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Many campers are situated in front of Exploratory Hall, throwing many colorful paper airplanes past the camera.
George Mason University

MSEC Summer Camp

Mason Space Exploration Center

Description
Have a question about summer camp? Contact us.
Phone Number
404-840-8361
Address

Attn: Mason Space Center

George Mason University 

4440 University Dr. Stop 3F3 

Planetary Hall 243 

Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

Ignite your child’s curiosity at the award-winning Mason Space Exploration Center Camp

The MSEC summer camp inspires the next generation to launch their curiosity and creativity about space. This summer, your child will dive into expert-guided fun and engaging hands-on STEM activities.

Several campers are assigning Ian instructions to write on the board. He appears to be struggling due to poor programming.

Ignite your child’s curiosity and passion for space at the Mason Space Exploration Center (MSEC) camp. Through expert-led STEM activities, campers embark on an exciting journey of discovery, with hands-on projects, computer coding, physics demonstrations, and more!

We are offering MSEC camp at the George Mason University Fairfax and SciTech (Manassas) campuses. Join us for a summer of adventure, discovery, and hands-on learning that will inspire the next generation of space explorers.

Registration for Summer 2026 will open on January 12th.

Blast off to adventure

Our camp offers a dynamic learning experience where hands-on STEM activities spark curiosity and inspire a love for science. Through small teams and rotating roles, campers develop teamwork and leadership skills in a collaborative environment. Guided by instructors passionate about STEAM fields—from astronomy and paleontology to mathematics and data engineering—campers gain valuable knowledge while exploring a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Grade Levels

Base Camp is designed for rising fourth through sixth graders, while Advanced Camp is ideal for rising sixth through ninth graders. The theme of each camp day will be the same for each camp level, however the Advanced camp will have more challenging activities.

A few campers proudly display their water rockets. One gives a thumbs up.

Pricing

Our camp offers competitive pricing for both locations at $500 per week, regardless of grade level. This includes up to $100 worth of take-home materials. Discount codes are available for George Mason Faculty and Staff. Reach out to camp administration to receive your code.

Many Campers are gathered in the small satellite lab of the Volgenau School of Engineering.

Sessions Available at the Fairfax Location

  • Session 1: June 29th - July 3rd
  • Session 2: July 6th - July 10th
  • Session 3: July 13th - July 17th
  • Session 4: July 20th - July 24th
  • Session 5: July 27th - July 31st
  • Session 6: August 3rd - August 7th
A Counselor and Camper view upcoming celestial events in the Stellarium Planetarium.

Sessions Available at the SciTech (Manassas) Location

  • Session 1: July 6th - July 10th
  • Session 2: July 13th - July 17th
  • Session 3: July 20th - July 24th
  • Session 4: July 27th - July 31st
A Counselor and Camper are observing the Sun to spot the spots causing the recent aurora sightings. The camper has turned to the camera with a surpised look.

What to expect

Each day is packed with thrilling STEM challenges and unexpected surprises focused on a specific astronomy theme. Our unique program encourages teamwork and leadership, as students are grouped into small teams, each taking on different mission roles. For students attending multiple weeks, we recommend embracing a new mission role each week for a diverse and enriching experience.

Camp schedule

Daily:

  • Dropoff: 8:45 to 9:15 a.m.
  • Lunch Break: 12:00 to 1:00 pm. (Retail Dining available for Fairfax and SciTech)
  • Pickup: 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.
  • Presentations (Friday): 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Each day of camp will focus on an astronomy theme. The daily themes are: Atmospheres, Gravity, Light and Color, Motion and Orbits, and Energy. The order of the daily themes may change by week, depending on weather considerations.

Here are a few fun memories from this and last year's seasons of camp.

Several campers gather around a high-end computer in our Mission Control. They are having a lot of fun with math, it seems..

Several campers are gathered around a high-end computer. Our explorers use campus facilities to perform advanced calculations and use real-world hard skills like Microsoft Office Suite and C++.

A camper's virtual spaceplane successfully takes off.

In the same rocket simulator as the last image, one camper has turned his rocket sideways and turned it into a space plane.

Flight Director Apoorva and a camper successfully launch a water rocket. It appears Apoorva is getting a faceful of rocket exhaust!

Campers launched their water rockets on the Observatory grounds. They additionally performed data analysis on their results to determine the relation between launch pressure and maximum height. Getting sprayed is a small price to pay for the experimental data.

Two campers follow the video modules of Inventr.io, one of our partners this year.

Two campers watching the video modules of the Inventr.io "30 Days Lost in Space" Arduino Kit. Although our camp only covers the first two days, your camper takes home materials and has free access to the remaining four weeks' worth of content. The final day even involves programming an Arduino Video Game!

Flight Director Gabby is seen explaining the contents of a graph to three campers. All four individuals are looking at a computer screen showing a zoomed-in map of Mars.

Campers explore the surface of Mars using NASA GIS Data. They find suitable landing sites by looking at the elevation data, and use some "messy math" to find landing ETA.

Two campers show off their orbital reentry gliders, ready for testing.

Two campers show off their Orbital Reentry Gliders. Campers tested their prototypes from the roof of Research Hall and analyzed experimental data in Office Suite to find the optimal wing shapes.

Several campers have gathered around a whiteboard, proud to show the photographer their work.

Several campers pose around a whiteboard. Campers will use messy math to solve problems related to their exploration. Here, they were very eager to show their results.

A few campers proudly display their water rockets. One gives a thumbs up.
Several campers are assigning Ian instructions to write on the board. He appears to be struggling due to poor programming.
A camper appears horrified that Ian has begun writing the wrong way around, facing away from the board..
Campers react to water rocket launches. One appears to be drinking the fuel out of her rocket.
Many campers are gathered in a lecture hall. They are all wearing matching T-shirts. Two in front are doing jazz hands!
Campers line up for a group photo, posing in their George Mason Gold Shirts with Lead Flight Director Sebastian and his crew.
A camper poses with their water bottle rocket.
Exploratory Hall at George Mason University Fairfax Campus
Discovery hall, SciTech campus

* The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.