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From underground cave homes and hydroponic farms to nuclear plants, EV charging hubs, and rover expeditions, campers will design the habitats, industries, and societies that make a Martian city thrive. Along the way, they’ll learn essential 3D modeling and animation skills while exploring science, engineering, and governance ideas that shape humanity’s future beyond Earth.Meet NASA:
In partnership with NASA, both the Mars Rover Dog Camp and Mars City Animation Winter Camp offer students a unique opportunity to learn directly from the minds shaping the future of space exploration. NASA instructors and engineers will lead exclusive sessions on the science and technology behind Mars missions, offering real-world insights into robotics, AI, 3D design, and planetary research. Campers will hear firsthand stories about current Mars initiatives, learn how NASA teams simulate Martian conditions, and discover how technology like robotics and design play a vital role in future colonization efforts.
Beyond classroom learning, students will also enjoy a special guided visit to NASA facilities (as the camp is held at Building 3, NASA Ames Research Center), where they can see space labs, mission control areas, and Mars research exhibits up close. This rare behind-the-scenes experience allows campers to witness how professionals apply creativity, coding, and engineering to solve challenges of living on another planet — inspiring them to see their own projects as the start of something even greater.
Throughout the camp, students explore key themes of Martian settlement:
Habitat & City Design – shaping safe, energy-efficient structures with radiation shielding and sustainable architecture.
Subsurface Homes – using caves, ice, and insulation for protection against Mars’ harsh environment.
Martian Agriculture – creating hydroponic farms, protein sources, and smart irrigation systems to feed settlers.
Industrial Facilities – modeling nuclear plants, resource processors, and 3D printing hubs for construction and manufacturing.
Governance & Economy – imagining how laws, currency, and social structures could function on another planet.
Surface Mobility & Exploration – animating rovers, mobile labs, and daily travel across Mars.
Mining Operations – extracting regolith, ice, and minerals to fuel construction and innovation.
Students will learn the fundamentals of 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, and animation while applying science and engineering concepts to their designs. At the end of camp, groups will present their animated city components, which come together as one collaborative vision of humanity’s future on Mars.
This camp blends STEM, creativity, and storytelling, giving students the skills to not only use Blender but also to think like pioneers designing the next frontier.
