Bug Campers and Stargazers is a school-year program open to all middle school students in the Asheville-City Schools. Bug Campers and Star Gazers have been designed to build the science program capacity of In Real Life (IRL), a multifaceted, high quality after-school program offering fun and experiential learning opportunities created by the Asheville City Schools Foundation. IRL uses a network of after-school program providers that offers three sessions: In Real Life, FEAST to give students an opportunity to learn about plants, and Enter the Game Lab where students explore game theory, design, techniques and presentation.

The program is offered in partnership with the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) and the University of North Carolina-Asheville (UNCA). The project will offer a 13-week IRL Bug Camp, in partnership with UNCA, where students will participate in biological science through hands-on discovery and investigation into the world of insects. Sky Watchers, a program developed by PARI, will be offered for two eight-week sessions per year and offers students the opportunity to build their own optical telescope. The program also offers professional development for middle school teachers so they can connect students' IRL experiences with their classroom curriculum.

Academic year program

Middle school students

Travis Herbert
Campus Director
Asheville City Schools Foundation
P.O. Box 3196
Asheville, NC 28802

Phone: 828/350-6134