YSPA students will take part in a range of engaging enrichment activities. Throughout the program, they’ll participate in “one-day” labs, such as designing and launching a weather balloon to study the upper atmosphere or building 3D-printed solar spectroscopes. Other short projects include studying the Sun’s chromosphere, creating color images of nebulae, and designing rockets to reach target altitudes.
In addition to YSPA’s core curriculum taught by faculty, students will attend guest lectures by Yale scientists across disciplines—some followed by lab tours. They’ll also receive a campus tour focused on science and engineering facilities and attend a college essay writing workshop.
Every Tuesday, students can participate in public nights at the Leitner Family Observatory & Planetarium, helping with telescope viewings and sharing their research with visitors.
Weekly off-campus field trips offer recreation and exploration, including:
- A geology hike in Sleeping Giant State Park
- Stargazing and fun at the Yale Outdoor Recreation Center
- Visits to the Yale Art Museum and Peabody Museum
On-campus activities include:
- Frisbee, soccer, and rock climbing
- Movie nights and board games
- Contra dancing and gardening at Yale Farm (with wood-fired pizza)
- A talent show (with instruments provided or brought by students)
The program concludes with a celebratory dinner and closing ceremony following the final mini-conference.