A Thank You from a Long Time Space Center Fan and Volunteer

My name is Noah and I don't know if this is still Mr. Williamson's email or if you remember me but if it is I would just like to thank you for everything that you have done. I have been thinking of the Space Center a lot recently and all the memories I had there and it has helped me throughout my life so much. I wrote just some short thoughts I had and just wanted to tell you how much the Space Center has meant to me.

There was an absolute joy that came over me every time I stepped through the doors of Central Elementary to leave Earth and launch into space. The stories at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center were engaging, the volunteers were welcoming, and the ships inspiring. The first mission I ever went on was in fifth grade when I was left damage control on the original Voyager. The experience I had was completely unforgettable. There was a magic in the air as the music blared and the lights shined. The job gave me something to do that made me feel important and included me as an integral part of the crew. It is still one of my most cherished memories and spawned many years of missions through the final frontier. I began to go to the Space Center anytime that I could. I tried my best to fill my summers with overnighters and birthdays with outer space parties. When I was old enough I started volunteering and enjoyed being behind the scenes telling stories and seeing the smiling faces of the crew because I always remembered the happiness I had when I was in their shoes. When the Christa McAuliffe Space Center was shut down I was devastated and wanted to do everything in my power to bring it back. I did a small part and luckily there were many people who kept the dream alive and have pushed the program to great heights. As life began to get busier my time at the Space Center shrank to a minimum but the feeling that I got every time I went has always stayed with me. I will never forget the late night battles and the early morning doughnuts. I am so grateful to the magic that the Space Center brought into my life and I hope that every kid can experience that same joy that I felt every second that I was flying through space and time.

Thanks,
Noah

Dream Flight Adventures Hosts its Inaugural Flight Director Community of Practice Conference

On May 18th some of the top movers and shakers Pennsylvania’s educational circles came together for the inaugural Dream Flight Adventures Community of Practice Conference. Teachers, flight directors, and administrators representing districts from all across the region convened at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s TransformED room to discuss how they use full immersion simulators to educate and enrich their students.

Discussion topics included approaches for getting other teachers involved with the simulators, unorthodox simulator uses, tips for integrating simulators into broader curricula, and everything in between.

Flight Directors and Administrators Pose for the camera. Left to right: Matt Bilinsky (Admiral Conundrum, Penn Hills), Jeff DerVanik (Admiral Osbourne Smith, Penn Hills), Mike Penn (Fleet Admiral Rigorious, Shaler Area), Mike Kaleta (Admiral Cuddly-Wumpkins, Baldwin-Whitehall… and thus he shall be named until he gives me his bio), and Scott Ross (Baldwin-Whitehall).

Not pictured, but no less key are Heather Oros (Admiral Perseverous, Shaler Area flight director and all around superhero, pictured below) and Dr. Matt Conner (Burrell School District), who sneakily disappeared before photographic evidence was snapped.

Apologies for the blurriness. Scott Ross was simply too excited from the literal deluge of useful information to hold his hands still when taking the picture.

This meeting of the minds is the first of many, and only time will tell what fantastic adventures these creative wizards will concoct for their students.

Admiral Starblayze

The Imaginarium