For Dr Madelyn Cabrera and Carlos Hernandez of Hialeah, Florida, a trip that’s out of this world isn’t only a determine of speech—it’s a household custom. Along with their two sons, Christopher (11) and Matthew (8), they’ve swapped seaside towels for flight fits and made Space Camp a recurring household getaway. “It actually started about four years ago,” Madelyn says. “Carlos heard about this reputable program out of state. We looked it up, joined the waitlist, and in 2021, he went with our oldest son for the first time. Since then, we’ve gone every year.”
This yr, all 4 relations signed up for Family Space Camp—a three-day program in Huntsville, Alabama, the place children as younger as seven can practice like astronauts with their mother and father at their facet. “What drew us in was the hands-on, educational aspect,” Madelyn says. “We didn’t just want to go on vacation—we wanted to experience something together, to learn something new.”
Why select rocket boosters over room service
While many households select seaside resorts or amusement parks for his or her getaways, the attraction of Space Camp got here down to 1 large draw: hands-on studying. “What drew us in was the educational and interactive nature of it,” Madelyn says. “We were excited by the opportunity to learn about space while also getting to test simulators, complete missions, and even launch rockets that we built ourselves.”
They signed up for the Family Space Camp program, which is open to kids ages seven and older, together with their mother and father. The expertise takes place at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, which homes not solely the camp itself but in addition some of the complete collections of area artifacts and displays in the nation. “It’s kind of amazing that you can do all this training and learning in a place where real astronauts have prepared for missions,” she provides.
Planning for takeoff
With restricted program slots, the household knew they needed to plan early. “We registered about 10 months in advance,” says Madelyn. “The Family Camp schedule is released well ahead of time, but spots go quickly.” And whereas this wasn’t their first rodeo, they’ve discovered a number of packing tips alongside the way in which. “I always bring the basics—clothes, toiletries, chargers—but we never forget our flight suits,” she laughs. “We bought them on a previous trip and wear them proudly during graduation.” For these staying in the on-site habitat dormitories, she additionally recommends bringing a mixture lock for lockers, S-hooks for towels, and comfy footwear. “You’re on your feet a lot, so good shoes are a must.” This yr, they opted to remain at the Marriott subsequent door as a substitute of the camp’s bunk-style lodging. “It gave us a little more rest and privacy in the evenings, which was great for the kids.”
Inside the mission: A typical day at area camp
From the second the day begins, Space Camp is all programs go. “We start with breakfast and then go straight into hands-on experiences,” says Madelyn. These embrace simulated missions to area, the moonwalk expertise (which replicates lunar gravity), the G-Force Accelerator, the Multi-Axis Trainer (MAT), and rocket-building workshops.
Between launches and missions, households watch movies in regards to the International Space Station, discover NASA tech shows, and attend briefings in totally outfitted mock management rooms. “It’s immersive,” she says. “You feel like you’re part of a real training team.”