National Space Camp Week

National Space Camp Week is an annual event organized by Space Camp Turkey, Global Friendship Through Space Education (GFTSE) and the Turkish Ministry of Education.

• Motivate them to pursue further studies in the fields of science and technology.
• Give many of the students an opportunity to visit a part of their country they have never seen and to meet young people their own age from all regions of Turkey.
• Benefit from the Space Camp Turkey program that combines learning, fun, and friendship.
• Motivate younger students to improve their academic skills so that they might be selected in coming years.

During National Space Camp Week, students and teachers have the opportunity to:

• Explore the secrets of the universe and the magic of science.
• Experience the fun of astronaut-training simulators by doing what an astronaut does.
• Practice teamwork and leadership skills
• Enjoy sports, social and recreational activities in a unique educational environment.

Hands-on, fun filled science activities:

• Pretend you’re an astronaut on a one-hour simulated shuttle mission.
• Try all seven astronaut-training simulators: feel what it’s like reentering Earth’s atmosphere, exercise like astronauts, experience weightlessness, see what it’s like to walk on the moon.
• Wear an astronaut space suit to see how hard it is to do the simplest things.
• Build and launch a model rocket and hot-air balloon.
• Design a Mars colony and present your team’s ideas to other teams.
• Design your own International Space Station in the computer lab.
• Observe the moon, planets stars and the sun trough the high-powered telescope in our observatory.
• Learn how to work in a weightless environment.
• Participate in “Space Bowl”, a competition between teams about space facts.
• Use your creativity to help design your team’s own mission patch.

Space Camp Turkey’s new state-of-the-art facility includes:

• Computer lab with Internet.
• Delicious meals at the Galaxy Café with panoramic views.
• Fully air-conditioned building. Clean, comfortable dormitory-style accommodations with private showers.
• On-site security and medical staff 24 hour daily.

Selection process:

1. Each province’s education department nominates the best qualified students, 12 – 14 years of age, and teachers. The students selected should be those who excel in the field of science and would not otherwise have the means to attend Space Camp Turkey.

2. The Turkish Ministry of Education selects the three most qualified candidates: one female student, one male student, and one teacher from each of the province’s nominees.
   
   
3. Space Camp Turkey then awards Global Friendship scholarships to the selected candidates to attend a customized 5-Day Space Camp program at Space Camp Turkey. Participants must pay for their own transportation to Izmir.

Scholarships Awarded:

V. National Space Camp Week, October 19-24, 2008: 60 students and 29 teachers representing 30 different provinces.

IV. National Space Camp Week, October 21-26, 2007:  85 students and 42 teachers representing 41different provinces.

III. National Space Camp Week, March 26-31, 2006:  76 students and 39 teachers representing 39 regions of Turkey.

II. National Space Camp Week, May 8-13, 2005:  126 students, 66 teachers representing 65 different provinces.

Quotes from National Space Camp Week 2006:

Program was beyond our expectations. Students left their city for the first time and see Izmir. For the first time they have seen the sea and palm trees. The camp thought us importance of team work and open my mind about space studies.

I highly recommend for all students and teachers. I will also send my children for sure. October 2008

Mehmet Özdemir
Science Teacher
Fatos Buyukkusoglu IOO
Kayseri

The teachers and students learnt importance of team work. From now on, I will teach space lectures in different way. Students improved their self confidence they learned how to live by themselves. We saw Izmir and Ephesus for the first time. October 2008

Mustafa Kızıl
Science Teacher
Dr. Sadik Ahmet IOO
Nigde

 “The space shuttle mission was really the coolest part of the camp. I got to be the flight director in mission control, who had lots of responsibility. Now I feel a lot more self-confident.”

Ece Ozturk
Student
Dedeman Primary School
Ankara

 

“The curriculum here is quite different. It’s a great place for students and teachers to experience interactive education instead of the normal lesson memorization.”

Mehmet Avsar
Science Teacher
Turkan Mehmet Akcan Primary School
Gaziantep

“Space Camp Turkey inspires scientific curiosity, teamwork and responsibility.  It’s an amazing experience for our students and teachers to come from different parts of the country, learn about each other and share different points of view.  The camp provides a realistic, synergistic environment for hands-on learning.  This is a top priority for the Turkish Ministry of Education right now.”

Selahattin Sahin
Coordinator
 Turkish Primary and Secondary Schools Education
Ministry of Education
Ankara

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