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OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Sky School's Overnight Camps are immersive, multi-day science explorations in the Santa Catalina Mountains, near Tucson, for students in grades 5–12. Guided by University of Arizona graduate instructors, participants explore the natural environment of Catalinas by day, and the skies above by night, investigating topics such as ecology, geosciences, and astronomy through guided observations, hands-on fieldwork, and nighttime telescope viewing. Groups stay in dormitories at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory, where the mountain-top setting fosters deep engagement with the natural environment and the local astronomy community. Meals during the observatory stay are provided by our residential chefs. There are multiple program options depending on the desired length of stay and depth of content.
Students under night sky
  • Audience: Middle and High School
  • Group Size: 20-50 students
  • Format: 2-4 day residential experiences at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter
  • Focus: Ecology, geosciences, climate science, astronomy, and authentic scientific research
  • Features: Sky Island ecosystem explorations, field research, telescope observation, UA graduate student mentorship, dormitory lodging, and student-designed inquiry projects

Overnight Camp Options

Exploring the Sky Islands

$190 per student
(standard)

$170 per student
(Title I)

  • Program length: 2 days, 1 night
  • Suggested grades: 5th - 7th
  • Highlights:
    • Multiple stops on Mt Lemmon
    • Ecosystem explorations
    • Summit hike
    • Astronomy tours
    • Telescope viewing

VIEW SAMPLE ITINERARY

Sky Island Survey

$325 per student
(standard)

$275 per student
(Title I)

  • Program length: 3 days, 2 nights
  • Suggested grades: 6th - 9th
  • Highlights:
    • Multiple stops on Mt Lemmon
    • Sky Island projects
    • Introduction to field work
    • Astronomy tours
    • Telescope viewing
    • Night hike

VIEW SAMPLE ITINERARY

Flagship Research Program

$460 per student
(standard)

$390 per student
(Title I)

  • Program length: 4 days, 3 nights
  • Suggested grades: 9th - 12th
  • Highlights:
    • Science skill builders
    • Student-led inquiry projects
    • Advanced field work methods
    • Data analysis
    • Astronomy tours
    • Telescope viewing
    • Night hike

VIEW SAMPLE ITINERARY

 

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Fees cover instruction, curricular materials, as well as accommodation and meals for overnight programs on Mt Lemmon. Additional meals and transportation must be provided by the school.

We charge fees that reflect approximately half of the actual cost of running programs. Through generous private donations we have limited scholarship funding available in cases of need. Please contact us at skyschool@arizona.edu for more information.