Space Camp needs your help! NASA’s Space Camp and the US Space and Rocket Centre, two of the most iconic and spectacular tourist attractions in the US are at risk of permanent closure due to the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and NASA’s Save Space Camp Campaign needs your help to stop that from happening.
The lockdowns and travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism industry, to the point where much of it may not recover at all, and now the impact has reached the US Space and Rocket Centre and Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
The US Space and Rocket Center and Space camp have announced that both are at risk of closing forever because of the economic catastrophe that has being caused by lockdowns and travel restrictions, and has launched an emergency fundraising effort and a #SaveSpaceCamp campaign to try and save the two iconic attractions. They need to raise $1.5 million dollars by October to ensure that the museum stays operational and Space Camp and the Museum can reopen in 2021.
Donate Here.
Follow this link here to Space Camp’s Go Fund Me page and please give as much as you can. Space Camp and the Space and Rocket Centre has millions of visitors and alumni every year, so if each one gave less than a single dollar they would still smash their target!
Devastating Economic Impact.
Space Camp and the Space and Rocket Centre, as the number one paid state attraction for the better part of a decade now, normally generate $120 million for the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville, and the economic impact has been a huge blow to both the state and the entire industry.
After being forced to close it’s doors in March this year, the Space and Rocket centre tried to reopen but with people in lockdown and then too afraid to travel it did not get enough visitors to stay open and Space Camp itself has been forced to cancel all upcoming programmes in September. Because of this there has already been a loss of at least $28 million due to the pandemic and more than 80% of its full time employees have been lost, not to mention the loss of over 700 part time employees who work at every level of Space Camp and the Museum.
This isn’t just about the potential loss of two of America’s most important and iconic attractions, there is a very real human impact here too.
Failure is not an option!
This campaign cannot fail, and it won’t. The US Space and Rocket Centre and Space Camp are just too iconic to close down, and that is why they need your help.
If you can, please donate here at Save Space Camp. Every little bit helps, no matter how big or how small.
If not, then please share this campaign as much as you can. Share this post and the Go Fund Me page as much as possible, and use the hashtag #SaveSpaceCamp.
But more than that, after the campaign is successful, and it WILL be successful, and Space Camp and the Space and Rocket Centre reopens its doors once again, visit and support them as much as you can.
This pandemic will not last forever, we will beat it. Worldwide cases are already on a heavy downward spiral and the health risks of travel are increasingly manageable each and every day. We will be travelling again sooner rather than later. Travel restrictions need to end soon before the damage to the industry is irreversible, and attractions like these need you to visit to make sure they stay open.
Space Camp and the US Space and Rocket Centre are two of the US’ most iconic attractions and with your help they can stay that way! I had one of the best times of my life in Huntsville and got to tick off an entire bucket list of childhood astronaut fantasies, and once this mess of a crisis is over I encourage you to do the same!
Update!
The campaign has been a huge success! As of 5/08/20 the fundraiser surpassed the $1.5 Million dollar mark in just 7 days, thanks in part to huge donations by both Boeing and SAIC, but mostly thanks to all the donations made by each and every person out there, from Space Camp alumni to Huntsville Locals and people who just want to keep the hope and inspiration for the future provided by these two amazing attractions alive!
This is amazing news and it means that Space Camp and the Space and Rocket centre can now keep operations going and reopen again in the spring of 2021!
But the fight isn’t over yet. Now that Space Camp has managed to fend off closure, it still needs your help just like every attraction around the world. When the Space and Rocket Centre and Space Camp reopen next year they need you to visit, they need you to travel here and they need your tourism dollars to get back on their feet.
As soon as it is open again make sure you are first in line to the the Space and Rocket Centre’s unique exhibits, sign up for an adult Space Camp experience and support them as much as you can. That way we can get back to a real normal of encouraging exploration and STEM for future generations and dreaming of the next chapter of travel in space itself!
I hope you can help support the Save Space Camp Campaign. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages and please feel free to share it with any or all of the social media buttons. If you want to get more great backpacking tips, advice and inspiration, please subscribe to updates via email in the box to your right.
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Dreaming Of Space Tourism In Huntsville, Alabama.
The Ultimate Guide To Space Camp In Huntsville, Alabama.
Travelling On A Geek Odyssey In Huntsville Alabama.
Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.
Bemused Backpacker 
Ive never been but this is so sad to hear. It is shocking just how much the covid19 is affecting so many industries.
Especially the travel one. I’m devastated to even hear Space Camp and the Rocket Center are at risk!
True, it is sad but this is the most devastating pandemic we have ever been through, thousands are dying every day and rising. Its sad this is happening but priorities?
Not really Tom, in the UK it hasn’t even been a HCID (High Consequence Infectious Disease) since March. The IFR is not particularly high and is dropping all the time. The problem is the fear around it is causing over the top restrictions that are having significant real world impact like this.
Hope it can be saved.
Me too Paul. I have complete faith it will be.
Donated and shared. My baby isn’t old enough yet but I read your posts when you went there yourself and ever since I’ve always dreamt of sending my daughter there when she was old enough. I hope I get the chance to.
That is awesome Lisa! Thank you for donating and I really hope you get the chance to aswell, I’m sure little baby Drake will make an amazing astronaut!
Donated and shared! Save Space Camp!
Thanks Mel!
What? How is this happening to such an important site? Do they not get government funding?
No unfortunately they don’t Amy. Around 90% of their funding comes directly from tourism. They get some donations and some money from Alabama I think but that’s about it.
I looked at their page, they’ve had over a million people stay at space camp since it opened. If every alumni gave just 1 dollar they’d hit the target in no time!
That is true! I’m sure many will give much more too, it holds a special place in a lot of peoples hearts.
Donated. Just $15 but its something.
Every single penny and cent counts Donna! Good job!
My 3 kids went to space camp in the late 1990’s. This is heartbreaking! Hope they save it.
I hope they do to.
Nooo! Space camp can’t close before I get to go!
I really hope it doesn’t Katie.
I would give an arm or a leg to go to space camp! A few dollars is nothing …
Exactly!
If something this big is at risk no one else stands much of a chance. The lockdowns need to end.
They really do. Basic risk analysis.
They just keep piling more and more on. Melbourne has just declared a state of emergency over 6 deaths. 6! And they were all elderly with other conditions. They are going to destroy the entire industry for nothing!
How is this even possible?
I know what you mean.
I can’t believe this! So sad.
It is.
I heard its over half way with the money raised already! That’s amazing! Will keep sharing.
It is! Boeing really stepped up with a huge donation! Thanks for sharing!
Space Camp is iconic! It’s too big to fail!
Shared this! It looks like the fundraiser is going well, hopefully they can reopen.
Thank you for sharing, it is certainly looking that way!
No! I can’t believe this! When will people realise we can’t just shut everything down forever and expect it to survive! Save Space Camp!
Exactly!
Donated and shared.
Thanks for sharing Vicky
Such sad news, hope they get through this. Will give as much as I can.
Amazing to hear Sarah. I hope so too.
My brother and I both went to Space Camp as kids and it changed our lives! This cannot happen. Thank you for sharing this, we will donate and share too.
Thanks for sharing Val, Space Camp and the Space and Rocket Centre has had an impact on so many people, it cannot be allowed to fail!
No way this will happen. It’s Space Camp! The government has to step in.
I certainly hope so Mike!
Space Camp and the Rocket Center both played a huge role helping to instill a lifelong love of spaceflight growing up. I hope my kids and others still that get that opportunity as soon as it is safe again.
I hope they do too Carol.
#SaveSpaceCamp! I hope they reach their goal! Where is elon musk in all of this? Surely it’s a drop in the ocean to him and its not as if he doesn’t have a vested interest …
I’ve asked the same question!
I’ve never been but I’m still gutted to hear this! The fact that such an icon can be at risk is scary. Hope they can save themselves.
Me too.
I went to Adult Space Camp last year after reading about it on your blog and it was a truly amazing experience! One that filled so many bucket list wishes. I want others to have that experience as well. Shared and donated.
Great to hear you had such a great time Ken, and thanks so much for sharing and donating!
Amazing job! So glad they reached their target!
Me too!
So are they reopening now? I am so relieved.
They are reopening in 2021 Michelle, this money is basically just to keep them afloat untill then.
This is amazing news! Well done Space Camp!
It is!
Amazing they managed to do so much in so little time! Shows how iconic space camp is.
It really does.
Well done Space Camp!
Well done indeed!
Happy this isn’t closing. I’ve never been but it would have been a sad day if the corona lockdown forced it to close.
It certainly would have been!
Amazing news!
It really is!
Such a great job raising awareness, well done! I had no doubt they would get it done!
Thank you, I didn’t either! Failure was not an option.
Congratulations Space Camp!