Above and Beyond is PARI’s signature camping experience designed to immerse high school students in the world of space science and research while building confidence and critical thinking skills. Originally developed in partnership with Duke University and refined for nearly two decades, this space camp explores the universe through astronomy, physics, and astrobiology, while also providing time for adventure and fun. The process followed by scientists and researchers who’ve made space science their career is modeled to show how new discoveries are made about the universe. Campers are provided the tools and guided through the process by professionals who have made space their life’s work. From determining the expansion speed of a super-nova remnant, to characterizing an exo-planet or finding evidence of dark matter; your data will reveal and your conclusions will add to humanity’s knowledge of the universe! Grades 9th –... Read More
Join PARI for a night all about meteors and meteorites. Enjoy our dark skies and mountain peaks for breathtaking views of the night sky. Our astronomers will guide your experience as you watch for blazing meteors and peek at distant celestial objects through big telescopes. It will be a cold night, but this meteor shower will make you feel warm inside. Choose from three ways to experience this brilliant display of shooting stars, guided by PARI astronomers. Cabin Stay Camping Viewing Only You must Register for this... Read More
This year’s Space Day open house at PARI is free and open to the public. Come join us Saturday, May 6th from 10am to 4pm for a day of fun and STEM learning. Here are some things you can do: 📖Attend the signing of the newly released book all about PARI and talk to the author – “Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute: An Untold History of Spacemen & Spies” by Craig Gralley, at 11am and 2pm 🚀Hop on board our shuttle for outdoor site tours (*not a real space shuttle, just a ground one🚐) 💎Take in our museum galleries with NASA and space artifacts, minerals and gems, meteorites, and more, open with scientists to answer your questions☄️ 🔭Peek through a solar telescope to safely observe the Sun and look for sunspots☀️ 🪐Journey through our solar system on the Galaxy Walk, our scale model of our home in the universe 🖍️Visit the activity tables with fun stuff for kids 🎶Hear music played by DJ RaZor with 4 Dreamz Entertainment 🌌Immerse yourself in outer space with a planetarium show (requires a separate $5 ticket) 😋Enjoy a meal from local food vendor “Local Harvester” (food must be purchased)🥪 😃Visit booths and displays from some of PARI’s friends and partners. There will be books and robots and telescopes and more! ⛰️Hike to our observation deck for beautiful views 🎉Play games... Read More
PRESENTED BY PARI AND CLEMSON UNIVERSITY MISSION: GALACTIC CARTOGRAPHY – MAP THE MILKY WAY AND PLOT A PATH Milky Way Trailblazers is a two week research experience for high school aged campers. Campers will learn to use a radio telescope to find the composition of a region of the Milky Way and measure the speed it is rotating and moving. They will combine the observations and conclusions made by their team with other teams to form a larger understanding of the galaxy we call home. Using a radio telescope to measure regions of space doesn’t create pictures like we see with an optical telescope. The methods to turn the data collected into a map that can guide our way require creativity and hard work. Will the results look the same, or different, than what we see through an optical telescope? Radio isn’t just used for observing space either. Communicating with satellites is a big role that large dishes like the ones at PARI play in human space exploration. Campers will investigate and report on the methods, both historical and contemporary, that are used to accomplish this, and the people who figured out how to do... Read More
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race and will help poise your camper for a role in the next. Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political... Read More
Ever wonder why there are no green stars? Are there colors we can’t see? Or if a black hole is really a hole in space? Did we really land on the moon? Come to PARI on March 11, 2022 to get the answers to all of these questions an many more then hop outside for a quick look through our telescopes at the objects that prove the universe is bigger that just ourselves! PARI is offering two overnight options. Choose either the OVERNIGHT CABIN PACKAGE for two (2) or CAMPING PACKAGE both packages include lodging, Spaces Greatest Myth tickets, an evening under the stars and observing at our historic, mountaintop, Internationally certified Dark Sky Park and dinner on Friday evening and breakfast on Saturday morning. Preregistration is Required... Read More
What could be more romantic than gazing at the stars deep in the night?? Grab your sweetheart and join PARI for a romantic Valentines evening getaway and leave with stars in your eyes. PARI astronomers will share our dark skies and point out objects such as the Heart Cluster and love story constellations like Princess Andromeda and the Warrior Perseus. This package includes an overnight cabin stay, evening viewing with PARI astronomers at our historic, mountaintop, Internationally Certified Dark Sky Park, a pre-packaged dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, a bottle of wine and a Valentine rose in your room. This program is a rain or shine event. No refunds will be issued unless PARI cancels the program. REGISTER HERE – Valentines Overnight Cabin... Read More
Discover and learn in the mountains of WNC this summer with Mountain Roots’ fun and educational day camps! Our camps are focused on the outdoors and connecting campers to each other, their community, and the natural environment. Preschool camp (ages 4 and 5): 9am – 12:00pm. Rising 1st-4th grade: 9am-4:00pm. Operating over the course of 7 weeks, the first 5 weeks will take place at Brevard Academy and the final 2 weeks will be at Fern Leaf Community Charter School. [PLEASE NOTE: Camp is in TWO locations]. See why so many families return to Mountain Roots Day Camp year after... Read More
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