MSEC Solar Saturdays
Opportunities for Adventure and Learning at the Mason Space Exploration Center
Join us for Solar Saturdays, a two-hour workshop designed to ignite your child’s passion for space and science. Each session offers a unique, hands-on experience that includes:
- Explore one of the largest on-campus observatories on the East Coast, where your child will get a close-up look at cutting-edge space research.
- Observing the Sun (with proper safety measures, of course) and its fascinating features using a state-of-the-art solar telescope.
- Creating a scale model of the Solar System. Engage in an interactive activity where your child will create their very own scale model of the Solar System, learning about the vast distances and sizes of planets.
New activities are on the horizon, making Solar Saturday a must-attend event for young space enthusiasts. Don’t miss this opportunity to combine education with excitement—register now for Solar Saturday and watch your child’s curiosity about the cosmos take flight.
Registration for Solar Saturday is now open!
Spend your weekend with MSEC
Registration:
Registrations for Solar Saturday cost $50 per camper per block (price subject to change). Each Solar Saturday will be comprised of two Blocks, one AM Block from 10:00 AM to noon for grades 4 & 5, and one PM block from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for grades 6-8. It is advised to not sign up for both blocks in one day, as activities will be the same between both sessions. Additionally, the content between dates will be equivalent for all sessions in the fall. However, new activities will be present in the spring.
The program will return in February 2025 under a new name. All other logistical details, such as cost or location, remains the same. Registration for Space Saturdays is open on the TouchNet Portal. Select "Space Saturdays" to register early for the spring.
Location:
Pickup and Dropoff, along with parking, for both will be held at Exploratory Hall. We will send specific instructions two weeks before your scheduled date.
Grade Levels:
The recommended grade levels for this activity are 4-8. Registrants currently enrolled grades 4 & 5 will be included within the "Junior Group" and registrants currently enrolled within grades 6 - 8 will be included within the "Senior Group". For alternative placements or registrations outside of the demographic, please contact camp administration.
2024 Sessions & Availability
November
Note: There is no Solar Saturday the week of Thanksgiving. We will be taking off for the holidays afterwords.
| Date | Camper Positions Available (AM) | Camper Positions Available (PM) |
| November 9 | 13 | 14 |
| November 16 | 13 | 15 |
| November 23 | 10 | 15 |
Fall Registration counts will continue to be updated biweekly.
2025 Sessions and Availability
February
| Date | Camper Positions Available (AM) | Camper Positions Available (PM) |
| February 8 | 15 | 15 |
| February 15 | 15 | 15 |
| February 22 | 15 | Reserved |
March
Note: There is no Space Saturday the week of March 10th, George Mason University will be closed for Spring Break.
| Date | Camper Positions Available (AM) | Camper Positions Available (PM) |
| March 1 | 15 | 15 |
| March 8 | 15 | 15 |
| March 22 | 15 | 15 |
| March 29 | 15 | 15 |
Availability of Spring Sessions of Space Saturdays will be continue to be updated biweekly.
Image Gallery
Camp Location
- Exploratory Hall 1004
10431 Rivanna River Way, Fairfax, VA 22030
- Directions to Exploratory Hall
