Underserved youth

Help us create space for everyone and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists!

Most of a person’s science learning takes place outside of the five percent of their lives spent in a traditional classroom setting. Informal learning experiences like the programs, exhibits, and activities available at Space Center Houston are all ideal ways for learners of all ages to engage in meaningful learning experiences.

Space Center Houston provides a broad array of programming for K-12 students and educators that focuses on STEM disciplines and incorporates best practices for informal learning environments.

Informal learning environments are unique. They give students the ability to ask questions, explore solutions and create next steps on their own. This practice helps create excitement, drives curiosity and contributes to a person’s knowledge and interest in STEM both now and in the future.

Experiences like those available in our youth STEM education programs can spark creative and innovative thinking and heighten students’ motivation to learn.

Donations that support access for underserved youth to Space Center Houston STEM education programs help us extend meaningful experiences to low-income students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to participate in our programming.

Space Center Houston’s educational outreach initiatives and STEM education programs include the following programs:

• Title 1 School Visit Program
• Exploration Academy
• Girls STEM Pathway
• Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)

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Digital Education Resources Initiative

The unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic forced a paradigm shift for museums and science centers around the nation. To continue engaging our community in space and science learning, Space Center Houston increased its use of digital learning platforms to meet the increased demand for access to effective and engaging digital STEM learning resources.

Through the Digital Education Resources Initiative, Space Center Houston’s education specialists use our largely unrestricted access to NASA learning resources to illustrate STEM concepts using the science behind space exploration. They also adapt, interpret and align these resources with state and national science learning standards, which enables teachers and home school instructors to seamlessly integrate engaging content into their curricula.

The Digital Education Resources Initiative’s impact is twofold: it helps strengthen Space Center Houston’s partnerships with regional schools and community organizations by supporting and providing educators with useful content, and it helps expand our efforts to serve national and international audiences.

The prospect of larger audiences, greater interactivity and community building relate directly to our long-term strategic goals and mission of sharing broadly the wonders of space exploration.

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Gene Kranz Scholarship Fund

A community of supporters from around the world came together through a highly successful crowdfunding campaign to join Space Center Houston and the City of Webster’s efforts to restore the Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson Space Center and preserve the legacy of the Apollo Program.

Legendary Apollo Flight Director and long-time Space Center Houston advocate Gene Kranz led the 30-day “On a Mission” Kickstarter campaign. Kranz’ powerful and impactful leadership in the restoration effort prompted Space Center Houston to honor his commitment to future generations by establishing a scholarship fund in his name.

Space Center Houston’s Gene Kranz Scholarship Fund awards Space Center University® tuition scholarships for local students to participate in the multi-day, hands-on engineering design program that is open to students, middle school through college, and adults.

Space Center U® promotes problem solving and communication skills to develop engineering solutions for space-related situations. It also helps students develop critical thinking skills, teamwork, accountability, fiscal responsibility and the ability to respond to adversity–the same skills that Gene Kranz worked to instill in the flight controllers he led in Mission Control.

By supporting the Gene Kranz Scholarship Fund, we can work together to begin shaping tomorrow’s leaders in human space exploration and other important STEM fields.

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