 |
| Stacy, Metta, and Richard close down the Magellan after a private mission. |
July 1, 2001
By Landon Hemsley
Landon comments on the new system I instituted for organizing campers. I assigned teams of campers to Supervisors and gave them team names (an idea taken from Astrocamp). The Supervisors rotated with their teams throughout the entire camp. The staff scored the teams after every rotation. The camp's Top Team was awarded at the end of the camp.
WARNING! If you do not care for my views on 48:1, then DELETE NOW! WARNING!
Well, I read vic's post and I have a few things to say.
1st: I think that the camper buddies are a really good Idea. extra votes for team leaders. I can get to know a group of 13 really well and become their friends, which of course earns votes. Happy happy day.....
Vicki Williamson? Wow! What a coincidence!
My group (Endeavor) was totally awesome. We got the HIGHEST score. I was so supremely proud of my team. We did well overall in every area. In fact we tied the highest voyager score that camp, until Columbia came in and creamed us by 9 points.... grrrr.... must control rage... At the end of the camp they ended up with the highest scores and the best overall point average. THAT'S MY TEAM!
Day 2 was pretty uneventful for me. We got in, we flew the Falcon and Voyager. (I did so much better than I have before..) And got out. We went to the pool. I was kicking myself because I forgot my swimming gear at home on my bed. It was waiting for me when I got back. So then we got back to the center. Video night.......... need i say more. I got to chaperone because Stephen Porter was off with some buddies that night. I had to sleep off in the trailers. James Porter got the side of the trailer that didn't smell too bad.... Young male children stink pretty bad in the morning after 5 days of camp..... Stephen thanked me with bagels though. Thanks steve.
Saturday=New missions. This was my first time doing IIfx for Shadows and doing the odyssey mission. Vic was a little bit "focused" in the control room and got after me a few times, but all was well. I was then assimilated by the borg that afternoon in the odyssey. Rio Downs was the borg and I was the doctor. Whoever thought up that mission was a genius. Not only did we get assimilated, but Being the doctor in the odyssey (one of my least favorite positions) was only for a while. Afterwards I went into the magellan, but had to come back because one of the girls in the odyssey got sick. Either that or she got scared out of her pants. I wouldn't blame her if that is what happened. I took her down to Mark Daymont in the Falcon and she got to see the makings of the mission down there. She looked so sad though.... Anyways, I went into the magellan again and was 2nd Chair while James was the General Koterov guy. Then the rotation ended. We cleaned, etc. etc. etc. and I went home.
THE END.
:Landon:
 |
| Bridger Maxwell (standing red shirt) and Scott Slaugh (Blue Shirt Supervisor) wait in the Magellan control room for the mission to start. |
July 4, 2001
By Gary Gardiner
Gary Gardiner is the Founder of Dream Flight Adventures, a company that installs simulators in schools. This was Gary's first post to the blog.
Hello everyone,
I've been following the discussions in this group for several weeks now, and I feel it's time to finally introduce myself.
My name is Gary Gardiner, and I (along with my friend Mark Bennett) are looking forward to becoming involved with the exciting activities of the Space Center. So far we've observed some Odyssey and Galileo missions which were very well done, and we can't wait to contribute our talents, skills, and energy into making the Space Center even better!
With any luck, we'll probably visit some of the Saturday programming classes to see what we can do, and we definately look forward to meeting most of you other volunteers (we've already met of few of you) in person.
I'm considering trying my hand at writing a progressing sci-fi storyline that I might post chapter by chapter as it's written. We'll see how that develops. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with something entertaining enough for someone other than me to read it. I'm open to ideas, for feel free to drop me a line.
So until next time, as Red Green would say, keep your stick on the ice.
(P.S. Maybe I should watch Pearl Harbor one of these days so I can jump on the bandwagon and post my own review...)
... nah!
 |
| Oh those long long summer camps. The staff were always exhausted. This is Amber Phillips catching up on much needed R and R. |
July 11, 2001
By Victor Williamson
A report on upgrades to the simulators. My description of three methods of educating children: EdVentures of the First, Second, and Third Kind. We are practitioners of the Third Kind.
Hello Troops,
I've just returned from the Space Center. I'm happy to report that Mr. Daymont has done a wonderful job managing the facility in my absence. Instead of days of work to make up for my absence I had very little to do indeed. I want to thank Mr. Daymont for the extra work and time he put in so I could take a little vacation.
While working I was invited into the Magellan to look at the recent improvements. The Magellan's black pipes have been painted. The sliding doors painted gray along with the hatch into the control room. The Discovery's black trimming around the illuminated pictures and TV monitors was also repainted black giving the room that real touch of class that makes our facility world class.
I sat at my desk and worked on the July schedule a bit and listened to Aaron Yeager's new mission in the background. His Klingon character was boasting of his recent kills and toasting them with blood wine. His crew was enjoying the experience very much. I sat back in my chair and felt real satisfaction with what we have all accomplished. You know,
you really only appreciate what you have when you go out and see what there is out there. Traveling as much as I have, including this recent trip to New York, opens your eyes to see what a truly marvelous experience we offer people. An example:
One day I had a few extra hours so we took the subway to the Hudson River and found the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier which had been turned into a sea and space museum. Along with the Intrepid was a battle ship from the Vietnam War and a submarine. It was all very interesting but I noticed the most popular exhibit was the jet simulators. For 5
dollars you could sit in this simulator and let it throw you about for 5 minutes. You never actually got to steer the thing. There was no thinking involved. We offer people 2.5 hours for $10.00 and they actually have to think. I stood around and watched the students as
they wondered around the exhibits. Let me first say that the exhibits were exceptional. You could tell a great deal of time was taken in preparing them for the public but I noticed that most kids just walked by them. There were a few they would stop and glance at - especially
if they involved hands on stuff but would they stop to read anything - no. Would then stop long enough to do the task correctly - no. Were their any guides to help or explain - no. Was learning taking place? Yes, they were being exposed to things they would never experience on their own but would the learning last? I doubt it. I call this type of learning - EdVentures of the First Kind.
EdVentures of the Second Kind involve interaction with teachers ie. Lecture and demonstration mode. This type of learning is used more than any other in schools and universities and it has its place in the educational community. It is the fastest way to impart knowledge but retention is the downside. You also better be a pretty good showman to
keep attention.
The approach we use at the Center is a little of the Second Kind and quite a bit of "involved learning" ( learning of the Third Kind). We get involved with the students and give them things to think about and then watch them closely to see if the learning is taking place. If we
see a problem we can immediately correct the problem and reteach. No one ever visits the Center and left to their own devices. We take them by the brain and guide them. This is the type of teaching that pairs a student with a teacher. All of us that work at the Center are either involved in the actually teaching process or are support personnel that work hard to make sure that nothing hinders or interferes with the learning and thinking environment we foster.
We have world class facility with an excellent instructional staff and flight directors. We have dedicated, supportive volunteers and patrons all interested in success. Our product is unique in the world! I'm happy to be back and ready to get back to doing what we do best -
EdVentures of the Third Kind.
I've just returned from the Space Center. I'm happy to report that Mr. Daymont has done a wonderful job managing the facility in my absence. Instead of days of work to make up for my absence I had very little to do indeed. I want to thank Mr. Daymont for the extra work and time he put in so I could take a little vacation.
While working I was invited into the Magellan to look at the recent improvements. The Magellan's black pipes have been painted. The sliding doors painted gray along with the hatch into the control room. The Discovery's black trimming around the illuminated pictures and TV monitors was also repainted black giving the room that real touch of class that makes our facility world class.
I sat at my desk and worked on the July schedule a bit and listened to Aaron Yeager's new mission in the background. His Klingon character was boasting of his recent kills and toasting them with blood wine. His crew was enjoying the experience very much. I sat back in my chair and felt real satisfaction with what we have all accomplished. You know,
you really only appreciate what you have when you go out and see what there is out there. Traveling as much as I have, including this recent trip to New York, opens your eyes to see what a truly marvelous experience we offer people. An example:
One day I had a few extra hours so we took the subway to the Hudson River and found the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier which had been turned into a sea and space museum. Along with the Intrepid was a battle ship from the Vietnam War and a submarine. It was all very interesting but I noticed the most popular exhibit was the jet simulators. For 5
dollars you could sit in this simulator and let it throw you about for 5 minutes. You never actually got to steer the thing. There was no thinking involved. We offer people 2.5 hours for $10.00 and they actually have to think. I stood around and watched the students as
they wondered around the exhibits. Let me first say that the exhibits were exceptional. You could tell a great deal of time was taken in preparing them for the public but I noticed that most kids just walked by them. There were a few they would stop and glance at - especially
if they involved hands on stuff but would they stop to read anything - no. Would then stop long enough to do the task correctly - no. Were their any guides to help or explain - no. Was learning taking place? Yes, they were being exposed to things they would never experience on their own but would the learning last? I doubt it. I call this type of learning - EdVentures of the First Kind.
EdVentures of the Second Kind involve interaction with teachers ie. Lecture and demonstration mode. This type of learning is used more than any other in schools and universities and it has its place in the educational community. It is the fastest way to impart knowledge but retention is the downside. You also better be a pretty good showman to
keep attention.
The approach we use at the Center is a little of the Second Kind and quite a bit of "involved learning" ( learning of the Third Kind). We get involved with the students and give them things to think about and then watch them closely to see if the learning is taking place. If we
see a problem we can immediately correct the problem and reteach. No one ever visits the Center and left to their own devices. We take them by the brain and guide them. This is the type of teaching that pairs a student with a teacher. All of us that work at the Center are either involved in the actually teaching process or are support personnel that work hard to make sure that nothing hinders or interferes with the learning and thinking environment we foster.
We have world class facility with an excellent instructional staff and flight directors. We have dedicated, supportive volunteers and patrons all interested in success. Our product is unique in the world! I'm happy to be back and ready to get back to doing what we do best -
EdVentures of the Third Kind.
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| Taking down the cots in the Discovery Room after one of the overnight camps. Taylor Herring, ?, Bradyn Bodily, Bridger Maxwell |
July 15, 2001
By Victor Williamson
A Report on Preparations for a 48 Hour Camp and a Report on the Camp. These were the days we took 63 kids on the extended overnight missions. Shadows was very successful.
Wednesday: A busy day as we all prepared for the second 48 hour camp. I did some shopping for the Center.
Thursday:
Josh Webb came in a few hours early to do the cleaning. It is a lot of work trying to keep
ahead of the construction workers. Josh is doing an excellent job. He was in for a little surprise when he went into the cafeteria washroom to find the mop and bucket. The last person to use it a week previously forgot to empty the water. That was only the half of it. They also left the mob in the bucket! Needless to say but the cafeteria had a green rancid cloud that would give the cloud of death from the Ten Commandments movie a run for the money. Josh recommended we call the EPA and have a team of professional toxic waste cleanup crew come in and handle it but no need. I was there. A few hazardous odors can't take me down (although I don't have any nose hairs left).
The camp began smoothly. In fact, it was the smoothest opening we've had in a long time. No major hassles with the computers or anything (at least that's what I thought until it was time to separate the campers into their teams). After their gross supper (we think it was turkey and potatoes but until the tests come back from the lab we can't be sure). At 6:00 P.M. we gathered in the gym. I began assigning teams. I was down to my last 4 campers. I asked the Team Captains (Matt Long, Randy Jepperson, Landon Hemsley, Bryce Redd, and Jason Hills) how many more camper their teams could accommodate. Landon was the only
one standing. He was showing me 3 fingers. I glanced at the stage and saw 4 campers. That's when Mr. Williamson's blood runs cold. We counted and recounted. We did roll call after roll call. We found the extra camper. I took him into the briefing room and checked his camp papers. They were legit. Somehow I neglected to write him down when he registered. That is when I turned toward the whiteboard in the briefing room and mutter comments known only to me and the board. (In fact, one of the older staff once was caught with his ear up to the whiteboard. When I asked him what he was doing he replied that my utterances
from 10 years of camps are still resonating in the fabric of the board).
I put the extra in my first team and began going through all the possibilities of reorganizing the teams to accommodate a team of 14. I briefed my team. During training one of the boys came up to me almost in tears clutching his stomach. I can read that all too well. A younger boy away from home and mother for the first time - too embarrassed to say it was home sickness so the story is always upset stomach and powerful headache. Usually I try to
get them to stay but not this time. I saw a perfect opportunity! I encouraged him to call home. After all - he could get much sicker. His mom came right out. She asked him if he wanted to go home. He nodded his head and gave her the sickest eyes he could muster. I assured her that she would get a full refund even though the camp had started. "We really want to work with our customers," I told her. The boy left and I felt another bullet dodge my head.
I got my usual 5 hours of sleep. Day 2 was normal. I did have several girls screaming to get out of the Voyager during my story. The Shadow was just too scary for them. I made them stay but sent a staff member out to try to calm them. One of them gave me an F for a rotation score and the other a C. I guess the moral of the story is let them do what they want.
There were no other incidences to report during this camp. I want to mention that we had an excellent crew working the camp. I want all those that helped us this week to know I saw the work you did and appreciate the time and effort. I want to say a special thank you to Dustin Robinson for cleaning the entire cafeteria himself after our last breakfast. He did one of the best jobs I've ever seen. He did it on his own - no complaints. Thank you Dustin.
Friday:
Swimming night! I get an hour when we get back to try to catch up on my work. I need to shout a really big "Thank You!" to Dave Wall and Bill Schuler for helping me out Friday evening.
Saturday:
The camp ended and we reviewed the polling results. Almost 100% of the campers commented on the gross food and that it needed to be changed. I have to agree even though I don't like to speak badly of our cooking staff. I don't know if it's them or the
menu they are given. Maybe it is the quality of the Government surplus food we are given. I'm going to see if something can be done.
Several of the flight directors meet after the camp and discussed the need for us to trim down the violence and use of weapons in our stories. New directives will be issued once we all have had a chance to consider our options.
The next three weeks will be really busy for all of us. We have 2 more 48 hour camps, a Day Camp, an overnighter, a Naval Academy, and a 4 day EdVenture Camp. Let's all just do our best to have fun and enjoy the campers and each other.
I'll see many of you this week. For those of you I won't see Have a really good week.
Mr. Williamson
Thursday:
Josh Webb came in a few hours early to do the cleaning. It is a lot of work trying to keep
ahead of the construction workers. Josh is doing an excellent job. He was in for a little surprise when he went into the cafeteria washroom to find the mop and bucket. The last person to use it a week previously forgot to empty the water. That was only the half of it. They also left the mob in the bucket! Needless to say but the cafeteria had a green rancid cloud that would give the cloud of death from the Ten Commandments movie a run for the money. Josh recommended we call the EPA and have a team of professional toxic waste cleanup crew come in and handle it but no need. I was there. A few hazardous odors can't take me down (although I don't have any nose hairs left).
The camp began smoothly. In fact, it was the smoothest opening we've had in a long time. No major hassles with the computers or anything (at least that's what I thought until it was time to separate the campers into their teams). After their gross supper (we think it was turkey and potatoes but until the tests come back from the lab we can't be sure). At 6:00 P.M. we gathered in the gym. I began assigning teams. I was down to my last 4 campers. I asked the Team Captains (Matt Long, Randy Jepperson, Landon Hemsley, Bryce Redd, and Jason Hills) how many more camper their teams could accommodate. Landon was the only
one standing. He was showing me 3 fingers. I glanced at the stage and saw 4 campers. That's when Mr. Williamson's blood runs cold. We counted and recounted. We did roll call after roll call. We found the extra camper. I took him into the briefing room and checked his camp papers. They were legit. Somehow I neglected to write him down when he registered. That is when I turned toward the whiteboard in the briefing room and mutter comments known only to me and the board. (In fact, one of the older staff once was caught with his ear up to the whiteboard. When I asked him what he was doing he replied that my utterances
from 10 years of camps are still resonating in the fabric of the board).
I put the extra in my first team and began going through all the possibilities of reorganizing the teams to accommodate a team of 14. I briefed my team. During training one of the boys came up to me almost in tears clutching his stomach. I can read that all too well. A younger boy away from home and mother for the first time - too embarrassed to say it was home sickness so the story is always upset stomach and powerful headache. Usually I try to
get them to stay but not this time. I saw a perfect opportunity! I encouraged him to call home. After all - he could get much sicker. His mom came right out. She asked him if he wanted to go home. He nodded his head and gave her the sickest eyes he could muster. I assured her that she would get a full refund even though the camp had started. "We really want to work with our customers," I told her. The boy left and I felt another bullet dodge my head.
I got my usual 5 hours of sleep. Day 2 was normal. I did have several girls screaming to get out of the Voyager during my story. The Shadow was just too scary for them. I made them stay but sent a staff member out to try to calm them. One of them gave me an F for a rotation score and the other a C. I guess the moral of the story is let them do what they want.
There were no other incidences to report during this camp. I want to mention that we had an excellent crew working the camp. I want all those that helped us this week to know I saw the work you did and appreciate the time and effort. I want to say a special thank you to Dustin Robinson for cleaning the entire cafeteria himself after our last breakfast. He did one of the best jobs I've ever seen. He did it on his own - no complaints. Thank you Dustin.
Friday:
Swimming night! I get an hour when we get back to try to catch up on my work. I need to shout a really big "Thank You!" to Dave Wall and Bill Schuler for helping me out Friday evening.
Saturday:
The camp ended and we reviewed the polling results. Almost 100% of the campers commented on the gross food and that it needed to be changed. I have to agree even though I don't like to speak badly of our cooking staff. I don't know if it's them or the
menu they are given. Maybe it is the quality of the Government surplus food we are given. I'm going to see if something can be done.
Several of the flight directors meet after the camp and discussed the need for us to trim down the violence and use of weapons in our stories. New directives will be issued once we all have had a chance to consider our options.
The next three weeks will be really busy for all of us. We have 2 more 48 hour camps, a Day Camp, an overnighter, a Naval Academy, and a 4 day EdVenture Camp. Let's all just do our best to have fun and enjoy the campers and each other.
I'll see many of you this week. For those of you I won't see Have a really good week.
Mr. Williamson
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| Scott Slaugh Programmer and Blue Shirt |
July 18, 2001
Andy Hoyt and Kevin Anderson are Promoted.
Congratulations to Andy Hoyt and Kevin Anderson. They have been promoted to the Voyager Society. Both of them are excellent workers and the highest ranking officers in the Pioneers. A few new Pioneers will be created from the Waiting Pool.
Again Congratulations to Andy and Kevin.
Again Congratulations to Andy and Kevin.
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| Bridger Maxwell |
July 22, 2001
This post celebrates the first perfect score ever given during a summer camp. Of course it was to the Voyager for the fabulous mission "Grand Poo Pah" Staring Stephen Porter
Hello Troops,
Just out of curiosity I went back in the posts and found this report on last years 48 hour camp number 3: This is what I wrote last year.
Camp 483 was the best of the summer so far in my opinion and I think the rest of the volunteers and staff feel the same way. The groups were smart and fun. They were all well behaved. We even had a few "characters" on the Atlantis team - Wayne Sandholtz, a member of our egroup, and his sidekick Matthew. Both of them are good friends of Soren Seibach. They brought a bag of tricks with them that would make any Starfleet officer green with envy. I must say I thought the busts of Beethoven and Mozart were a bit much!
The students gave the simulators and classes the highest marks as well: The following are the campers scores for the camp. The campers get to grade the classes and simulators on the following grading scale:
A = 1 point
B = 2 points
C = 3 points
D = 4 points
F = 5 points
A 1 is a perfect score. So, the lower the number the better the score.Here are the results:
Voyager: A PERFECT 1.00 THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY ONE OF
OUR SIMULATORS HAS SCORED A PERFECT 1. THAT MEANS THAT 63 KIDS ALL GRADED THE VOYAGER AN A. A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED THE VOYAGER MISSION - A TO STEPHEN PORTER - THE FAMOUS GRAND POOPAH!
Just out of curiosity I went back in the posts and found this report on last years 48 hour camp number 3: This is what I wrote last year.
Camp 483 was the best of the summer so far in my opinion and I think the rest of the volunteers and staff feel the same way. The groups were smart and fun. They were all well behaved. We even had a few "characters" on the Atlantis team - Wayne Sandholtz, a member of our egroup, and his sidekick Matthew. Both of them are good friends of Soren Seibach. They brought a bag of tricks with them that would make any Starfleet officer green with envy. I must say I thought the busts of Beethoven and Mozart were a bit much!
The students gave the simulators and classes the highest marks as well: The following are the campers scores for the camp. The campers get to grade the classes and simulators on the following grading scale:
A = 1 point
B = 2 points
C = 3 points
D = 4 points
F = 5 points
A 1 is a perfect score. So, the lower the number the better the score.Here are the results:
Voyager: A PERFECT 1.00 THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY ONE OF
OUR SIMULATORS HAS SCORED A PERFECT 1. THAT MEANS THAT 63 KIDS ALL GRADED THE VOYAGER AN A. A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED THE VOYAGER MISSION - A TO STEPHEN PORTER - THE FAMOUS GRAND POOPAH!
Odyssey: Scored a 1.32
Galileo: Scored a 1.34
Class and Falcon Tied: Scored a 1.44
Magellan : Scored a 1.55
Galileo: Scored a 1.34
Class and Falcon Tied: Scored a 1.44
Magellan : Scored a 1.55
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| Josh Babb and Bridger Maxwell getting the Discovery Room ready for the day |
Space Center Journal:
July 15-21
The week started with our last Day Camp that ran Monday and Tuesday. It was uneventful.We did have a shortage of Blue Shirts. Brady Young and Charlie Heaton are on a Boy Scout Jamboree along the East Coast and will not be back until the end of Camp Season. Wednesday was the prep day for camp 483. I came in around noon on Wednesday and found the electricians in the Briefing Room covering the equipment and my desk.
Construction had reached us. There was no getting around it. Wednesday's task was to lay the track for the ceiling panels. They were fast. I moved to the cafeteria to do my work. Around 1:00 P.M. I walked in on them to check on progress. The room was moving along. I
noticed a red laser beam spinning around the upper section of the walls. It was the level they were using to lay the track. I thought that was pretty cool.
The week started with our last Day Camp that ran Monday and Tuesday. It was uneventful.We did have a shortage of Blue Shirts. Brady Young and Charlie Heaton are on a Boy Scout Jamboree along the East Coast and will not be back until the end of Camp Season. Wednesday was the prep day for camp 483. I came in around noon on Wednesday and found the electricians in the Briefing Room covering the equipment and my desk.
Construction had reached us. There was no getting around it. Wednesday's task was to lay the track for the ceiling panels. They were fast. I moved to the cafeteria to do my work. Around 1:00 P.M. I walked in on them to check on progress. The room was moving along. I
noticed a red laser beam spinning around the upper section of the walls. It was the level they were using to lay the track. I thought that was pretty cool.
They finished the track before they went home that day. The exposed track made the room look cool. Some commented that the ceiling was taking the appearance of a Borg Cube. Other mourned up upcoming loss of the covered sun window. That sun window was the rooms most asked about feature. The bunks inset in the wall are the second. The room looked like a tornado had swept through when they were finished. It took about 45 minutes to clean.
The 48 hour camp began on Thursday. It was a joint camp with Astrocamp. Josh Webb came in early to do the cleaning. I'm noticing the construction is now impacting us more and more. The work is proceeding right in the areas we move through with the campers. Luckily the campers are good at following directions and have done an excellent job staying away from the debris and equipment.
The Astrocamp bus pulled up at 4:45 P.M. I'm happy we have worked the bugs out of the sign in process. Stephen Porter has done a good job on making the necessary modifications. I've changed the hours again. I noticed as I calculated the camp hours that student get nearly the same class and flight hours per camp but the ranking system requires far fewer hours. That has been corrected. The hours for flight and class now equal. This will keep students from attaining high ranks too quickly.
This camp was used to experiment on a new type of rotation. I worked out a rotation system that allows the Voyager and Magellan to do a rotation that lasts 8 hours 30 minutes. Two of the Five teams have the opportunity to do a prolonged mission. Of course, the downside is that those that choose the Magellan cannot have a Voyager rotation and those that choose the Voyager cannot have a Magellan rotation. This allows us to do more traditional things during a mission - things we used to do years ago in the pre-Odyssey days. I had the Enterprise team for the last 2 rotations. I enjoyed it as well. I was able to do more character development. It also allows for longer briefings and teaching break out sessions.
The Magellan finished its mission. I ran out of time!!! Crazy - I had plenty of time to do the mission I just failed to track the time closely enough. This camp will also go down as the return of fluorescent lights in the briefing room. Nearly 2 years ago the florescent lights were taken out and the spotlights were installed. I never really liked them because you always had them shining in your eyes. Now we have new fluorescent lights and the room has never been so bright. Luckily the lights will be installed with dimmers. They will finish the Briefing
Room in a few days. The crews were so so for this camp in my opinion. Some were decent and more were not. Some struggled but that is normal. The comments made at the end of the mission once again mentioned food as the greatest complaint.
Room in a few days. The crews were so so for this camp in my opinion. Some were decent and more were not. Some struggled but that is normal. The comments made at the end of the mission once again mentioned food as the greatest complaint.
One thing we may remember this camp for are plastic spoons. There were some boys that chewed and sucked on them all through the camp. That was a first for us. We have two more weeks of camp and then it is all over for the season. I think we are looking forward to that. Congratulations to Randy Jepperson who took Lord of the Votes for Camp 483.
July 28, 2001
Hello Troops,
A busy week has come to a close. This is what I will remember about this week:
1. The overnight on Monday went by sooooo fast! It seemed we had just started and it was time to send the kids home. We are all in our 48 hour and Day Camp mode. Anything shorter than 2 full days and we think we haven't worked!
2. My Shadows mission works very well as an overnight mission. It is just the right length. One thing it lacks is the final "Hurray" at the end like the cavalry coming over the hill as in Greenpeace but the solution of the mystery provides a nice change of pace. If all the
campers get is shoot `em up endings then you always find yourself in the situation of trying to outdo yourself from the previous years. The kids get to expect it and then you have painted yourself into a corner (figuratively speaking in the story writing sense).
3. The Falcon got high marks when used as a simulator in the Star Trek universe. That tells you what direction we will go with the Falcon.
4. The Briefing Room's ceiling was put in over several days. This week will be remember as one where I was constantly cleaning and recleaning the room after every squad of workmen came through. Now the room is finished. We have a solid white ceiling. The air conditioner
has been reducted so the cold air points down onto the people below. The room is much lighter now. The downside - you can see all the scuff marks and the filthy carpet. You can see all the paint coming off the walls. The Briefing Room will need a lot of work.
5. I remember we were very busy on Wednesday. I got everything ready for the 48 Hour Camp and cleaned up after workmen. The Odyssey and the Galileo all had private missions.
6. The 48 Hour Camp got off to a great start. The cafeteria wasn't ready for supper so we got all the teams selected and rotations announced before we ate.
7. The teams this camp were very good! I've noticed that we enjoy our own camps somewhat better than the joint Astrocamp camps. The Astrocamp kids come to us tired, and classed out. They arrive and we put them through another 3 days of simulations and classes. They tend to score us down. Just look at the week's polling results compared to last to see the improvement.
8. The Camp ended on Saturday evening. That was it. The last 48 hour camp complete. Good kids for the most part. I enjoyed them. I enjoyed they went to sleep and didn't wake up early.
9. I really enjoyed working with the staff this camp. I had the pleasure of working with many of you in the control room. I was impressed with how well many of you did on your first try at 2FX, Doctor, and Bridge. Mrs. Houston told me that most of the campers in her class commented on how much they enjoyed the Shadows mission and how terrified they were of the "Shadow". Thanks to all of you for doing so well. I'm please with the story and how it has matured and dropped into the "groove". I haven't had an overnight mission stay in tact this long without major changes to save time or repair a plot hole. Many of my missions get revised as I tell them. This has to be changed or that has to be shortened. The Shadows mission is almost exactly the way it was when it was told for the first time. That is a
sign that it is good for the Voyager. It will go down with Greenpeace, Intolerance, Super Nova, and the Grand PooPah as a favorite of the Flight Director.
10. I'm anxious to get this next week started. This is the last week of Summer Camp. Let's make it the best week ever.
Mr. Williamson
A busy week has come to a close. This is what I will remember about this week:
1. The overnight on Monday went by sooooo fast! It seemed we had just started and it was time to send the kids home. We are all in our 48 hour and Day Camp mode. Anything shorter than 2 full days and we think we haven't worked!
2. My Shadows mission works very well as an overnight mission. It is just the right length. One thing it lacks is the final "Hurray" at the end like the cavalry coming over the hill as in Greenpeace but the solution of the mystery provides a nice change of pace. If all the
campers get is shoot `em up endings then you always find yourself in the situation of trying to outdo yourself from the previous years. The kids get to expect it and then you have painted yourself into a corner (figuratively speaking in the story writing sense).
3. The Falcon got high marks when used as a simulator in the Star Trek universe. That tells you what direction we will go with the Falcon.
4. The Briefing Room's ceiling was put in over several days. This week will be remember as one where I was constantly cleaning and recleaning the room after every squad of workmen came through. Now the room is finished. We have a solid white ceiling. The air conditioner
has been reducted so the cold air points down onto the people below. The room is much lighter now. The downside - you can see all the scuff marks and the filthy carpet. You can see all the paint coming off the walls. The Briefing Room will need a lot of work.
5. I remember we were very busy on Wednesday. I got everything ready for the 48 Hour Camp and cleaned up after workmen. The Odyssey and the Galileo all had private missions.
6. The 48 Hour Camp got off to a great start. The cafeteria wasn't ready for supper so we got all the teams selected and rotations announced before we ate.
7. The teams this camp were very good! I've noticed that we enjoy our own camps somewhat better than the joint Astrocamp camps. The Astrocamp kids come to us tired, and classed out. They arrive and we put them through another 3 days of simulations and classes. They tend to score us down. Just look at the week's polling results compared to last to see the improvement.
8. The Camp ended on Saturday evening. That was it. The last 48 hour camp complete. Good kids for the most part. I enjoyed them. I enjoyed they went to sleep and didn't wake up early.
9. I really enjoyed working with the staff this camp. I had the pleasure of working with many of you in the control room. I was impressed with how well many of you did on your first try at 2FX, Doctor, and Bridge. Mrs. Houston told me that most of the campers in her class commented on how much they enjoyed the Shadows mission and how terrified they were of the "Shadow". Thanks to all of you for doing so well. I'm please with the story and how it has matured and dropped into the "groove". I haven't had an overnight mission stay in tact this long without major changes to save time or repair a plot hole. Many of my missions get revised as I tell them. This has to be changed or that has to be shortened. The Shadows mission is almost exactly the way it was when it was told for the first time. That is a
sign that it is good for the Voyager. It will go down with Greenpeace, Intolerance, Super Nova, and the Grand PooPah as a favorite of the Flight Director.
10. I'm anxious to get this next week started. This is the last week of Summer Camp. Let's make it the best week ever.
Mr. Williamson
The Imaginarium
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