Appalachian Mountain Club

Mountains of Stars connects people with the Universe to encourage all of us to change how we act and behave to make this a better world. We need funds to support the students who we train in science communication and who work with us each summer to deliver public programs.

Learn more at our Mountains of Stars Website  and check out our Mountains of Stars Facebook page . You'll learn more about the work we're doing and the  important environmental messages we're delivering to people to get them to treat our planet better. The best way for people to understand our environment and our place in it is by showing them the majesty of the Universe.  



We train undergraduate science students to be effective communicators, who then

- show people the wonders of the Universe through telescopes and give planetarium shows
- do fun hands-on activities, like building model solar systems and mini planetariums, and playing astronomy-themed games
- do presentations and workshops with audiences from youngsters to seniors.

We  need to support these students to do this great work. Every dollar we raise goes to program activities, so we can reach as many people as possible and  connect them with the environment. 

So far we’ve reached 65,000 people with programs - from kids to older adults, camp groups, students and teachers in schools,  patrons at libraries and visitors to parks, and trained over 250 students, nature educators, and outdoor guides. We need to keep this going! Please help!



I'm Doug Arion, and I run Mountains of Stars. I've been a professor of physics and astronomy at Carthage College for 26 years. I dedicate my time and resources to managing and supporting Mountains of Stars. I'm a member of the International Astronomical Union, the American Astronomical Society, the Springfield Telescope Makers, and a lifetime member of both the International Dark Sky Association and the Appalachian Mountain Club. I also ran the Galileoscope project that supplied more than 260,000 telescope and optics kits to users in 110 countries. Retired from full-time teaching, I devote my time to engaging the public with the environment by connecting them with the stars.  

Please help us raise the money that will let us connect with people and change how they treat the world.