Young Astronaut Day
Event Overview
Young Astronaut Day is a STEM outreach event for students grade 1st-12th. This event, which started in 1992, gives students the opportunity to work as a team to solve engineering challenges. These range from parachute drops and balloon cars to lego robots. Each year there is an event theme that the activities are centered on (i.e. Mars landing, living in space, etc.). Teams are tasked to complete three activities that create one mission within a 2 hour period. This requires them to build strong teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills. Each team competes against the other teams for a friendly competition. The goal of the event is to inspire and educate students about Aerospace and the STEM field. This is not only accomplished through the STEM activities but by listening to a keynote address and interacting with the scientists and engineers who are leading the activities and volunteering.
Photo Credit: Edmond Wong
Young Astronaut Day 2026
The 32nd Annual Young Astronaut Day: Theme is Life Beyond Earth!
In partnership with the Ohio Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) and the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Location: The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI)
22800 Cedar Point Rd
Brookpark, OH 44142
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (9:30 AM Check in)
Registration Opens: Monday September 21, 2026 at 12 PM
- Team Cost: $200/team (for grades 1st-8th)
- First come first serve, Register early (between Sept 21th and Sept 30th) for discounted team price with promo code (Discount code: EarlyBird)
NOTE: Pilots and Mission Specialist teams are limited to 5 students this year due to venue capacity
How do I enter a team?
Registration Guide:
- Who can you register?
- Pilot Team: 1st-4th grade team of 5 students and 2 adult chaperones
- Mission Specialist Team: 5th-8th grade team of 5 students and 2 adult chaperones
- Location of registration: Eventbrite link provided on website once opened
- What comes with registration?
- Keynote Speaker Address from a NASA Scientist or Engineer
- Free Lunch
- Age appropriate STEM activity competition
- Awards Ceremony
- Of course...Team building and Fun
- Once the team cap has been reached, interested teams will be put on a waitlist.
- Please e-mail youngastronautday@gmail.com if you'd like to be on the YAD distribution list and receive event announcements or have any questions!
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding the event or registration please contact youngastronautday@gmail.com
Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter! @YoungAstroDay
STEM Resources
Follow and Interact with Previous YAD Astronaut Speakers!
Doug Wheelock: @Astro_Wheels
Sunita Williams: @Astro_Suni
Greg Johnson: @Astro-Box
Stephanie Wilson: @Astro_Stephanie
Mike Foreman: @foreman_Mike
NASA Astronauts: @NASA_Astronauts
STEM Resources
NASA STEM @ Home: https://www.nasa.gov/stem
Imagination Station Facebook Live Events every day at 2pm:
https://www.facebook.com/ImaginationStationToledo/
Stay at Home Science: https://www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/stay-at-home-science
GLSC Curiosity Corner: https://greatscience.com/curiosity-corner