STEM Activities
STEM Explorers: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
STEM Explorers is an exciting hands-on program designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for science, technology, engineering, and math in young minds. Through interactive workshops, engaging experiments, and collaborative projects, kids dive into the wonders of the STEM fields in a fun and supportive environment.
Our program is tailored to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, offering a unique opportunity for children to explore real-world applications of STEM concepts. Whether building rockets, programming robots, or exploring the night sky, STEM Explorers provides a foundation that inspires the innovators, engineers, and scientists of tomorrow.
Join us at the Planetarium and embark on a journey of discovery where learning meets adventure!
Moon Landing Camp
Saturday, March 21, 9 am-noon
What did it take to get to the Moon, and what will it take to go back? Answer this question with the OCC Planetarium! In honor of Artemis II, watch a movie about the first moon landing, learn some lunar geology, and even try your hand at landing on the Moon!
Please send them with a refillable water bottle and a snack!
Allowed ages: 8-11
Participation fee: $5
Intro to Chemistry
Saturday, April 18, 9 am-noon
Start your chemistry adventure here with the OCC Planetarium! Chemistry teaches us how our world works, and results in some of the most stunning phenomena. Conduct your own chemical experiments and explore the fascinating reactions that happen.
Please send them with a refillable water bottle and a snack!
Allowed ages: 8-11
Participation fee: $5
Specialized Robotics
Saturday, May 9, 9 am-noon
Robots are the single most important tool we have in space exploration, and we'll need a lot more of them as we explore the solar system further. In this camp, you'll build specialized robots to explore the cosmos (planetarium).
Please send them with a refillable water bottle and a snack!
Allowed ages: 11-14
Participation fee: $5
Summer Camp
Summer Camp Reservations Now Available!
Summer camp at the OCC Planetarium is back! We're very excited to officially announce our camps for summer of 2026.
Just like our STEM Explorers weekend camps, students will learn scientific, technology, engineering, and mathematical concepts through a series of fun, hands-on activities. With activities such as building rockets and chemistry experiments, we encourage students to think critically about the phenomena that explain our world around us, providing a strong basis for lifelong skills in STEAM fields.
Summer camp drop-off is at 8:30am each morning, Monday-Friday. Please send your astronauts with a lunch, snack, and a refillable water bottle. Pick-up is at 3:00pm Monday-Thursday, and 12:30pm on Friday.
Early bird special: Register before May 31 and use coupon code Space26 for $50 off!
Intro to Science Camp
July 13-17
Build a strong, foundational understanding of the concept of "science" with this exciting camp! Over the course of this week, we'll cover the scientific method, the basic 3 natural sciences, and how they connect to give us the many fields we know and love today.
Activities such as experiments uncovering the 3 laws of motion, acid and base reactions, and sprouting seeds will provide hands-on experience to reinforce the lessons of the day.
Allowed ages: 8-10 years old
Participation Fee: $375
Science Through the Eras
July 27-31
Learn how people have contributed to the scientific body of knowledge throughout time with this "historic" summer camp! Over the course of one week, students will learn about the biggest scientific discoveries and inventions of history, and how the discoveries fit into the context of their era.
Activities including measuring the circumference of the Earth and observing microorganisms will guide students through the timeline of scientific advancement.
Allowed ages: 11-14
Participation fee: $375