Already planning your young explorer’s new year? Save the date for our 2024 Overnight Experiences! Explore science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on learning and challenging activities designed to build STEM skills.
1/13/24
4/20/24 – Earth Day Overnight
5/25/24 – Memorial Day Overnight
7/6/24 – Independence Day Overnight
10/26/24 – Galaxy Frights Overnight
11/9/24 – Veteran’s Day Overnight
12/14/24 – Galaxy Lights Overnight
1/20/2024
2/17/2024
4/6/2024
5/4/2024
6/1/2024
7/13/2024
8/10/2024
9/7/2024
10/5/2024
1/27/2024
2/24/2024
3/23/2024
4/13/2024
5/11/2024
6/15/2024
7/20/2024
8/17/2024
9/14/2024
10/12/2024 – Hybrid with Cub Scout Event
2/3/24
5/18/24
9/21/24
10/12/2024 – Hybrid with Cub Scout Event
2/16/2023
6/7/2024
8/23/2024
10/18/2024
Click the individual program links to explore the exciting overnight experience options available and to register online. To register via phone or email, to change your order, or to be added to the wait list for a full camp, please contact Reservations at +1 281-283-4755 or reservations@spacecenter.org. For program questions contact the program coordinator at +1 281-244-2131 or overnights@spacecenter.org.
Camp T-shirts are $15 each and are available for purchase in youth medium, youth large, adult small, adult medium, adult large. adult XL, adult XXL. Products will only be sold from 6:30-8:30PM during your event at Guest Services Desk.
Front & Back T-Shirt Design
Patches are $8. Products will only be sold from 6:30-8:30PM during your event at Guest Services Desk.
Overnight Experiences provides a unique visitation experience to our Center filled with historical space artifacts and engaging STEM-based activities to inspire guests of all ages to become involved in humanity’s future amongst the stars.
Scout Overnight Experiences are for groups associated with an official scouting organization. These Overnight Experiences allow participants to work towards completing space-related badge or award requirements. We currently offer experiences for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Girl Scouts, and American Heritage Girls.
Family Overnight Experiences offer a similar experience but are designed for families with children of all ages, who are not involved in a scouting group. These events are usually self-paced and have a host of activities and programming spread throughout the Center.
A private Overnight Experience can be set up for any organization. Please give us a call and we will work with you in creating an experience for your group. Private Overnight Experiences will require a non-refundable down payment, which will be applied to several of your tickets, and will require a minimum of 50 participants to run the event. This will allow us to cover facility, staff, and catering costs. Dates are subject to availability.
Included in our overnight experiences is dinner, a variety of hands-on educational activities, breakfast, a tram tour, and a general admission ticket that may be used during the first or second day of the overnight.
Yes. All Overnight Experience guest must be at least five years old to attend. Anyone under the age of 18 may not attend the Overnight Experience without a parent/chaperone.
No, all children under the age of 18 must attend with a chaperone/parent. Anyone under the age of 18 will not be allowed to check-in without a parent/chaperone who is staying with his or her group.
We are located at 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058
Traffic can be an issue, even on a Saturday so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to travel. If your group/troop/pack is traveling in separate vehicles, make sure all drivers have a way to contact each other.
Remember to search for “Space Center Houston” and not “NASA” or “Johnson Space Center” on your GPS.
In response to COVID-19 conditions nationwide, Space Center Houston is following the revised mask recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As conditions may change at any time, please refer to the visitor information page for the latest recommendations.
You will be able to purchase an “I Camped in Space” T-shirt or patch during your event. Our shirt is available in sizes Youth Medium through Adult 2XL.
Normally purchases for shirts will open during dinner. Our Lead will let provide instructions for purchasing during the welcome show the evening of your event.
Preorders are not currently available. Previous years’ T-shirt designs will be available at a discounted rate while supply lasts.
Please keep in mind that you will be sleeping near other guests. We ask that you show the same courtesy and respect to them that you would like them to show you.
Things that are prohibited for Overnight Experiences:
Glow sticks (flashlights and phone lights are ok)
Electrical hair appliances (blow dryers, straighteners, curling irons etc.)
Alcoholic Beverages.
Unregistered guests
Only registered participants can attend an overnight. Chaperones are not permitted to bring any children who are not registered or who do not meet the designated age level or gender requirements for an overnight.
No. If you discover that your tent is damaged or unusable, we do not have any replacements. You can choose to sleep outdoors without a tent or we can move you inside.
If you need to add, remove, or reschedule any tickets within your reservation, please email reservations@spacecenter.org and edu.registration@spacecenter.org. Please note that refunds or rescheduling will only happen if they are within the deadlines of our cancellation and rescheduling policy.
Changes to your Total Participants: Additions or cancellations to your reservation may be made up until four (4) weeks before the date of your overnight.
Refunds will only be given up until four (4) weeks before the date of your overnight.
Rescheduling: If your event is less than four (4) weeks away, but still at least two weeks prior to your event, and you are unable to attend, you may reschedule individuals or your entire group to another overnight. This will be a one-time reschedule to another date.
Rescheduling your overnight date can be done by emailing reservations@spacecenter.org or the program coordinator at overnights@spacecenter.org. Please note that all dates are subject to availability.
Cancelled Event: If Space Center Houston cancels your event due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, we will either refund you, or you can apply your tickets to another overnight date.
COVID-related cancellations: If you or someone if your immediate family contracts COVID-19, please let the program coordinator know at overnights@spacecenter.org. If the cancellation is made less than four (4) weeks away from your event, you will be eligible for rescheduling. If rescheduling is not possible, refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you need an accommodation for any condition or disability, please fill out your digital registration as early as possible, so we can be able to fulfill the request. While we will not be able to accommodate everything, we are willing to work with you. Any accommodations need to be declared in your digital registration at least 2 weeks in advance in order to be considered. Below are some of the more common accommodation requests:
Yes. Please fill out your digital registration. This will allow us to better service you during your stay. These registrations need to be submitted 2 weeks before the event if you require any sort of accommodation in order to be confirmed. Filling this out late will result in you not receiving your requested accommodation. The following will be asked of you during digital registration:
No one should attend the Overnight Experience if they are not feeling well. If at some point during the evening you or your child feel ill, please notify a staff member immediately.
Space Center Houston has a medical bay on site, and has a fully equipped first aid kit. Upon notifying one of our Instructors or our Security Team during the evening, they will provide assistance.
Two meals are included as part of your ticket cost. We will be providing Dinner on Day-1 and Breakfast on Day-2 of the Event. If you are coming with a group as part of a Private Overnight Experience, you will need to get with your group leader to see the menu for your event. Any public Scouting or Family events will have the following menus for the event:
All our meals will have gluten-free, pork-free, vegetarian, and vegan variations to them. These must be chosen at least 2 weeks prior to the event in your digital registration.
You can bring your own food if needed for dietary restrictions. All food must be stored in vehicles until mealtime.
This program comes with a General Admission ticket for each registrant. You have two options on when to utilize this ticket.
Yes! While T-shirts and patches are being sold, we will also be selling discounted general admission tickets at $12.95. This will allow your additional group members to join you in the morning at 10 a.m. after your tram tour.
If there is additional spacing available, we will allow additional guests to join your tram tour at 9 a.m. This will need to be approved by the Program Coordinator at least two weeks before your event. If this is something you are interested in, and you know you will have additional guests joining you in the morning, please email overnights@spacecenter.org to discuss availability on the Tram and potentially book additional spots.
Overnight Experiences offer a unique opportunity to sleep next to flown space artifacts. We offer both indoor and outdoor sleeping accommodations.
Please note the following:
The main flood lights will be turned off but the stairwell and elevator shaft to the shuttle and plane will stay lit. Overall, it will be dark but there will still be light in the area.
Space Center Houston is located in an urban area and there are busy streets surrounding the facility. The outdoor camp sites are located across the parking lot from the main road. There are typically very few cars passing by overnight but just be aware that you may hear emergency vehicle sirens or some cars passing by in the distance.
For indoor sleeping, our custodial staff will be working in unoccupied areas throughout the center. They tend to keep noise down, but if you are a light sleeper, a pair of ear plugs might not be a bad idea to bring.
There are restrooms located inside the building and in the outdoor camping area. There are no showers.
We have reserved extra space inside either our main building or the events building that can accommodate everyone in case of bad weather. We will not require everyone to sleep inside unless the rain is substantial.
After lights-out the facility will be completely locked down and monitored by Security. If you need to access your vehicle or depart in the middle of the night, then let our Security team know.
We save the locations nearest to outlets, both indoors and outdoors, for guests who require CPAP accommodations. We recommend bringing a charging bank if you need to charge your phone. We also have charging banks available for rent in towers spread out throughout the center.
Yes, there will be a full staff of Security guards monitoring the building and grounds as well as one of our Education Leads.
During our Scout Overnights, scouts will be working on space-related badges or awards. Scouts will be broken out into groups and rotated to various stations in order to complete various NASA-related STEM challenges throughout our center that will apply to their badge/reward requirements. To see more information about which badge/award we are currently going for, please see the main page for your program.
Families involved in any official scouting organization can attend a Scout Overnight Experience. They are also open to immediate and extended family of any scout. Troops, packs, and dens can come as a group as well. All attendees must be five years old or older. Siblings who are not scouts will still need to pay the Scout price if they are participating in activities.
Your role as a troop leader/pack leader/parent/guardian is very important during the overnight. During this time, we all want to be safe. Space Center Houston supports a healthy and inviting environment for all. As we work together, a strong community develops, and we look to you to help your child to engage and enjoy the event in a safe way for all.
Adult chaperones or leaders will be responsible for maintaining your group’s adherence to the program’s guidelines. Violation of these policies may result in removal of the participant from the program.
Please feel free to abide by your organization’s policies. We understand and respect that you may require two adults from your troop or pack to go with the groups when they are dismissed and that is completely acceptable.
Leaders are encouraged to:
Family Overnight Experiences are self-paced events that will be filled with engaging activities covering an array of difficulty levels to excite guests ages five and up. Train like an astronaut, build rockets, and explore robotics all while you explore the history and future plans of space travel. Our Family Overnights typically feature an astronaut guest speaker* as well, who you will be able to engage with during a Q&A. *Astronaut guest speakers are subject to availability.
This Overnight Experience is open to any family, immediate and extended. You do not need to be associated with any scouting organization to attend. Friends of the family are welcome too. All attendees must be at least five years old.
You can inquire about if an astronaut will be present and, if so, which one, within two weeks of your event.
No, but some experience camping and setting up a tent is preferred. There will be staff members available to help you if needed.
Follow us or subscribe to our emails to get updates and special offers.
