Join us every last Saturday of the month for Space Camp Saturday, an immersive, hands-on boot camp into the most exciting frontiers of space science. Each session dives into a new theme, from space exploration and black holes to icy worlds, designed to make complex ideas accessible, interactive, and fun.
Led in collaboration with special guests from the UBC Department of Physics and Astronomy, these Saturdays bring real scientific voices into the room through engaging talks, live demonstrations, and audience-driven Q&As. Visitors won’t just learn about space, they’ll experience it through experiments, activities, and guided exploration designed to spark curiosity across generations.
Whether you’re a budding astronomer, a lifelong space enthusiast, or a family looking for an inspiring weekend activity, Space Camp Saturday offers a fresh reason to return each month and discover something new about our universe.
What to look for?
- Immersive Planetarium show
- Enlightening lecture by UBC Department of Physics & Astronomy
- Lice science demos
- Scavenger hunt to explore exhibits
- BONUS: Certificate and Space pin on completion!
Who is this for?
- Kids aged 10+
- Teens interested in STEM
- Adult space enthusiasts
- Educators & homeschool groups
- Lifelong learners
Upcoming Space Camp Saturday
Date:
Saturday, March 28, 2025
2:00 - 5:00pm
Planetarium show: Surfing the Solar System (2:00pm)
See the solar system as you’ve never seen it before – leave Earth behind to tour some of the most intriguing destinations in our solar system and find out more about some of the latest discoveries about our neighbouring planets.
Recommended ages 8+
Lecture: Evolution of Galaxies (3:00pm)
This talk invites audiences to explore how galaxies form and how astronomers make sense of the remarkable variety of structures seen across the universe. Starting from the early universe, it traces how gravity and dark matter drive the birth of galaxies, and how processes like star formation, interactions, and mergers shape their evolution over time. Along the way, participants will encounter the major galaxy types (spiral, elliptical, and irregular) through clear visual examples, and gain insight into how astronomers classify them using observable features such as structure, color, and stellar populations.
Speaker Bio:
Members of the UBC Astronomy Club Outreach Team, the speakers are fourth-year undergraduate students specializing in physics, astronomy, and mathematics. Passionate about science communication, they bring academic expertise and hands-on outreach experience to deliver engaging, accessible presentations on space and the universe.
Scavenger hunt: (4:00 - 5:00pm)
Collect the pieces of your blown mind and dive into a scavenger hunt designed to spark curiosity and exploration. Complete the challenges in the activity guide and earn your certificate!
This is your chance to explore one of the Universe’s most fascinating phenomena in a fun, family-friendly environment—perfect for budding astronomers and space enthusiasts of all ages.
Every last Saturday of the month is Space Camp Saturday!
Mark your calendar for upcoming Space Camp Saturdays!
| Month & Date | Theme |
| January 31, 2026 | Black Holes |
| February 28, 2026 | Icy Worlds |
| March 28, 2026 | Galaxies |
| April 25, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| May 30, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| June 27, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| July 25, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| August 29, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| September 26, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| October 31, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| November 28, 2026 | Stay tuned |
| December 26, 2026 | Stay tuned |
Meet our partner!
Space Camp Saturday is created in collaboration with the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a world‑class research and teaching hub dedicated to exploring the universe from Earth’s atmosphere to the farthest galaxies.
Through this partnership, we bring real scientific expertise directly into our programs. Faculty, graduate researchers, and lab scientists from UBC contribute content, demonstrations, and insights that transform each session into a living science experience. Their involvement ensures that every Space Camp Saturday blends hands‑on learning with the latest in space research, making complex concepts accessible and exciting for learners of all ages.
This collaboration not only enriches the Space Centre’s educational offerings but also strengthens the connection between community learners and active research happening right here in British Columbia. Together, we’re inspiring the next generation of thinkers, explorers, and scientists.
Plan your visit
Date & Time
- Every last Saturday of the month
- Space Centre hours on Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Space Camp Saturday activities: Specific time slots during the day (see above for details)
Ticketing
- Space Camp Saturday is included with your regular admission tickets
- Tickets give access to exhibits and live science demonstrations before or after your session
- FREE for members - please present your valid membership card during check in.
Arrival
- Please arrive a few minutes early to check in
- Paid parking is strictly enforced and managed by EasyPark
More Info
- For full details on tickets, accessibility, and planning your visit, click here.
Past Space Camp Saturdays
February - Icy Worlds
Speaker Bio:
Yiming T.Xu 徐一鸣
Graduate Student at UBC studying exoplanetary atmospheres
Imagining embodied experience beyond human existence
Lecture: When the Universe Snows
What is ice, and what role does it play in the cosmos? Far from being a passive byproduct of cold environments, ice help build planets, influence atmospheric chemistry, drive climate feedbacks and could protect life. This talk reveals how the everyday properties of ice—its crystallinity, stickiness, buoyancy, and reflectivity—lead to the extraordinary roles it plays in shaping our Solar System and worlds beyond.
