Hang on a sec while I grab my cane and shake it around vigorously…

When I WAS A KID, we all wanted to be astronauts. The Space Shuttle was the coolest thing ever. And the promise of exploring space and other planets was too appealing to deny.

Today’s kids? Let’s just say the most popular answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” – at least in the United States and UK, according to a recent LEGO survey/Harris Poll of kids 8-12 – was… ugh… a vlogger or YouTuber.

So long humanity. We had a good run.

Still, there are some bright spots in that same survey. The second most popular answer? Teacher. So that’s a good sign. An impressive 86% of kids say they’re interested in space exploration and 90% want to learn more, even though only about 11% want to be an astronaut. And in reality, only about 30% want to be a YouTuber (though it was still the most popular choice), but in China, a whopping 56% of kids chose astronaut as their desired career.

Well, LEGO knows all this, which is why space-themed sets have been around (and massively popular) since the 1970s. And to honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the LEGO Group today kicked off a month of worldwide events to inspire the next chapter of space exploration, informed by the results of that global survey.

One of those events involves a team of 10 designers and LEGO Master Builders and nearly 300 hours – designing and building a life-size LEGO model of an Apollo 11 lunar module pilot. The model replicates the space suits worn on the moon in 1969 and is built from 30,000 LEGO bricks. Look closely and you can see a reflection of the moon’s surface in the helmet!

The model will be unveiled to the public during the Apollo 50 Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC (hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum) from July 18-20. Also at that festival? The Washington Monument will be transformed into a 363-foot Saturn V rocket that will “lift off” and take Apollo 11 to the moon.

Yeah,  I’ll be there.

But that’s not all. If you’re a fan of LEGO, there’s plenty to keep you happy. With the help of the visitors to the celebration, LEGO Master Builders will construct a 20-foot tall replica of the SLS rocket – a critical component to the next phase of Mars exploration. Attendees will also have a chance to participate in hands-on building activities and take photos with LEGO brick-built Mars and Moon mosaic backdrops.

Can’t be in DC this weekend? Closer to Toronto? The LEGO Group has built one of the tallest LEGO rockets ever displayed in Canada, which will be on display from now through September 2, 2019 at the Ontario Science Centre. Standing over 11-feet (3.3528 meters) tall, the rocket is built from more than 80,000 bricks and has built-in lights, sound effects, and a fog machine for smoke effects (to give it the appearance of it “blasting off”).

For everyone else, LEGO Stores around the world are hosting activities during July to engage families in creative play and to inspire their passion for space exploration. In the U.S. and Canada, LEGO Stores will host new weekly Build & Display activities related to Mars exploration from July 1-30.