Bring Youth to Work Day 

Thursday, June 18, 2026

This event is your chance to inspire the next generation by inviting your children, nieces, nephews, grandkids, or mentees to experience a day of space exploration and learn about your work. Take time to show them what you do every day to push the boundaries of discovery and benefit humanity.

All badged employees—civil servants and contractors—are welcome to participate. Guests must be under the age of 21. Spouses and other family members or guardians may join, too, provided they have the appropriate badge to come onsite. Learn more about Family Support Badges and Escort Required Visitor Badges, and be sure to coordinate badge requirements with your organization.

If your youth is between the ages of 16-20, you must add a digital parking placard to your registration. This will allow you to get through the gate. All vehicles must have one badged employee inside. Parking placards will be sent via email by EOD Monday, June 15.

Is your organization hosting an activity for youth guests? Please fill out this form to let Bring Youth to Work Day organizers know!  

Agenda

Welcome Sessions

We will kick off the day with an interactive welcome session in the Teague Auditorium. Three session times will be offered, with each session running 30-45 minutes. Youth guests may attend any session, but please note that each time will have content and activities tailored to a specific age group:

• 10 a.m. – Ages 4-9
• 11 a.m. – Ages 10-13
• 12 p.m. – Ages 14+

Lunch

Guests may join their host for lunch in the building 3 or building 11 cafeterias. Visit the Starport website to view the full food service calendar and food truck schedule.

Tour Opportunities

Want to show your youth guests the work that goes on in some of Johnson’s most special places? Sign up for one of these unforgettable tour opportunities using the add-on options when you register:

Space Vehicle Mockup Facility Catwalk

Tour times: 8-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.

Take a self-guided walk along the catwalk in building 9 for a bird’s-eye view of full-size spacecraft mockups, including modules used for astronaut training.

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Catwalk

Tour times: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Take a walk above the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL)—one of the world’s largest indoor pools, where astronauts train for spacewalks in a full-sized mockup of the International Space Station. Members of the NBL team will be on hand to answer your questions and share how this incredible facility helps prepare crews for space.

Mission Control Center White Flight Control Room

Tour time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is your chance to get an up-close look at the primary command center for NASA’s historic Artemis II mission and future Artemis missions. Guests are welcome to visit the viewing room at any time during the tour window.

Historic Apollo Mission Control Center

• Tour #1: 8 – 8:40 a.m.
• Tour #2: 8:40 – 9:20 a.m.
• Tour #3: 9:20 – 10 a.m.

Step back in time and relive the Apollo 11 Moon landing from inside the restored historic Apollo Mission Control Center. This immersive tour offers a rare and memorable experience for you and your guest. Seats are limited; each session can accommodate a maximum of 70 guests. Please do not register for more than one tour time.

Organization-Hosted Activities

Organizations may choose to host their own activities. Be on the lookout for information from your organization. A list of Johnson organizations sponsoring activities for all youth guests will be posted here, as information becomes available.

Registration Details

All Bring Youth to Work Day participants must register in Eventbrite, even if you do not plan to join a welcome session or a tour. Due to limited availability, tickets are required for the Teague welcome sessions and Apollo Mission Control Center tours. Welcome sessions, tours, and parking placards are listed under “Add Ons” on the registration page.

Please note: Your RSVP to this event acknowledges your consent to have photos taken of yourself and your youth guests by NASA photographers for possible publication on NASA internal and external communications products.

FAQs

Q: Is there an age requirement for youth guests? 
A: There is no minimum age requirement. Guests must be under the age of 21. If your youth is between the ages of 16-20, please add a digital parking placard to your registration.
 

Q: Can spouses participate in Bring Youth to Work Day? 
A: Spouses, other guardians, and family support members may join their families, provided they have the appropriate badge to come onsite. Please coordinate badge requirements with your organization. Please note that all vehicles arriving onsite must have one badged employee inside.
 

Q: I am not a parent. May I bring my niece/nephew/cousin/grandkid/mentee? 
A: Yes! All badged employees—civil servants and contractors—are welcome to participate. Just make sure that your guest is under the age of 21.
 

Q: How will I get my parking placard? 
A: Parking placards will be sent via email by EOD Monday, June 15.