Scouting and Girlguiding
Join us for an evening exploring the stars and planets on the Astrocampus, the University of York observatory.
With tailored activities, we can support Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides and Scouts to achieve the relevant badges and develop their skills.
We strongly support the Girlguiding ethos, and advocate that careers in science and astronomy are for everyone.
Achieving your badges
Rainbows
Rainbows get involved with fun, hands-on activities, including making their own constellation activity with glow-in-the-dark stars.
Brownies
For their Space badge, we guide Brownies through constellations, sunspots (weather permitting) and the work of some inspiring female astronauts.
Guides
Guides can get involved with interactive activities on light and space telescopes, showing girls that science and technology is for them.
Beavers
We can help Beavers achieve their Space badge with a guide to the night sky and an interactive activity on the scale of the Solar System.
Cubs
For their Astronomer badge, Cubs complete an interactive activity on the scale of the Solar System and explore constellations and the night sky.
Scouts
Scouts can work towards their Astronomer and Astronautics badges: observing the Moon, learning how telescopes work, and exploring how astronauts live on the international space station.
Your visit
A visit will typically include:
- a guide to the night sky, including how to identify the North Star
- constellation information, including stories and how to spot them
- a tour of the observatories and radio telescopes
- observing through our binoculars and telescopes (weather permitting)
- interactive activities to discover how telescopes use different types of light to find out about the origins of our universe. Learn about the James Webb Space Telescope that launched on Christmas Day; get hands-on with rainbow glasses and infrared cameras; and make your own bracelet that detects the Sun's UV light
- hands-on activities such as making take-home paper rockets, handling meteorites and making paper meteors, or designing and testing ‘egg-landers’.