Bright Idea: Join Science Friday’s Sun Camp!
Science Friday’s virtual Sun Camp is a great way for families and educators to explore STEM this fall with children ages 5-9.
Science Friday’s Sun Camp
October 19, 2022—November 16, 2022
Celebrate all things solar with Sun Camp! Five weeks of great conversations with Sun scientists and hands-on STEAM activities.
Get Started! | Sun Camp FAQ
The days are getting shorter, but we’ve got a great way to bring some extra sun into your life. This fall join us for a bright idea: Sun Camp! The center of our solar system and our closest star, the Sun is so much more than a light bulb in the sky. It’s a dynamic system, constantly changing. Those changes affect us here on Earth in many ways, some obvious and some mysterious. But understanding the Sun and how it works may hold the key to discovering new living worlds in our Universe.
Top 5 reasons to join Science Friday’s Sun Camp:
- All U.S. kids ages 5-9 and their families, caregivers, and siblings are welcome to join us for FREE.
- Online Q&As every Wednesday at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET with real scientists and experts. Bring your questions!
- Weekly hands-on STEM activities that bring the science of the Sun down to Earth.
- Detailed instruction guides, additional resources, extension activities and more. No experience necessary!
- After-school programs, libraries, and other community organizations are welcome to join in the solar-powered fun.
Want to learn more? Keep scrolling for all the details.
Download a one-page, printable Sun Camp Planner for your family or your group. We’ve also created a brief Educator’s Guide for those who want to plan formal or informal group experiences.
Didn’t get to participate in Sun Camp live? Never miss a program announcement or educational resource again!
Week 1: The Sun 101
This week we kick-off Sun Camp with The Sun 101. We ask, “What are the properties of the Sun and how do they affect its function?” Discover what the Sun is made of, how it makes energy, how it changes over time, and what the solar cycle is. You’ll learn all this and more.
Our project for the week is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activity that explores the features of the Sun. We’ll get crafty as we use shaving cream and food coloring to make swirling models of the Sun. As we do, we’ll learn about sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass eruptions. Materials needed: Shaving cream, food coloring, toothpicks, copy paper, a plate with a rim, scrap cardboard or newspaper. Check out the project now!
Share photos of your project with the hashtag #SciFriSunCamp or tag @SciFri on social media. Or send them directly to Science Friday using the Sun Camp Photo Submission form.
On Wednesday, October 19 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET we have a great guest for the Q&A. Professor Patricia H. Reiff, Associate Director for Outreach Programs, Rice Space Institute. Professor Reiff has been involved in space plasma physics research for more than forty-five years. She has served on public education projects for over 30 years, developing award-winning museum exhibits and planetarium shows at over 300 sites in 33 countries and 33 states. Wow!
Registered Sun Campers can ask their questions live on Zoom. If you can’t join us, you can still submit a question in advance. The Q&A will also be live streamed on Science Friday YouTube.
Download a one-page, printable Sun Camp Planner for your family or your group. We’ve also created a brief Educator’s Guide for those who want to plan formal or informal group experiences.
Watch 10/19 Q&A! Make the project!
Week 2: The Solar System
This week we continue Sun Camp with an exploration of The Solar System. We’ll try to answer the question: How does the Sun affect the planets of our solar system? We’ll learn how the solar system formed, what patterns the planets follow, and more.
This week you’ll explore the forces that keep our solar system moving. Become the Sun as you experiment with gravity, inertia, and centripetal forces. First, you’ll perform several simple activities to test different phenomena. Then put your new knowledge to use as you take on our design challenges. Materials needed: Plastic split eggs, marbles, tape or stickers, tape measure, string, a disposable plate with a rim, scissors. Check out the project now!
Share photos of your project with the hashtag #SciFriSunCamp or tag @SciFri on social media. Or send them directly to Science Friday using the Sun Camp Photo Submission form.
Our Q&A this week is on Wednesday, October 26 at 7 pm ET. Our special guests are part of the NASA Solar System Ambassadors program a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA’s space exploration missions. Joining us are Amani Garvin an aerospace engineer, astrophysicist, and aspiring astronaut; Keonda Gaspard an educator, musician, filmmaker, and author of AfroAstronomy; and Davian Harry a physicist, data scientist, and systems engineer. Science Friday is really excited to host these three outstanding science communicators!
Registered Sun Campers can ask their questions live on Zoom. If you can’t join us, you can still submit a question in advance. The Q&A will also be live streamed on Science Friday YouTube.
Watch 10/26 Q&A Try the project!
Week 3: The Sun & Earth
This week we continue Sun Camp as we discover ways the Sun and Earth are connected. We’ll try to answer the question: Why is the Sun important to Earth? We’ll learn how light travels through space, understand how seasons change, why day turns to night, and learn about ways humans have watched the Sun for thousands of years.
This week’s projects are all about the Sun’s energy and how it affects the Earth. The Sun generates immense amounts of electromagnetic radiation. That heat and light travel to Earth to keep you warm, brighten your days, grow your food… and give you sunburn! So you’ll experiment with different forms of light this week. In The Awesome Energy of the Sun, you’ll learn about the electromagnetic spectrum and test ultraviolet light. Then in The Science of Sunlight and Shadows, you’ll discover how the Earth’s movement affects the movement of light on the planet. Try one or both. Let us know what you learn! Materials needed: Chalk, tape measure, UV-sensitive beads, string or yarn, sunscreen, and construction paper.
Share photos of your project with the hashtag #SciFriSunCamp or tag @SciFri on social media. Or send them directly to Science Friday using the Sun Camp Photo Submission form.
Our Q&A this week is on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 pm ET. Our special guests are part of the NASA PUNCH (Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission. In addition to studying solar winds, their Outreach Team shares Ancient & Modern Sun watching with learners. Dr. Cherilynn Morrow, Outreach Director for the NASA PUNCH mission, Joe Aragon Jr., Math and Science Educator and Cross-cultural consultant for PUNCH Native American Outreach and Dr. Nicki Viall, the NASA Project Scientist for the PUNCH mission.
Registered Sun Campers can ask their questions live on Zoom. If you can’t join us, you can still submit a question in advance. The Q&A will also be live streamed on Science Friday YouTube.
Watch 11/2 Q&A Project: Shadows Project: Energy
Week 4: Solar Weather
This week we continue Sun Camp as we learn about the weather in space. We’ll try to answer the question: How do the cycles of the Sun affect Earth? You’ll learn how sunspots, solar flares, CMEs, and solar winds, affect organisms and technology on Earth. Plus, you’ll discover how the Earth’s magnetic fields interact with solar weather to create beautiful auroras.
This week’s project explores the Sun’s solar winds and the Earth’s magnetosphere. The Sun’s solar wind stretches billions of miles to the edge of the solar system. The Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the radiation from the solar wind. The interaction between the two results in beautiful arouras, which we can see on Earth. Use common bar magnets to experiment with magnetic fields and test their strength. Materials needed: Two magnets, a box of paperclips, several items to test such as coins, nails, aluminum foil, keys, etc. Try the experiments!
Share photos of your project with the hashtag #SciFriSunCamp or tag @SciFri on social media. Or send them directly to Science Friday using the Sun Camp Photo Submission form.
Our Q&A this week is on Wednesday, November 9 at 7 pm ET. We have three great experts on space weather joining us. Dr. Craig DeForest is the Principal Investigator for the NASA PUNCH Mission. Dr. Cristian Ferradas Alva, is a Research Scientist in the Geospace Physics Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where he studies the magnetosphere. Laura Brandt is the Project Manager for the Aurorasaurus, the first and only citizen science initiative that tracks auroras around the world via reports on our website and social media.
Registered Sun Campers can ask their questions live on Zoom. If you can’t join us, you can still submit a question in advance. The Q&A will also be live streamed on Science Friday YouTube.
Watch 11/9 Q&A! Try the Project!
Week 5: Beyond the Sun
This week we continue Sun Camp as we explore beyond the Sun. We’ll try to answer the question: We’ll try to answer the question: How can our understanding of the Sun help us learn more about other stars, solar systems, and planets? We’ll learn about how our research on the Sun in our solar system teaches us about other places in the universe. Get your questions ready as we talk about galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, and the Goldilocks Zone.
This week’s project is an engineering challenge. You’ll learn about satellites and probes—what they do and how they are constructed. Then you’ll work through the design process as you think of a problem you can solve and invent a space probe to solve it. Check out “Use Engineering To Design A Solar Space Probe” to learn more. Materials needed: Assorted craft supplies such as a disposable paper cup or cardboard tube, pipe cleaners, paper straws, popsicle sticks, foil, scrap cardboard, and scissors.
Share photos of your project with the hashtag #SciFriSunCamp or tag @SciFri on social media. Or send them directly to Science Friday using the Sun Camp Photo Submission form.
Our Q&A this week is on Wednesday, November 16 at 7 pm ET. We have three great experts joining us. Dr. Abigail Kopec is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, San Diego working in the RareLabs group studying elementary particles and dark matter. Dr. Michael L. Wong is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Scienceʼs Earth & Planets Laboratory studying planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. Nadia Abuisnaineh is part of NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors program. With a degree in astrophysics and a passion for teaching, she works with a team of volunteers across the country who speak about NASA missions and space explorations.
Registered Sun Campers can ask their questions live on Zoom. If you can’t join us, you can still submit a question in advance. The Q&A will also be live streamed on Science Friday YouTube.
Watch Q&A on 11/16! Try the Project!
Sun Camp FAQ
Who is this for?
All kids in the United States* and their sun-loving caregivers are welcome to join us as we build, experiment, and investigate using activities that bring the science of the Sun down to earth. Not a heliophysics expert? No problem! We’ll have weekly newsletters, detailed project guides, short instructional videos, Q&A sessions with real NASA scientists, extension activities, and many tips for helping young people feel successful and engaged.
Got a group? Great! Clubs, scouts, after-school programs, libraries, museums, homeschool co-ops, and other community organizations are welcome to join in the solar-powered fun.
* If you are outside the U.S. you are welcome to register and participate, however the weekly Q&As are planned to align with the time zones in the U.S. and will not be repeated at other times.
What can I expect from Sun Camp?
Science Friday’s Sun Camp will kick off on Wednesday, October 19 and runs until November 16. After you enroll, you’ll receive a weekly email newsletter with everything you need to know to participate in Sun Camp. You’ll also be invited to a special online session each Wednesday at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. During this virtual gathering, we’ll dive into an important solar science topic with a guest expert who will answer the questions of our budding scientists. You’ll also have access to new hands-on science or engineering activities each week to complete on your own, using instructions and resources provided by the Science Friday team of educators. As you complete the projects, you can share your work with us and we’ll feature it online. When Sun Camp is over, there will be a brief optional survey about your experience.
How much time does it take?
The weekly online Q&A sessions will run for 30-45 minutes on Wednesdays at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET. These sessions will be recorded and shared with registrants. They will be archived on the Science Friday website as well.
The asynchronous activities generally take 30-45 minutes each, with 2-3 activities offered per week. The activities are easy to fit into your schedule. Do all the activities each week or none. It’s up to you. We’ll also have extension activities, resource suggestions, and even book suggestions if you want to deepen your learning.
How much does it cost?
Sun Camp is totally free. Most of the materials for the activities are easy to find around the house or at the local hardware store. The cost for the average family should be under $20 for supplies for the five weeks of activities. The cost for a group of approximately 25 should be under $100 for supplies.
We have kits with supplies for camp for families and groups who need them. Because we have limited supplies participants requesting materials will be asked some questions so that we can prioritize families and groups who need them most. All information collected is confidential, voluntary, and you do not have to answer questions that make you uncomfortable!
Please note, kits cannot be shipped outside the continental United States.
UPDATE: All available kits have been distributed for 2022.
How do I participate?
Simply fill out a short form to enroll in Sun Camp. And be sure to check out sciencefriday.com/suncamp regularly for updates and to check out the creations of your fellow sun science explorers.
Why the Sun?
Well, the Sun is pretty important to life on Earth, to the workings of our solar system, and to the future of both space exploration and alternative energy, so we want everyone to have the chance to learn more about our closest star. We’ve partnered with NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT). NASA HEAT connects audiences across the nation to the innovative and captivating science of heliophysics—the physics of the Sun and its connection with the Solar System. Together Science Friday and NASA HEAT are launching learners of all ages on a trajectory towards scientific discovery.
What if I have more questions?
Please email educate@sciencefriday.com with the subject line “SciFri Sun Camp.” For updates on registration, we suggest you subscribe to our Science Friday Educate Newsletter, join the STEM Educator’s Lounge on Facebook, and follow Science Friday on Twitter.
This activity is supported by the NASA Heliophysics Activation Team (NASA HEAT), part of NASA’s Science Activation portfolio.
Meet the Writer
About Sandy Roberts
@KaleidoscopeSciSandy Roberts is Science Friday’s Education Program Manager, where she creates learning resources and experiences to advance STEM equity in all learning environments. Lately, she’s been playing with origami circuits and trying to perfect a gluten-free sourdough recipe.