The Troubadour: Back in the Saddle Again....

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Back in the Saddle Again....

Hello Troops,
Back in the Saddle Again is a favorite song of mine. It was my 'bring the dead crew to life' song I used when I used to tell Overnight missions. I'm playing it again this Friday night / Saturday morning because we are back to work at the Space Center. I'm at my desk at 12:19 A.M, in the midst of 2012's first Overnight Camp.

"So this is how real people live!" I kept saying to myself on the last two Friday nights and Saturdays. It was magnificent having two Friday nights off in a row; dangerous though, I could get to like having Friday nights off, with the added bonus of a two day weekend. Oh well. Two day weekends are luxuries not meant for those of us who have to work for a living.

So much has happened this last week. Fortuna had her way with us. I'll post more on that topic either tomorrow or Sunday.

For now I bid you "Good night". I'm ready for bed.

Mr. W.

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A Sampling of Camper's Comments on their Experience at the Space Education Center

CMSEC, Thank you so much for running the space center. Im sure it takes oodles of work to keep everything going. My friends and I share our best memories together at the center. We love it there and would go every day if we could!!! We were all stuck reading the Troubadour and counting down the days til we could finally aply to voulenteer when school got out. You all are amazing and I certainly hope you and the CMSEC stay around for a while longer!
Dear Mr. Williamson, I just wanted to say how much I love the Space Center and everything you and the staff working there does. I have loved the Space Center ever since the first camp I went on when I was 10. Sadly, I am now 15 years old and can longer do all the camps I loved to do. In fact, I'm probably not going to be there for camps anymore at all. Me and my friends are doing one last mission on the Voyager on June 1st. I speak for us all when I say we have enjoyed the Space Center for a long time, and I am going to miss doing those missions more that words can say. You guys have altered my life in a way I didn't imagine possible until a few years ago. I will miss it. I am looking forward to flying in the stars once again. Alexis B
We recently came down and had a great experience. our flight director Christine was incredible. the doctor was also a great help. My 10 year old had decided that he would like to do his birthday party this fall with you guys. Based on the experience and great staff that we had .... We are also looking to do this for a family event in the near future. My nephew also wanted to do it again before he goes in the military on August 2. So I really look forward to coming back. I really look forward to more visits in the future.
Victor Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks! We have been coming to the Space Center for at least 10 years. Every mission is handled with such professionalism, fun, and educational excellence. You run a "tight ship" and never lower your standard of excellence. The students loved their mission, and appreciated the level of difficulty. My captain, Dallen, expressed his feelings about being called out for "losing focus." He said that he seldom feels under pressure and is used to having things come easy. He said that although he was stressed by receiving demerits, he was grateful for the experience. He said that this will help him handle stress better in the future. Victor, it is always so fun to talk to the students after each mission. Every one of them loves their job/jobs, and is sure that the mission rides on how well they perform. Thanks for all you do to keep the Space Center exciting! It is always the highlight of our school year. Sincerely, Sheri Sohm
Mr. Williamson, My daughter had a private party mission on saturday at 2:00pm on the Odyssey and I just wanted to compliment Adam & his staff. Adam was great and very friendly with the kids as well as us hovering parents!! He does a great job! He has a great personality and his confidence & competence in what he is doing is very apparent. I susbstitute teach at elementary and it is very impressive to see young people that handle groups of kids and lots of responsibilities just like an experienced teacher! The Phoenix mission next door had their door open with a parent observing & I was able to listen to a lot of Alex's mission and I have to compliment him also. In much of the same ways as Adam, he was very fun & knowledgeable. I overheard him several times explaining to the parent how certain problems faced in the mission were teaching the kids valuable leadership & problem solving skills. Very impressive. I am sure that you have other great staff and I hope that they are learning from those 2 flight directors that I saw, how to interact with the kids & adults and be great space center staff! Thankyou so much! Angie Lethbridge
Hello There! My name is Rylie, and I attended a Private mission recently for my thirteenth birthday. I was on the Voyager, with a full crew on the mission, The Children of Perikoi. I had been twice before, once on a fifth-grade mission, and once last year to celebrate my birthday. This year was amazing! The space center is every kid's (Well, everyone I know!) dream. You are in charge of saving everyone, no matter what job you have. No matter what part you play. It was an amazing trip into the future where me and my crew of 10-14 year-olds were in charge of our future. We were able to get a chance to stand up for ourselves and keep everyone alive. The space center is for everyone, the brave, and the shy, the quiet, and the loud. It's where we can truly show others what we can do. It was an amazing experience, and it could not be described in words. It is truly beyond anything I've ever done. It's better than lazer tag, pizza, bowling, and just about anything else you can name. I really appreciate everything, and I wanted to thank-you. Sincerly, Rylie.
"When I look at the stars I think big of starships and warp-drives, places far away. Of Alpha and Delta, Beta and Gamma. I think of Romulans, Klingons and honor, Orion Pirates and Borg, The Federation and Starfleet. I think of war and peace,danger and death, cheers and silence,lies and threats. Of bombs and mines, explosions and radiation, chaos and racing against time. I think of Shadows, the best time of my life. I think of Guardians, the hardest decision of all. I think of the future as well as the past. But most of all I think of a dream, a spark of imagination... A reality. Dedicated to the space center and it's wonderful staff.
My friends and I recently did the mission "Intolerance" on the Voyager. I just wanted to thank you for such an amazing experience! I had so much fun. I was so inspired by the mission, in fact, that I'm now collaborating with a friend to write a story based on it! (Incidentally, how do you spell the names of the races? We say Pennae and Pennau, but we could be wrong. Anyway, thanks so much and keep up the good work! I love the Space Center and hope to come back soon for my 19th mission. Sincerely, Ashley
Jennifer wrote: " It is really realistic. It makes you think about situations and how to solve them. "
Written on a Camp Survey Form: “I like having jobs that really matter if you do them or not. I like the computers”
A Camper Comment after an Overnight Camp: "It is the best because you’re the actors and you make the story unfold.”
Sam Wrote, “It really makes you focus and think. It also takes each person out of their own minds and teaches them to work together.”
Alex Wrote in an Email: "By the way, you have amazing simulators. When I was captain, it amazed me how somthing so fake could be so real in these cool simulators. Thanks for sharring them with me."