Project Dark Forest

Launch a Dark Forest Cohort

Tell us about your organization and explore how to bring real space systems training to your students or community.

Start the Intake Form How It Works

Who can apply

Schools and districts

Public, private, charter, magnet, and district-led programs interested in launching a hands-on aerospace cohort.

Community partners

Nonprofits and youth organizations

Organizations serving students through after-school, weekend, summer, or community-based programming.

Technical communities

Radio clubs and aligned groups

Clubs and local organizations with the interest and capacity to host technical learning experiences.

Before you submit

Project Dark Forest works with schools, districts, nonprofits, community organizations, and radio clubs to launch cohorts where participants build and operate real space systems.

Project Dark Forest provides the equipment and core program resources for the first version of the program.

Your organization should ideally have:

A dedicated program lead or educator
A consistent meeting schedule
Space to host participants
Participant supervision
Access to computers and secure equipment storage

Organization Intake Form

Tell us about your organization, participants, and readiness to host a cohort. We’ll review your submission and follow up to discuss next steps.

Program yes, or

Organization Name

Organization Type

City

State / Province / Region

Country

Website

Primary Contact

First

Last

Title / Role

Phone Number

Program Lead Name

First

Last

Program Lead Role

Relevant Experience or Background

Age Range Served

Program Format

Expected Number of Participants

Dedicated Program Lead

Consistent Meeting Schedule

Space to Host Participants

Access to Computers

Secure Storage for Equipment

Who are the students or participants you most want to serve, and why?

Do you have local partner organizations, mentors, or related programs?

If yes, describe those relationships.

When would you ideally launch?

What would success look like for your first cohort?

How the process works

Our intake process is designed to help us understand your organization, your participants, and what would be needed to launch a successful cohort together.

Submit

Tell us about your organization, participants, and implementation goals.

Review

We review fit, readiness, timing, and what support may be needed.

Connect

We follow up to discuss next steps, program structure, and alignment.

Plan

Together, we explore the path toward launching your first cohort.

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few common questions from organizations exploring a Dark Forest cohort.

Who can submit this form?

Schools, school districts, nonprofits, community organizations, radio clubs, and other youth-serving groups interested in hosting a cohort.

Is this only for high schools?

No. While many cohorts may focus on high-school-age participants, the intake process is intentionally broader and can support mixed or other youth-serving formats.

Does our organization need prior aerospace experience?

No. Prior aerospace experience is not required. What matters most is having a committed lead, a workable schedule, and the ability to support participants consistently.

Do we need to purchase equipment?

For the first version of the program, Project Dark Forest provides the equipment and core program resources.

Is this a competitive application?

No. This is an open intake form designed to help us understand potential partners, assess readiness, and begin conversations about launching cohorts.

Can organizations outside the United States apply?

Yes. We are interested in domestic and international partnerships and welcome submissions from organizations serving students and communities in different regions.

Ready to get started?

Project Dark Forest is building cohorts with schools, districts, nonprofits, community organizations, and technical partners. Submit your intake form and let’s explore what a cohort could look like together.

Begin the Intake Form