Katikati College student and Tauranga Astronomy Club member Toby Hendy is heading to Huntsville, Alabama, to attend the USA International Space Camp in July.

Along with Otago Girls' High School student Lisa Craw, Toby was selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend the event.

Toby says she has, 'a huge interest in the field of science and believes that the study of astronomy and space are very important to humanity”.

The girls are joining about 150 other like-minded students from 23 different countries at the camp.

They will be immersed in a programme that is designed to promote space science and exploration.

Some of the activities planned are hands-on astronaut training and involve learning about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts face.

The students are also involved in leadership training and will experience scuba diving and four G's of lift-off force and actual weightlessness in a space simulator.

Toby and Lisa are being supported by the Talented School Students Travel Award, which is funded by the Ministry of Science & Innovation, and is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand.