Moonwalk Monday
One of our favorite movies when my brother and I were kids was Space Camp.
We could only dream of visiting space, and we were rife with curiosity in elementary school. It was the era of The Challenger explosion which only added to the allure and danger of space exploration.
We attended courses each summer at the Science of Museum of Minnesota, and I know my brother took some courses focused on space exploration. As I was younger, I wasn’t offered that type of class. I learned about bees, which I still have a strange obsession with.
I wanted to incorporate space exploration into Cousin Camp in the summer of 2026 due to the total solar eclipse happening in August. Although the path of totality would not include the United States, it was still a phenomenon that would garner attention worldwide. This in addition to the recent lunar expedition was a great opportunity to focus the boys attention on our universe.
Without the ability to keep children up in time to see the stars in Minnesota summer, it was time to get creative – an added bonus for me and them.
Moon Walk Monday Game
What better way to get the idea of an actual moon walk then every kid’s favorite – an inflatable toy?
I missed the days when you could simply go to Burger King for access to the Whopper Hopper but decided I could figure something else out. If you have a large budget, you can usually rent one and use a generator to inflate, however, that is usually not a possibility. Depending on how many kids you have, there are usually indoor play centers in your neighborhood that might have one. If all else fails, a trip to Urban Air never fails to disappoint for feeling weightlessness.
The quick fix, if you don’t have access to any of those options, is to use a mini trampoline, or if you are lucky enough to own one, a regular-sized trampoline. Your local gymnastic center or community center may also have a trampoline you can use if it is not scheduled for lessons.
That ought to tire out your astronauts enough to bring the excitement down a notch and make a little creative endeavor more tempting.
If none of those are options, this game is sure to be a hit. We did this one because we were up at the lake without a trampoline.
Martian Rock Scramble
This is the perfect game for a young space explorer with lots of energy. The out-of-this-world spin on “capture the flag.” You can designate one kid to be the “Martian” or have an adult volunteer join the fun. I was our Martian. I had tried to have one of the boys make me a mask earlier in the day but he was not interested at the time.
Materials
- Candy (or other small prizes--I used Froot by the Foot because they were kind of circular and round).
- Aluminum foil
- Bucket or basket (one per player)
Directions
- An adult makes “Martian rocks” by wrapping candy or prizes in aluminum foil. Spread the rocks in a designated area in an outdoor space, such as a yard or park.
- Place buckets or baskets on the opposite end of the yard or field. This is the “space shuttle.”
- The “Martian” (either a child or adult volunteer) stands in front of the scattered “Martian rocks.” Kids begin standing behind the space shuttle.
- The players must collect and bring the Martian rocks to their bucket. If the Martian tags them, they have to drop any rocks in their hands and run back to the shuttle before they can try again.
- Once the kids collect all the rocks, they can open them and enjoy the candies and prizes.
Moonwalk Monday Activity
We have all seen the glow in the dark stars that have decorated kiddos ceilings, or in the case of my friend, the closet door. There is something eternally alluring about these stars and I knew at some point the boys would love to decorate with them. Of course, the permanency of these stars sometimes presents a problem to a howe owner. As I did not own the house, I had the boys create posters that could be placed on the ceiling in their room. I was able to find the stars on Prime Day but there are many brands all over the internet.
With my nephews we talked about the North Star and Orion; I think those are basic night sights that all Minnesota kids should know. My dad loves space and knows about the night sky as an Eagle Scout, so he also talked about Ursa Major and Ursa Minor and showed pictures so that we could recreate those.
For all kids I think it is important to understand the importance of the North Star and know where that is to find North in the night sky.
The boys then created their own star constellations: the fist, the deer, and the…something. They were put up in their rooms at home so they could see their creations.
Moonwalk Monday Craft
Decorating a room with glow in the dark stars may seem crafty enough to some, however, in Cousin Camp it doesn’t cut it. Of course, the idea of creating a solar system went through my mind. That ubiquitous eighth grade science project that most students have completed in some form with some material.
With the lunar expedition driving my idea of focusing on space, however, I wanted to focus on its magic at night.
Glow in the dark paint exists for a reason and this seemed to be it. I also wanted to try a craft I had found called glowing moon rocks on Charming Recipes.com. We were going to create our own moon rocks.
Here is the “recipe” we followed:
Materials:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of white glue
- 2 tablespoons of glow-in-the-dark powder (suitable for crafts)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Mixing bowl
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or a silicone mat
- Cookie scoop or hands for shaping
Mix the Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of baking soda. Stir gently until evenly mixed.
- Gradually add 1 cup of water and watch as the mixture comes together.
- Add 1 tablespoon of white glue to enhance the texture and stickiness.
- Sprinkle in the glow-in-the-dark powder and mix thoroughly. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring for added flair.
Shape Your Moon Rocks
- Using your hands or a cookie scoop, form palm-sized balls from the mixture.
- Place each moon rock on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Ensure they are spaced apart for even drying.
Dry the Moon Rocks
- Allow the moon rocks to air-dry for 24-48 hours, or until they’re completely hardened.
- For faster drying, consider placing them in a low-temperature oven for 1-2 hours, checking frequently.
I know when I first read through the recipe my first question was where do you find glow in the dark powder? All the other ingredients were easily on hand. Well, I found the answer to be – what else—Amazon.
What was even better for this activity was that I could buy this variety pack with small pouches of different colors for less than ten dollars.
Glow in The Dark Pigment Powder,12 Colors Epoxy Resin Dye Luminous Pigment Powder,for Nail Art,Resin, DIY Crafts,Paint Glow.10g/0.35oz
Michaels also had a set that you could find online that had multiple colors, however it came in at a price of $19.22, ten dollars more.
Whatever you choose to use, it’s best to know that usually these powders only glow about thirty minutes in the dark after having been exposed to light.
We found the rocks did not set as well as we wanted, so really make sure that you are watching how much water you are putting into the mixture. We chose to air dry because of this to make sure they didn’t run in the oven.
Moonwalk Monday Snack
As kids, my brother and I were obsessed with Space Ice Cream. To be fair, I am always obsessed with ice cream. The intriguing allure of the freeze-dried treat was always just so fascinating! When we would go to the Science Museum of Minnesota gift shop, which to be fair wasn’t often, we would beeline straight for that corner of the goodies. Of course, we were very rarely allowed to get it. We were always met with the sagacious leading question, “Are you sure that is what you want? It won’t last.”
Ah logic, it spoils so much random joy.
Nonetheless, we always wanted that tricolored treat. Therefore, I knew that I needed to treat my nephews to the same treat. You can of course source this at most science museums and Amazon. I found mine at the local camping store, REI. They were actually cheaper there as part of camp food than on Amazon.
Backpacker's Pantry Astronaut Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich - Single Serving
As a drink, I grew up believing Tang was created by astronauts. I also had to overcome my traumatic experiences with an abundance of weak Tang at church functions to treat them to this drink, and I just couldn’t do it. When I was a kid, my mom always bought Juice boxes, but I was fascinated by the taboo treat served in, what I always considered as a child to be a space safe container: CapriSuns.
Tang was not available at Target.
Moonwalk Monday Book
There are plenty of books about space that offer factual information, as well as science fiction tales. I remember specifically one that my brother liked to listen to on record (remember “When you hear this sound (chime), you know it is time to turn the page”). But I wanted to focus on the recent lunar expedition and the future of the burgeoning space program. I also wanted them to aim for the stars and to think of the possibilities that they could reach if they wanted to. Ultimately, I chose a book which I figured would suit all the strengths of the various ages. It was Who Was the First Man on the Moon?: Neil Armstrong: A Who HQ Graphic Novel. I liked the idea of the graphic novel for my middle nephew, who is more visual, and I thought the oldest could read it alone. The youngest could also follow the story through visual cues for words he didn’t know. I liked the factual content and how it highlighted someone who ultimately attained their dream.
Who Was the First Man on the Moon?: Neil Armstrong: A Who HQ Graphic Novel
