Astronomy Camp for Adults (University of Arizona)

Astronomy Camp for Adults is based in Arizona and runs a longer, multi-night stay. Its angle is science. The fact sheet above has the hard numbers; the rest of this page is context.

Astronomer Don McCarthy has run this camp since 1988, putting adults behind the eyepieces of research-class telescopes at Mount Lemmon Observatory above Tucson. Campers live at the observatory, keep astronomer's hours, and on advanced sessions can contribute to publishable research on the 60- and 61-inch telescopes. Sells out through word of mouth among space nerds.

The experience

The format: multi-day residential camp at a mountaintop observatory. Plan real time off. This runs longer than a weekend, and the extra nights are where the camp part actually happens. Campers are adults only.

Cost

Published price: $800 USD including meals, lodging, and Tucson transport. That's the going rate. Most all-inclusive camp weekends in North America land between $400 and $1,000. Lodging and meals are bundled here, so the sticker price is close to the real price.

Where and when

The venue is in Mount Lemmon, near Tucson, Arizona. Timing, straight from the operator: scheduled periodically (beginning and advanced adult camps); active program since 1988.