MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) today announced its ShareSpace Foundation (SSF) is launching a Giant Moon Map™ program in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. An expansion of the foundation’s highly successful Giant Mars Map™, the Giant Moon Map™ sparks creativity in students while they learn STEAM concepts and celebrate one of humankind’s greatest achievements.

“America’s race to the Moon 50 years ago united us and provided endless inspiration for people worldwide,” said Andrew Aldrin, president and CEO of AFF. “The Giant Moon Map™program comes at the perfect time to help today’s youth learn about that historic moment, while sparking ideas on how to make their own giant leaps using science, technology, engineering, arts and math principles.”

Each SSF Giant Moon Map™ program package includes a 25 foot x 25 foot vinyl map of the Moon, 10 Welcome to the Moon books, a 120mm 3D model of the Moon, and the Moon Map curriculum package. The package features authentic and fun lessons and activities designed for students ages 8 to 12, and access to in-person and online program training from SSF.

AFF has worked with donors to make 50 Giant Moon Map™ packages available for distribution to individual schools, school districts and informal education organizations throughout the country. The foundation will begin accepting package applications at this year’s National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Convention from April 11-13 in St. Louis, Missouri. SSF will have a Giant Moon Map™ on display in booth #680 in the exhibit hall.

Giant Moon Map™ package applications will be accepted through May 18, 2019 (which is the 50th Anniversary of the launch of Apollo 10). All applications will be reviewed by an independent team of judges with the aim of distributing the packages by June 17, 2019 to educational institutions where they can do the most good, especially in underserved communities. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2D6rNcq.

About the Aldrin Family Foundation

The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) strives to cultivate the next generation of space leaders, entrepreneurs and explorers who will extend human habitation beyond the Earth to the Moon and Mars. AFF’s STEAM-based educational tools, curriculum and programs span from a child’s first classroom experience through graduate school and professional programs. This vertical pathway unites explorers at all levels to learn from each other’s vision for space, ultimately creating the first generation of Martians.

About ShareSpace Foundation

ShareSpace Foundation, one of the key organizations within the Aldrin Family Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating children’s passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) by providing innovative, interactive educational tools to schools, teachers and information educations throughout the United States and abroad. Founded in 2016 by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, ShareSpace has reached more than 300,000 children and continues to grow its impact each year.