Family ASTRO for Families and Friends: Getting Involved and Frequently Asked Questions

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Getting Involved

Are you looking to get your family and/or friends more involved in astronomy? Do you need an educational activity or special gift for someone with a passion for the cosmos?

Either way, with Family ASTRO you can get just about anyone engaged in astronomical topics while having a lot of fun at the same time. Our Take-Home Activities (kits and games) cover a wide range of astronomical topics for you and your family and friends to explore. You can spend a night learning your way around the stars, take a tour and test your knowledge of the Solar System, team up to survive a crash landing on the Moon, or get to know some common "deep space objects" while playing a round of cards. With titles that include Night Sky Adventure, Race to the Planets, Moon Mission, and Cosmic Decoders, each Take-Home Activity focuses on a particular topic in astronomy. Each kit or game also has its own web site with more background reading and other resources (including Frequently Asked Questions) for those who wish to explore these topics in more detail.

Family ASTRO Take-Home Activities are available for purchase to anyone through the Society’s AstroShop. All funds raised from purchases of Family ASTRO materials go directly to supporting the program at the non-profit Society, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Looking for a facilitated and more involved astronomy experience? A variety of educators (teachers, museum staff, amateur astronomers, Girl Scout leaders, etc.) have received Family ASTRO training at our Regional Sites around the country. From time to time, these educators hold Family ASTRO Astronomy Events for families and others in their community. Family ASTRO events usually cover a particular topic in astronomy (Event Leaders use our Leader Kits to guide them) and last around 90 minutes per session (and many such events are scheduled over two sessions). To find out if you can participate in a local Family ASTRO event, click here to view our National Network to see if there is a Regional Site near you. Then, contact your local Site Leader to learn more about Family ASTRO events in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am a professional and/or volunteer educator. How can I get materials and training to do Family ASTRO events?
2. Were Family ASTRO materials and events designed exclusively for families?
3. How much astronomy do I need to know to attend a Family ASTRO event?
4. I have a question about a Take-Home Activity (including game rules).
5. Is there a Family ASTRO Regional Site in my area?
6. I am excited about the potential of Family ASTRO and would like to support your work. How can I help?

1. I am a professional and/or volunteer educator (e.g., schoolteacher, homeschool teacher, museum staff, planetarium director, afterschool provider, nature center docent, astronomer involved in outreach, etc.). How can I get materials and training to do Family ASTRO events?

Click here to go to our "Family ASTRO for Educators" page.

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2. Were Family ASTRO materials and events designed exclusively for families?

No. Although we originally developed the program for families (or, for that matter, any child and adult caregiver), we soon recognized that multiple age groups enjoy our Take-Home Activities. So, whether you want games for your family, your friends, a class, an afterschool club, a Girl Scout troop, or your homeschoolers, we encourage you to try our series of Take-Home Activities.

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3. How much astronomy do I need to know to attend a Family ASTRO event?

Participants in Family ASTRO events do not need any background in astronomy.

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4. I have a question about a Take-Home Activity (including game rules).

If you have a question about any of our Family ASTRO games or kits, please contact us by e-mail at: astro {at} astrosociety.org. You can also visit the web site for each individual Take-Home Activity to review the Frequently Asked Questions there:

Night Sky Adventure
Race to the Planets
Moon Mission
Cosmic Decoders

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5. Is there a Family ASTRO Regional Site in my area?

Click here to see a list of Family ASTRO Regional Sites around the country.

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6. I am excited about the potential of Family ASTRO and would like to support your work. How can I help?

All funds raised from purchases of Family ASTRO materials go directly to supporting the program at the non-profit Society, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible. You can help disseminate and share information about the program by referring others to our web site: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/family.html

Our Regional Sites also help disseminate the program materials and provide training for others. If you work for or represent an education institution (e.g., observatory, science museum, university, etc.) and are interested in becoming a Family ASTRO Regional Site, you should read "So You Want to Start a Family ASTRO Site?," which includes a number of Frequently Asked Questions for potential Site Leaders.

Lastly, straightforward donations of financial support are most welcome. Click here to visit the Donating to Project and Family ASTRO web page.

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If you have a question about Family ASTRO that we have not addressed, please contact us by e-mail at: astro {at} astrosociety.org

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