Astronomy center hosting Minecraft camp during spring break
For youth curious about what Earth would be like without a moon or enjoy exploring unique worlds in Minecraft, the University of Maine Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium is offering a camp for kids that promotes science and learning by exploring “What-if” Hypothetical Implementations in Minecraft.
The camp is during spring break, April 15-19, with two time options from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. for participants to investigate distant worlds and apply building skills in Minecraft Java Edition.
Participants will play the role of scientists or engineers as they work through creative and critical thinking design prompts that examine exoplanet environments and teach basic computer programming. A variety of STEM activities during the camps will include working with a team to build a research base on Mars, imagining and drawing exoplanets and comparing environments of distant worlds to Earth with measurements students take themselves.
The camp is part of a research study funded by the National Science Foundation and run in collaboration with UMaine and the University of Illinois.
Enrollment is open and expected to reach full capacity. To sign up, visit whimc.org/camp. For additional information email bryce.roix@maine.edu.