I not only went to space camp (twice - in middle and high school), but I worked there for a summer when I was in college. I had an awesome time and met some friends who I still keep in touch with now. I liked it because the counselors tailor it to a kid's abilities. When I was a counselor and the kids were doing their simulator mission, I would throw in a problem now and then - but if they were doing really well with solving problems, I would get more creative and give them some really hard stuff. The kids LOVED it, and would come out and yell at me for making it so hard for them, but they were so proud of themselves! They also had a "spacebowl" at the end of the week - kind of a jeopardy type thing where each team competes against each other. Everyone builds model rockets - and the older kids get a little more freedom to design it the way they want to. I had one team that put their fins on crooked. The kids were behind a plexiglass barrier, but us counselors were out in the open. It turned a complete circle then came straight through the crowd. The kids thought it was hilarious, but then they (voluntarily) sat down and tried to figure out what they did wrong.
Depending on when they go, they often get to meet actual astronauts, and they get a tour of Marshall space center. They get to see the projects they are working on, including actual satellites and such that are being built and getting ready to launch.
My favorite when I was there as a kid was a talk by a guy named Georg Von Tiesenhausen - he was one of the original German rocket scientists from the Apollo program, and used to walk around the space center in a T-shirt that said, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM a rocket scientist." He talked to us about astrophysics when I was in seventh grade, and I absolutely credit him with my career in physics. (Unfortunately, he was pretty old when I met him. He was still there when I was a counselor, but I can't guarantee he's still around).
Anyway, I'm off on a tangent. Message me if you need more info! I had such great experiences there - I can talk about it all day!
