Astronomy Enrichment
Summer Under the Stars (Rising Grades 6–12)
Mon.–Thurs., 2-week session | 1:00–3:15 p.m. | Cost $500
June 15–25 | Register here
August 3–13 | Register here
This two-week enrichment program introduces middle and high school students to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. On the astronomy side, students will be introduced to telescope design and use, naked-eye astronomy, and the intricate art of astrophotography. Campers will have the opportunity to use Dexter's many manual telescopes and solar scopes and experience the advent of the at-home smart telescope. Campers will also have the chance to explore Dexter's Clay Center Observatory, home to a NASA-grade 24-inch diameter reflector telescope.
For concepts in astrophysics, campers will be led through a variety of topics, including the composition of our solar system, the lifecycle of stars, and our search for life in the universe. Campers can expect hands-on demonstrations of the more tangible aspects of astrophysics, such as spectroscopy and Einstein's Theory of Gravity, while experiencing the more extreme places in our universe through high-resolution simulations. Come explore some of the biggest questions our universe has to offer!
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About Astronomer Dr. Sorabella
Nick Sorabella earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Astronomy from Stonehill College in 2019 and his Master's and Doctorate in Physics from UMass Lowell in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Dr. Sorabella is a published astrophysicist with several first-authored peer-reviewed studies in The Astrophysical Journal on topics such as supermassive black holes and gravitational lensing. He was awarded the prestigious NASA FINESST Grant in 2023 to research elusive self-lensing binary systems and won the Kennedy College of Sciences Student Research Symposium that same year. A dedicated educator, Dr. Sorabella earned the Patrick F. Dugan award at UMass Lowell for his work as a Teaching Assistant and now serves the Dexter Southfield Community as an Upper School physics teacher.