What is “Space Camp”?

Space Camp has been an expeditionary learning tradition at Freeport Middle School for more than thirty  years. It is a week-long experience for students to extend their studies outside of the classroom into the hills of northern Alabama. Once accepted to the program, students are required to attend after-school meetings on a bi-weekly basis. During these sessions students will gain background knowledge that prepares them for their experiences in Alabama: aeronautics, space science, history, geology, fossil identification, and teamwork are emphasized.

Where is Space Camp?

Huntsville, Alabama is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, an interactive museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of America’s space program. Space Camp is a multi-day experience that gives students behind-the-scenes access to the museum, training on space simulators, team-building exercises and competitions, and the opportunity to plan a complete shuttle mission in the center’s simulators.  

When is the Space Camp trip?  

The next Space Camp Expedition is currently planned for May 2027.

The FMS Space Camp expedition usually takes place in the last week of May or the first part of June.  All attempts will be made to minimize conflicts with other FMS programming for meeting dates. We typically fly to Huntsville International Airport on a Tuesday and return to Portland International Jetport the following Sunday.

Who can go to Space Camp?

FMS 6th and 7th graders are eligible to go on this trip so long as you have solid grades and excellent behavior in all of your classes.  The team is limited to 18 student participants so interested students need to apply to attend.   If you are selected to be part of the Space Camp team, you will be expected to attend after-school meetings every other week for about an hour.  These sessions will focus on teamwork and building the background knowledge and skills that will make your Space Camp adventure a great learning experience.

How much does the Space Camp Trip cost?

The trip is not funded through Freeport Middle School or through RSU 5. The 2025 trip cost is estimated to be around $2000 due to an increase by the US Space and Rocket Center and other inflation.   Some additional monies are necessary for souvenirs and a few meals not covered by the program.