A program that aims to inspire youth through the conceptual understanding of earth processes is expanding to include high school students.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

According to a news release, Earth Camp was conceived to honor the legacy of Columbia space shuttle astronaut Laurel Clark. The program provides hands-on ecological research experience to help participants understand how science can be utilized to help them make better choices.

Three middle-school “crews” from Southern Arizona and around the United States have already graduated from Earth Camp.

This year high schools from Phoenix, Benson and Chandler will participate in Earth Camp, as well as Tucson’s City High School, Desert View High School and Tucson High School. Magee Middle School and Miles Exploratory Learning Center will also take part in this summer’s program.

The news release indicates students will travel from July 5 through July 14 and stay in various settings including TUSD’s Camp Cooper in the Tucson Mountains, the UA dormitories, the top of Mount Lemmon and a beach-side hotel in San Carlos, Mexico.

For more information on the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, click here.