2025 Ambassador Program

The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) is thrilled to introduce the 2025 inaugural year of the AFF Ambassador Program! 

The AFF Ambassador Program is a volunteer community of K-12 educators who support AFF’s mission of bringing space education into classrooms and increasing STEAM engagement in students to inspire the next generation of space explorers. If you’re a licensed or certified educator and use AFF’s programs, we invite you to apply. 

As an Ambassador, you will have exclusive access to quarterly webinars and workshops, annual challenges and prizes, VIP invitations to AFF events, special discounts on AFF programs, social media amplification, and more. We encourage our Ambassadors to advocate for AFF’s educational programs and initiatives, share their personal experiences to inspire others, and connect with fellow Ambassadors to share valuable space-related resources. 

Please have the following documentation ready to submit as you fill out your application: 

• A copy of your educator license or certificate. Your license or certificate must be current and valid, issued by a U.S. state or other government agency. 
• A lesson (teachers) or action plan (other educators) with the following requirements: Lessons must be unique, self-written (not AI-generated), space-themed lesson or activity from any discipline standards-aligned to your home state or the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); OR Action plans (past or future) must include measurable steps specific to your organization and detail how you plan or successfully implemented to increase student engagement in space education.

If you are interested in becoming an AFF Ambassador, please complete the form linked HERE. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2025. 

Who should apply?

We are looking for K-12 STEAM certified educators (including administrators and learning specialists actively working with students) who currently use the AFF programs (Giant Moon or Mars Maps, Rockets & Rovers Summer Camp,, S-Cubed, etc.) in their school. These passionate educators align with AFF’s mission and are also excited to share their positive experiences with AFF programs to inspire others.

To avoid any potential conflict of interest, individuals with school or district-wide purchasing or procurement authority are not eligible to participate in the AFF Ambassador Program. If accepted, applicants must review their school district’s purchasing policies and confirm in their AFF Ambassador Program Application that they do not have the authority to make high-level purchasing decisions on behalf of their school or district.

What can I expect as an AFF Ambassador?

See below for a list of unique opportunities that are available to AFF Ambassadors:

• 50% discount on Giant Moon or Mars Map bundles
• Digital Ambassador Badge to share on your email signature, LinkedIn, or other social media
• Annual Ambassador Challenge to create a lesson for their classrooms for the chance to receive an expenses-paid scholarship to AFF’s upcoming Space Curriculum Collaborative or a free Giant Moon or Mars Map
• Feedback Sessions on current and early-access programs with the AFF team
• VIP invitations to upcoming AFF Space Curriculum Collaborative workshops
• Ambassador spotlight on the AFF website, Mission STEAM Newsletter and social media
• Amplification of Ambassador’s social media posts on their work with AFF
• Opportunities to participate in AFF and/or STEAM industry events with the AFF team
• Connect and share best practices with fellow Ambassadors worldwide

What is expected of me as an AFF Ambassador?

As part of the Ambassador Program, Ambassadors will be asked to actively advocate for AFF’s programs and products within their community. 

Full expectations for active 2025 Ambassadors include:

1. Attending at least three of the four quarterly virtual Ambassador Program exclusive workshop and/or webinar hosted by AFF
   • • Ambassadors may also have the opportunity to host Ambassador Program workshops and/or webinars
2. Participating in at least one of the following activities per quarter:
   • • Engaging in your community and/or classroom with AFF’s programs and products
     • Sharing AFF news and personal experiences using AFF programs and products on social media
     • Serving as a volunteer representative of AFF at select AFF and/or STEAM Education events as requested by AFF
     • Providing feedback to AFF’s curriculum and/or products as requested by AFF
3. Engaging in the annual AFF Ambassador Challenge based on the year’s theme. 
   • • The Challenge submissions will be judged by the AFF team and peer Ambassadors. 
     • First place winners will receive a travel expenses-paid scholarship to attend the upcoming annual AFF Space Curriculum Collaborative
     • Second place winners will receive a free Giant Moon or Mars Map

Please note that Ambassadors must meet the above participation requirements to remain in the program.

Selection Criteria

The Ambassadors will be selected by the Aldrin Family Foundation. The application process is open HERE until January 17, 2025. Decisions/initiations will occur by January 31, 2025. Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Be a licensed or certified educator and provide proof of license or certificate in application
• Use AFF programs (e.g., Giant Moon or Mars Maps) in the classroom, school or school district
• Demonstrate initiative in their communities:
  • • Projects that involve bringing space to their students outside the classroom (e.g., hosting a Space Day, field trips, clubs, etc.)
    • OR show evidence of bringing innovative space opportunities to students within the classroom

Eligible Ambassador applicants will also be asked to submit a lesson (teachers) or action plan (other educators) with the following requirements:

• Unique, self-written (not AI-generated), space-themed lesson or activity from any discipline standards-aligned to your home state or the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), plus permission to showcase the lesson or activity on the AFF website; OR 
• An action plan with measurable steps specific to your school or school district detailing how your plan to increase student engagement in space education

Please note, submission of an application doesn’t guarantee acceptance into the Ambassador Program. Ambassadors can also be removed from the program at any time at the AFF team’s discretion.

Application Process

To be considered for the Aldrin Family Foundation 2025 Ambassador Program, please see below:

• You currently use Aldrin Family Foundation programs/curriculum
• You submitted a completed online application