Iowa State University Extension and Outreach announced on Apr. 15 that Mission Moon, a hands-on STEM learning initiative developed with the NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium, will officially launch this fall with the Waukee Community School District after pilot programs across several Iowa counties.
The Mission Moon program aims to equip young people with critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills for future careers. Sara Nelson, 4-H STEM specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said, “Iowa 4-H and the NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium are working together to equip youth with the critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation skills they will need for future careers and success in the workforce.”
During Mission Moon activities, students use iPads to access mission notebooks and technology such as drones and micro:bits while tackling real-world challenges related to lunar exploration. Nelson explained that “youth learn as they explore real-world challenges. They identify big ideas, ask thoughtful questions and develop a range of skills as they determine solutions.” The program encourages teamwork through simulations where participants must communicate clearly to solve problems.
Nelson said that immersive experiences like these support what educators call multimodal creativity: “When students are immersed in a simulation, they are learning through exploration. They’re not just completing a challenge; they are building confidence in what they can do and who they can become. By participating in Mission Moon, they’re exploring new frontiers in STEM and they’re developing workforce ready skills.”
The initiative is part of CASTL-K12 (Collaborative for Advancing Science Teaching and Learning in K-12), which connects science education stakeholders nationally. Laurie Salander of the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium said about her state’s experience: “Our team at the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium was truly blown away by the level of engagement from every single young person participating in Mission Moon.” She added that “the excitement was palpable — one student even said, ‘I hope the rest of our day is this much fun.’ The program’s hands-on, reusable design… creates an authentic STEM experience that sparks curiosity…”
According to Nelson: “From designing lunar habitats to simulating rover navigation…the program sparks curiosity and builds critical STEM skills…deeply relevant to future careers…” She also noted undergraduate students have been trained as facilitators statewide.
Mission Moon is set for expansion across all 99 Iowa counties through camps, mobile simulations, library kits and national challenges supported by Iowa 4-H Youth Development along with NASA ISGC.
Throughout 2024-2025 alone more than 21,000 individual STEM learning experiences were provided by Iowa State University Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach receives funding through county taxes, state appropriations and federal contributions via cooperative agreements according to its official website. The organization promotes community empowerment by connecting Iowans to university expertise according to its official website, utilizes facilities at Ames campus along with over 100 county offices according to its official website, functions as part of Iowa State University according to its official website, employs approximately 870 faculty/staff members according to its official website,and focuses on involving all Iowans in research/education/outreach initiatives addressing everyday challenges according to its official website.
