With over 17,000 members, the Space Hipsters group on Facebook is more than an online forum of space enthusiasts. They’ve extended their reach to bring about real change in the world.

Created in February 2011, by writer and blogger Emily Carney, Space Hipsters “embrace the inner space nerd.” They’ve organized field trips and give-aways, many members are space industry experts – including astronauts and their families, and the Space Hipster logo was spotted aboard the International Space Station!

Last year, the Space Hipsters helped send Native American girls aged 9 -11 to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The space-inspired American Girl Doll, Luciana Vega, was raffled with all of the proceedings going to fund a Space Camp STEM adventure.

Three girls from the Pascua Yaqui tribe in Tucson, AZ., were supported by the Space Hipsters’ generous donation.