International Astronomical Youth Camp

 1972 war ich nach dem Abitur Teilnehmer im Camp in Andreasberg im Sauerland. 1973 habe ich in Havelte Niederlande eine AG zu Moon-Blinks geleitet und 1974 haben wir das IAYC in Kassel organisiert.

1999 habe ich mal für einen Nachmittag das IAYC in Ungarn besucht...es war so wie ganz am Anfang.

Und so wird es auch jetzt sein: eine tolle Stimmung, tolle  internationale Kontakte.

Mitmachen lohnt sich!

International Astronomical Youth Camp: 9th July – 29th August 2023 in Eichsfelder Hütte, Germany

Imagine spending three weeks of your summer in the beautiful countryside – and with access to some of the darkest skies – working with other young people from all over the world on an astronomical project of your choice. The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a summer research camp aiming to promote knowledge on astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. Celebrating diversity is deeply embedded in the culture of the camp – we are dedicated to making the camp accessible to all, and we especially welcome applications from minorities in STEM. 

Each year the IAYC takes place in a different remote location, and it will be in beautiful Germany this year. The IAYC is different from most astronomy camps for two reasons: (1) it has a strong international character and (2) you will design and carry out your own small research project. You will not just accept facts, but you will discover them for yourself. We are proud of the incredible variety of projects that have been carried out during the camp over the past 50 years, which include building rockets and rovers; constructing radio telescopes; astrophotography; cultural astronomy; computer programming and machine learning; exoplanets; stellar evolution; cosmology; and so much more. We have a diverse network of previous IAYCers, who have all gone on to fulfil a diverse range of roles in science and beyond.

By night you will have access to a number of different telescopes, whether you are a complete beginner or a savvy expert. By afternoon (the morning is for sleeping), you will explore astronomy-related projects in one of seven working groups. The groups are led by young scientists and focus on a specific topic related to space and astronomy. There is something for everyone, from the complete beginner to the ambitious student. This year the working groups are:

RACCOON - ReAlly Crazy CollissiOns in astrONomy

CRASH - Capturing micrometeoRites And obServing Hurtling rocks

EPIC - Evi's Planet Investigators & Co

MaPLE - Mathematics for Physics, Life, and Everything!

POLO - Pew pew! Orbits and Lunar Observation

SAGA - Stars Are Growing Ahead

SPACE - Studying Photons for Awesome Celestial Exploration

As well as the astronomical programme, there are many non-astronomical activities such as group games; sporting events; cultural, singing and poetry evenings; hiking tours and an excursion.

Anyone from 16 to 24 years old and able to communicate in English (your English doesn't have to be perfect!) may participate in the IAYC 2023. The fee for accommodation, full board and the whole programme, including the excursion, is 990 EUR and the application deadline is 26th March 2023. We also have grants available, for those who would love to attend but do not have the funds, but please be aware that the deadline is two weeks earlier, 12th March 2023. 

For more details, application and grant forms, outlines of projects and pictures from previous camps please go to https://www.iayc.org/nextcamp/. Follow us on instagram (@iayc_astro), Twitter (@IAYC), Facebook,  or sign up to the mailing list, to keep up to date with news about this and future camps!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@iayc.org.

Best wishes and clear skies,

The IAYC Leaderteam