The Rotary Planetarium and Science Center is extending its deadline for summer camp registration to May 29 to allow more children to sign up for its three week-long camps. Planetarium director Lanette Phillips made the decision in hopes to allow more students to take advantage of this learning opportunity to study machines, the earth and space.

“We have scholarships available and want to make sure they are taken advantage of,” Phillips said.

She said some children don’t have opportunities to experience science over the summer. This is a great opportunity for children to experience science and at the same time stay active.

“I want our camps to be at full capacity, and I don’t want any students who want to be here to miss out. I want them to have a good time.”

And she promises this won’t be like the average science class students go to every day in school.

“We’re going to get dirty, we’re going to build things and we’re going to travel to different planets,” she said.

Phillips is planning field trips galore, with stops at Paramount’s Carowinds and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

This summer, campers will find themselves trudging through local creeks testing water qualities and riding flight simulators in Fayetteville.

“It’s a full plate for the campers,” Phillips said. “They’ll never be bored.”

Campers have their choice between three different weeks: Physical Science Camp, Life and Earth Science Camp, and Astronomy Camp. Each camp is $100 per student. Camps are available for upcoming fourth- to sixth-grade students.

The scholarship money available will cover the cost for enrollment into the camps.

The following is the schedule of camps:

MACHINE WORKS: Physical Science Camp - June 22-26

WORLD OF WONDERS: Life and Earth Science Camp - July 20-24

MISSION CONTROL: Astronomy Camp - July 27 - 31

Camp days go from 8 a.m. to noon.

To enroll or find out more information about a scholarship, contact Lanette Phillips at 704-694-7016 or phillips.lanette@anson.k12.nc.us.