Home > Resources Opportunities Celebrate World Space Week with Youth in Afterschool: Free Resources from STEM Next October 1, 2025 During World Space Week from October 6-10, afterschool programs have a unique opportunity to spark young people’s curiosity, inspire future career interests, and connect learning to the excitement of Earth and space. As an official partner of the World Space Week Association, STEM Next is bringing the celebration to the afterschool field with free resources designed for educators and youth. Whether you’re looking for career inspiration, hands-on science, or ready-to-use activities, STEM Next has tools to help your program join in the celebration. These resources are available to the afterschool field through our Earth & Space Learning Center of Excellence and are made possible by our collaborations with partners including Lockheed Martin and NASA. World Space Week Toolkit for Afterschool Programs Celebrate World Space Week in your program with this STEM Next toolkit, created specifically for the out-of-school-time field. This compilation of resources includes: Engaging activities that bring STEM concepts to life Career connections that show youth what’s possible in space and beyond Guidance to help educators adapt activities for their programs Topics range from moon colony design to rockets and real-world engineering challenges. Access the World Space Week Toolkit World Space Week Career Chat: Coolest Jobs in the Cosmos Join STEM Next for a Career Chat moderated by Charlee, a teen leader from our Flight Crew in Alabama! Together with space pros, she’ll explore the incredible variety of careers in Earth and space science. Date: Wednesday, October 8 Time: 3:00 PM PST / 6:00 PM EST Register The universe of space careers is HUGE, from designing rockets at Lockheed Martin to leading biomedical research at NASA. This conversation will highlight: ✨ Careers you never knew existed in space exploration✨ The skills you need to launch your future✨ How to start NOW with internships, college, and career prep Meet the Panelists: Whitley Poyser, Director of Deep Space Exploration, Lockheed Martin: leading missions that will take humans deeper into space than ever before Dr. Sarah Wallace, Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center: studying microbes in space and keeping astronauts healthy Matt Nassoiy, Program Engineering Manager, GM Lunar Mobility Vehicle: designing the next Lunar Terrain Vehicle to carry astronauts and gear across the Moon This event is perfect for youth ready to imagine their futures and for afterschool program leaders to join live with students. Explore Astronaut Health with Free STEM Activities for Afterschool Programs In this three-session activity bundle, youth investigate how the heart and circulatory system work and how these systems are affected by gravity in space. Along the way, they: Apply science and engineering practices Use math to identify patterns Learn about health and life science careers that support astronaut health Adapted from NASA eClips, these lessons connect Earth & Space Learning with Health & Life Sciences—perfect for afterschool programs that want to inspire curiosity and highlight career pathways. Explore the Activity Bundle
