (ages 4-7)
3:30-4:00 pm (ages 8-11)
Browse our Explorer Camp Parent’s Guide filled with information such as with program contacts, hours, meal options, pickup procedures and more.
February 27, 2026
Cost | $79.95 | meal included
Drop Off | 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Pick Up | 9:30-10:00 p.m.
Explore with us for an evening about the planets of our Solar System. Campers experience a live planetarium show featuring the planets and their properties. Throughout this evening, participants will explore the Solar System, understand interplanetary travel, and learn about other planets.
February 27, 2026
Cost | $79.95 | meal included
Drop Off | 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Pick Up | 9:30-10:00 p.m.
Take the journey through our solar system and go to places beyond. Attending a live Planetarium show, travel through the solar system and discover the differences in the planets. Experience our place in space as we travel through the solar system for an enjoyable, entertaining evening.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Our future needs are for deep space travel. The Space Launch System will send Orion and other cargo to the Moon. Campers will understand this advanced launch vehicle by designing and engineering a rocket to maximize the energy needed for launching into deep space.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Campers will discover that rockets send robots into space. Learning the parts of a rocket, building, and designing model rockets, and launching them to simulate robot exploration of the solar system. Our young explorers learn how robots use sensors to navigate and study the composition of other space objects.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Campers will discover all the features that make Earth the most desirable place to live in the Solar System. During this one-day camp, campers learn how the Earth needs the Sun to exist, how astronauts can live on the ISS and discover things in deep space using telescopes.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
All journeys begin with a single step. Campers begin their journey by learning about the various aspects of being an Astronaut, learn about the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) and building an end effector like the one a found on the ISS (International Space Station)
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Campers will experience a Martian adventure that challenges the junior scientists to seek solutions to the obstacles of deep space travel. Participants will engage in engineering design challenges, understanding Mars’ harsh environment and delve into topics such as geology and radiation.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Rocket Design is an important part of our past and the future of Space Flights. During this one-day camp experience of designing, building and launching various rockets, campers will gain a greater understanding of the history of rockets for space exploration.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Robots help NASA explore the solar system where spacecraft travel to the moon or Mars. Through simulations, programing and rover challenges, campers use the Engineering Design Process to research, design, and build a Sphero-powered Mars Rover.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
Campers develop an understanding of our solar system and understand the vast distances between the planets. Through hands on engineering challenges, the use of robotics and creative design, all campers will learn what it takes to go beyond Earth for space travel.
$74.95 | 1-Day Camp
Drop off | 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Pick up | 3:00-3:30 p.m.
This one-day adventure will take you beyond the limits of challenges, learning more on how to protect the astronaut traveling through space. Through hands on engineering challenges, the use of robotics and creative designing, all campers will learn what it takes to journey beyond Earth.
December 22, 23 & 26
Cost | $179.95
Explore Mars’ surface and its climate through engineering challenges and science experiments. Campers discover Mars’ position in our Solar System and expand their knowledge of astronaut training, new technology, circuits, robotics, and rocketry for future exploration.
Day 1 – Absorb what the red planet has to offer and experience the cold and windy environment of Mars. Discover how far the Earth is from the Sun Make a mission patch for upcoming missions and explorer Mars through 3D NASA images.
Day 2 – 3.2.1. LIFT OFF! Build and launch your rocket, learn the basics of rocketry, and discover how far Mars is from the Sun and the Earth.
Day 3 – Suit up for a trip to the rocky fourth planet by designing a suit astronauts wear while traveling to Mars. Make a Martian rock, dig on the surface of Mars.
December 29-30 & January 2
Cost | $179.95
Our young robot engineers learn how to design, build, and program robots in this 3-day adventure. Get creative with problem-solving techniques and coding skills by using robots and technology to overcome space-related challenges.
Day 1 – Learn how robots are programed and create an algorithm your robot will follow to complete a mission.
Day 2 – Apply sequences of commands to complete a robotics obstacle course and understanding patterns with robotic devices
Day 3 – Patterns are found everywhere, even in robotics. Explore programing your own robots with patterned sequences of code.
March 9-13
Cost | $299.95
Young explorers will learn what astronauts face when they travel to the Moon. Campers will find adventure by exploring the Moon’s surface with robotics and technology and understand the Earth-Moon’s place in the Solar System.
Day 1 – How is there a man on the Moon?? Discover Earth-Moon relationships and investigate the Moon’s interesting features.
Day 2 – Shoot for the Moon! Launch rockets and learn the basics of rocketry.
Day 3 – Experience what it would be like to live on the Moon and experience the next generation of space suits
Day 4 – Robots on the Moon?! Learn about future rovers that NASA may use to travel on the surface of the moon and maneuver robots like lunar rovers.
Day 5 – Enjoy a tram ride to Rocket Park & Building 9 to view the historic Saturn V and where past, present, and future NASA astronaut’s train. Then, build robots and discover the planets that make up our solar system.
December 22, 23, & 26
Cost | $179.95
Mars is a rich destination for human exploration and discovery. Campers learn the basics of rocketry, discover coding, explore hands-on science activities and technology.
Day 1 – Train like an astronaut and design a mission patch. You will know what it takes to go to outer space through engineering, robotics, understanding how circuits work, and astronaut training.
Day 2 – Journey through the solar system to Mars to learn where it is located. Design rockets and learn about energy and find what it’s like to live on Mars
Day 3 – How do we get rovers like Spirit and Curiosity on the surface of Mars? Create a rover and a landing system to safely place a lander you design on Mars.
December 29-30 & January 2
Cost | $179.95
Campers discover what it takes to solve problems related to space exploration. Taking “out of the box” and to new and exciting places, this 3-day camp gets your little builders using like never before. These engineers -in -training take on innovative problem-solving,, art projects, and robotics.
Day 1 – Learn about measurements and how accuracy is needed to design anything for space exploration. Then, create a catapult using the engineering process.
Day 2 – Solve real-world problems. Design a city like civil engineers and race to build a car powered by wind.
Day 3 – Construct a rover, like the ones sent to Mars. Explore the act of block coding through simulations.
March 9-13
Cost | $299.95
This lunar camp is designed to introduce young campers to the exploration of the Moon. While the journey takes astronauts to new levels, campers will have the chance to experience many robotic platforms to master basic coding challenges tied to the Moon mission. The young explorers will explore rocketry, astronaut training, exploration and living on the Moon.
Day 1 – Navigate the stars with sextants and learn how Earth and the Moon interact.
Day 2 – Engineer multiple rockets and launch them! Then, build a rover and compete in a rover challenge.
Day 3 – Phase into lunar exploration. Create a model of the moon phases and send a rover on a mission to the Moon.
Day 4 – Is the Moon made of cheese? Investigate the layers and materials that make up lunar soil and design a lunar habitat.
Day 5 – Enjoy a tram ride to Rocket Park & Building 9 to view the historic Saturn V and where past, present, and future NASA astronaut’s train. Then, discover exoplanets and block programing.
December 22, 23, & 26
Cost | $179.95
Space inspires campers to head into the labs to discover what it takes to solve problems related to space exploration for this 3-day Martian challenge. Your junior engineer will be inspired to collaborate and find solutions to the complications of deep space exploration.
Day 1 – Make the journey and experience what NASA astronauts need to survive and explore on Mars. Learn how Astronauts train for the different parts of the solar system, live in microgravity and create a greenhouse for their Habitat on Mars.
Day 2 – Journey through the solar system to Mars to learn where it is located. Design rockets and learn about energy and find what it’s like to live on Mars
Day 3 – What will it be like to live on Mars? Construct necessities like a water filtration system, and greenhouse and build a habitat for daily Martian living and create rovers and a landing system.
December 29-30 & January 2
Cost | $179.95
This Robotics camp is designed for young robotics enthusiasts. Using a variety robotic platforms and LEGOS, campers engage in immersive robotic challenges tied to space exploration. Through project-based robotic challenges, campers excelled in science, technology, engineering, and coding.
Day 1 – Travel through low Earth orbit. Participate in ISS docking challenges, simulations, and spacewalks.
Day 2 – Drive and program robots to land and cross the Martian surface. Discover block coding to learn the basics of robotic movement.
Day 3 – Design a control panel to manipulate a simulation you create. Operate and evaluate the efficiency of multiple engineering builds.
March 9-13
Cost | $299.95
Understanding our greatest accomplishments in space and imagining new ones will inspire your explorer to take part in this adventure. Seek solutions to the obstacles of Earth-Moon space travel, engage in engineering design challenges, use robotic platforms, and delve into topics such as geology, rocketry, radiation, and mission training.
Day 1 – Why go back to the Moon? Encounter binary code and build a scale model of Earth and the Moon.
Day 2 – Create and test a capsule and thermal tile design. Then, participate in a robotics design challenge.
Day 3 – Engineer multiple rockets and launch them! Then, build a model of Gateway.
Day 4 – Investigate what a crew would need to safely live on the Moon and construct habitat prototypes.
Day 5 – Enjoy a tram ride to Rocket Park & Building 9 to view the historic Saturn V and where past, present, and future NASA astronaut’s train. Then, create and code robotic builds
December 22, 23 & 26
Cost | $179.95
Space inspires campers to head into the labs to discover what it takes to solve problems related to space exploration for this 3-day Martian challenge. Your junior engineer will be inspired to collaborate and find solutions to the complications of deep space exploration.
Day 1 – Traverse Mars, its place in the solar system, its terrain and atmosphere. Then, create rockets and parachutes that we will put to the test
Day 2 – Design a habitat for astronauts using circuits and elements key to survival on the Martian surface.
Day 3 – Program rovers and aid in Curiosity’s mission as it makes its way across the red planet. Explore the mysteries of Mars with robotics.
December 29-30 & January 2
Cost | $179.95
Campers develop an understanding of space exploration challenges and beyond. Through hands-on engineering challenges, the use of robotics and creative design, all campers learn what it takes to go beyond Earth.
Day 1 – Assemble a crew and work together to achieve success on a mission just like astronauts, scientists, engineers, and mission control do. Then construct and launch a rocket.
Day 2 – Going into the vacuum of space comes with dangers. Test and develop materials capable of protecting your crew.
Day 3 – NASA’s technological advances impacted our everyday lives on Earth. Using the engineering process your engineers-in-training create inventions that might make everyday life here on Earth better or easier and build rovers that will play homage to the rovers created by JPL engineers.
March 9-13
Cost | $299.95
We are going! Understand through hands-on engineering challenges, simulating lunar habitats, use of robotics platforms, and creative engineering developments what it takes to go back to the Moon.
Day 1 – Blast off! to discover the parts of a rocket, experiment with parachute design, and launch bottle rockets.
Day 2 – Use the process of electrolysis to split water molecules and broaden understanding of how rockets work.
Day 3 – Solve a lunar mystery and learn how simulations help NASA plan for explorations into space.
Day 4 – Explore the Moon by designing a lunar buggy and participating in robotics coding challenges.
Day 5 – Enjoy a tram ride to Rocket Park & Building 9 to view the historic Saturn V and where past, present, and future NASA astronauts’ train. Then, create a spectroscope and Star shade.
HOURS TODAY
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