Space Camp for Little People
Space Camp for Little People
Our family’s 2011 experience at a special Little People session—and what families should check before planning a trip today.
Program availability
The current Space Camp special-program page does not list a Little People session. The review below describes the dedicated program our family attended in 2011; it should not be read as a description of today’s standard camp.
Check Space Camp’s current special programs and contact the camp directly about participation requirements, accessibility, lodging, activities, and any medical or equipment concerns before booking.
The dream of going to space is a common fantasy shared by children and adults alike. And for those of us who grew up in the 1980s watching the Space Camp movie, actually attending Space Camp as a camper was another dream entirely. Fast forward to being a dad with a dwarf son who is a space/rocket/jet/missile/airplane fanatic — and then discovering Space Camp for Little People. We just knew this was something we had to provide for our son (and, okay, for dad as well). We attended in 2011 and our review is below.
The Space Camp Experience
Overall, Space Camp is loads of fun for both campers and adult chaperones. Space Camp for Little People was an abbreviated 3-day, 2-night version of the regular Space Camp program attended by kids aged 9 and older. The special LP program ran over a weekend with each dwarf child accompanied by one parent. The smaller group size meant less downtime waiting in line, so we were able to enjoy most of the regular camp experience. Space Camp is located on the grounds of the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Arriving at Space Camp
We arrived in Huntsville the day before registration. The Huntsville Marriott was close to Space Camp and worked well for us at the time. Check current lodging, rates, transportation, and walking distance when planning your own trip.
Flight Suits: Buy Ahead and Alter
Most children and parents in our group wore matching astronaut flight suits. They were optional, but fun—I was even asked for directions by visitors who thought I worked there. If your family wants suits, buying early leaves time to check the size chart and make any needed alterations.
Flight Suits by Size — Order Ahead for Alterations
Available from Aeromax in several sizes. The flight suits are a nice dark blue — some older photos online show light blue but those are outdated. You can also order personalized versions with your child’s name direct from Aeromax Toys, though Amazon is typically cheaper.
💡 The flight suits also make fantastic Halloween costumes. Real astronaut-style name tags with velcro backing were available at the Space & Rocket Center Gift Shop for $5 when we visited.
Room and Board
In 2011, our group stayed in dorm-style rooms with bunk beds and shared restrooms and showers at the end of the hall. Each child-and-parent pair in our session had a room rather than sharing with another family.
The lodging was basic, but that did not spoil the weekend for us. Our son even insisted on sharing dad’s twin bed despite the other empty beds. Current room assignments and facilities may be different.
Our registration included cafeteria meals. We had simple camp food such as spaghetti, chicken, eggs, and sausage biscuits. Current meal plans and dietary options may be different, so ask the camp directly if food access or allergies matter to your family.
The Rocket Launch
Our son’s absolute favorite activity was the rocket launch. Each child and parent built their own model rocket the first night — a custom model with Space Camp stickers similar to the Estes Nova Payloader design. Space Camp has a huge grass field with two large launching bays capable of holding 30 rockets. For safety reasons only one rocket launched at a time.
The launching field is surrounded by tall trees that are hilariously decorated with model rockets that never quite made it back to the ground — a fate suffered by both our son’s rocket and dad’s. Since our son’s rocket was lost in the treetops, a model rocket starter set ended up being the perfect follow-up gift.
Keep the Rocketry Going at Home
Estes Tandem-X Launch Set
Our top pick for continuing the rocketry experience at home. Includes two rockets and a launch pad. Note: engines, recovery wadding, igniters, and igniter plugs are sold separately.
Estes Educator Bulk Pack
The same style pack Space Camp used for group launches. A significant cost savings if you plan to launch many times — great for a class, scout troop, or family that catches the rocketry bug.
The Simulators
Dad’s favorite part of Space Camp was the large simulator building. Here’s what to expect:
- MAT (Multi Axis Trainer): Spun riders in several directions to demonstrate disorientation. People in our group tolerated it, but that does not mean it is appropriate for every participant.
- 1/6th Gravity Chair: Hangs from the ceiling and lets the trainee hop over a mock moon terrain. The counselors deliberately prevent your feet from going fully flat so you don’t jump too high — though you can still go remarkably high with minimal effort.
- MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit): Simulates a spacewalk. The chair rides on air like a puck on an air hockey table to create a frictionless environment. Younger kids enjoyed this, though some didn’t like the feeling of being angled toward the ground.
- 5DF Chair: Simulates 5 degrees of freedom in a frictionless environment, demonstrating Newton’s Third Law of Motion. Also rides on air.
The Rides
- Space Shot: A launch-and-drop ride that had a height requirement during our visit.
- G-Force: A fast spinning ride similar to a carnival Gravitron.
The Space and Rocket Center Museum
Part of the camp experience includes educational sessions covering the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, plus time at the Space and Rocket Center museum. The exhibits are genuinely impressive — a Saturn V rocket prototype displayed horizontally (walking beneath it gives you a visceral sense of its scale), the actual Apollo 16 command module, an Apollo 12 moon rock, the original Mercury and Gemini capsule trainers, a Skylab fragment, a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, and much more.
Also on the grounds is the burial site of Miss Baker — one of two monkeys sent into space and returned alive in 1959. Our group placed a signed banana on top of her memorial. It remains one of the best moments of the trip.
Overall Verdict: Awesome
One word: awesome. Our son was already talking about going back before we’d even left. The smaller group size, the parent-alongside-child format, and the genuine accessibility consideration built into the LP program made it a uniquely special experience. The facilities are dated, the food is basic, and the beds are twin sized — but none of that mattered. This was camp, and it was exactly what camp should be.
Relive the Magic: The Space Camp Movie
The 1986 film that put Space Camp on the map for a generation of kids. Watch it before you go — or after — for full nostalgia effect. Our son had seen it multiple times before we attended and it made every simulator feel that much more real.
Have you attended Space Camp with an LP child through either a special or standard program? Share what your family learned in the comments below.
Very excited to reach new heights