I have no idea if this is legit, but it sounds like it is, therefore I'm passing along this interesting bit of astro-spam in case anyone on the list might be interested. Heck, if I were 17 again and had some extra $$ lying around, sounds like a lot of fun... /R --- Juta Kawalerowicz <juta@iayc.org> wrote:

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:23:59 -0700 From: "Juta Kawalerowicz" <juta@iayc.org> Subject: International Astronomical Youth Camp 2008 - for Astronomical Societies in the USA

Dear American Astronomical Societies,

My name is Juta Kawalerowicz, I am from Scotland, UK and I am one of the leaders of the International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC). In this email I'm sending you some information about our camp, because I think you and your members could be interested in participating in it.

Below this e-mail you will find the official announcement of the IAYC 2008. Maybe your society received it already, as we try to reach as many astronomical societies as possible. Still, I wanted to write to you personally, and there is a special reason for this - we had 43 camps so far, and in the camp history we had only a few participants to represent the United States of America! When I learned about this - I made it my personal goal to bring some young enthusiastic American astronomers to IAYC this year! :-)

I'm sure they will be a great addition to camp's international atmosphere!

Please forward this email to your members and people you think might be interested in our astronomical camp. Thank you a lot!

If you have any questions, please contact me - it will be my pleasure to help you!

With kind regards, Juta Kawalerowicz,

******************************

IAYC 2008, July 20th - August 9th 44th International Astronomical Youth Camp Sayda, Germany

Every year, for 39 years now, the International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) takes place somewhere in Europe. About seventy people from many different countries live together for three weeks. They are aged between 16 and 24 years old and share the same interest: astronomy. The IAYC is different from most astronomical camps for two reasons: the international character and the fact that you do your own small research project, not just accepting facts but rather discovering them yourself. The IAYC is also not like a hotel where one follows a summer school or an astronomy course. Every participant with his or her own cultural background forms an important piece in the complex puzzle of camp life.

This years camp will take place in the "Jugendgastehaus Mortelgrund", a youth hostel in the South East of Germany. The house is located about 2,5 km from the small village of Sayda, which has about 2.300 inhabitants. It is a pleasant wooded area in the "Erzgebirge", about 45km from Dresden.

The IAYC is an international youth camp with participants from about 20 different countries. As a participant you work for three weeks in one of the 8 working groups - together with other young people - on astronomy related projects. These projects are done in a working group of your choice and also depend on your own interest. The working groups themselves will be led by young scientists from the IAYC team and concentrate on a specific field in astronomy. This year these are: Ancient Astronomy, Astrogenises, Basics of Astronomy, Compact Objects, Extragalactic astrophysics, Observational Astronomy, Radio Astronomy and Imaging processing. Of course apart from the astronomical program, there are many non-astronomical activities such as group games, sport events, singing evenings, hiking tours and an excursion.

The accommodation for the IAYC 2008 will be a very pleasant youth hostel called "Jugendgastehaus Mortelgrund". The house offers plenty of space for all participants and working groups and there will also be a darkroom available to the people who want to develop astropictures. At walking distance there is a field which can be used for observations. The remote location of the house promises excellent observing conditions.

Since it is an international camp, the camp language is English. You should be able and willing to speak English throughout the camp although it is not necessary to speak English fluently. Anyone from 16 to 24 years old and able to communicate in English may participate in the IAYC 2008. The fee for accommodation, full board and the whole program, including the excursion, will be 550 Euro. For interested persons who are in the situation of not being able to pay the camp fee themselves, a limited number of grants is available.

More information about IAYC 2008 and the working groups is available on our website <http://www.iayc.org/next_camp.php>. There you can also download the application form.

If you have any questions or wish to order, free of charge, an information booklet including an application form, please contact our info-person:

Ana Brajovic Svetog Save 20/1a 11000 Beograd Serbia tel.: +381 64 262 3182 e-mail: info@iayc.org

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