Mission Moon Base

You’ve landed on the Moon with a small crew and limited supplies. Before anyone can settle in, your team needs to choose a landing site, build a habitat, and work out how to keep the base running. Every decision affects the next one. Where should the greenhouse go? How will you get supplies from the landing pad to the lab? What happens if the power goes out?

Over 15 weeks, students will use Minecraft as a design workshop. They’ll investigate real engineering questions, build models of their solutions, and connect their projects into a lunar research base they can explain and showcase. Students can join Coach Lesley in person in Baldwin, Florida, or attend live online via Zoom.

What will students learn?

• Lunar environments and site selection. Compare possible building sites and explain how terrain, sunlight, and access to resources affect where a crew might put its base.
• Architecture, scale, and layout. Use measurements and block counts to plan living quarters, labs, storage areas, and safe routes between them.
• Habitat and life-support design. Identify what a crew needs to survive and model how a habitat could provide shelter, breathable air, water, and food.
• Energy and backup systems. Design a power plan, decide which systems need electricity first, and work through what happens when the main power source is unavailable.
• Resource management. Plan how the base will store and reuse water, grow food in a controlled environment, and make limited supplies last.
• Transportation and logistics. Design routes for crew members and cargo, taking into account obstacles, travel distance, and where supplies are needed.
• Engineering design and communication. Sketch a plan, build a prototype, check it against the mission requirements, and explain what changed after testing.

How each session works

Each class begins with a STEM question and a mission brief. Students sketch or discuss a plan, build their solution in Minecraft, and test it against the brief. They’ll compare designs and revise their builds as the base grows.

A mission might ask students to move a greenhouse closer to the crew habitat, redesign a cargo route around a crater, or choose which systems get backup power. By the final showcase, students will give a tour of their moon base and explain the engineering decisions behind it.

Who is it for?

This small-group academy is designed for homeschool students ages 9–14 who enjoy Minecraft, building, space exploration, or figuring out how things work. Beginners are welcome. Coach Lesley guides students through the planning and building process.

Spring 2027 class details

• Format · In person in Baldwin, Florida, or live online via Zoom
• Length · 15 weekly sessions, 30 instructional hours
• Starts · January 27th 2027
• Meets · Wednesdays 10am – 12pm
• Tuition · $750
• Included · Guided STEM lessons, mission briefs, planning materials, and a final showcase. In-person students also have access to in-class equipment.

Step Up scholarships accepted—add to cart then select Scholarship Payment at checkout and complete payment through the EMA website. Find us on EMA under Edison Kids (Jax location).