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Middle and high school students gazed through homemade telescopes and learned about “Life in the Universe” at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s two-day astronomy camp held June 4-5 in Mascoutah. The SIUE Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education and Outreach hosted the camp at the Leu Civic Center.

Ten students, grades 5-9, participated in activities on the topics of astronomy and biology. According to camp coordinator Nicole Gugliucci, students also learned how scientists search for life on other planets.

“They built Galileoscopes, small telescopes that can be used in their backyard,” said Gugliucci, postdoctoral fellow with the SIUE STEM Center. “Participants also tried a radio telescope, looked for signs of life in several soil samples and made their own aliens out of craft supplies.”

This was the second year, the University and Leu Civic Center teamed up to offer a two-day science camp. The camp reflected the mission of the SIUE STEM Center by promoting science learning to community members.

“The kids were amazing and creative beyond my expectations,” Gugliucci said. “I always enjoy helping kids think about science while having fun in an informal learning environment.”

Students entering grades 8-9 have a chance to explore space at Odyssey Science Camp, “Cosmic Investigators,” being held 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. July 20-31 at SIUE. Camp goers will learn about astronomy, space science and engineering by making their own telescopes and using a high altitude balloon to probe the outer reaches of Earth.

For more information and to register for Odyssey Science Camp, click here.

Photos: Students use telescopes to learn about the universe.

Camp goers model their homemade alien gear.