The Space Centers Bring Their 2018 Summer Camp Seasons to a Close. A Darkness Lies Along the Horizon..... school...... Imaginarium Theater.

The staff and volunteers working the last Extended Camp of the 2018 Summer Season at the
Christa McAuliffe Space Center. What a fine group of young men and women

The Summer Camp Season of 2018 Closes this Week.  Please Be Quiet as the Fat Lady Takes the Stage to Sing

     Monday will be the final summer camp of the season for the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.  The Telos Discovery Space Center and the Farpoint Space Education Center finished their last summer camps at the end of July. 
     Don't panic if you missed signing up this summer.  Most of the space centers in Utah County have one day camps throughout the school year.  Mr. Porter from the CMSC wrote about the end of the summer season in the Center's Facebook page: 

     This summer we will have flown 492 happy campers, plus another 288 registrations for the free STEM camps we hosted with Stanford & MIT.     Recognition is due to our amazing staff who created amazing new stories, and to the many volunteers who helped fill those stories with memorable characters. They've been going almost non-stop since the end of May. Not forgetting the many long days where a camp ended and a birthday party followed right after with our evening flights. If you are fortunate enough to see one of our talented souls wandering in the bright light of day next week, please help guide them to a quiet corner with a good book so they can recharge their creativity and imaginations. 

      The Troubadour has always covered the end of camp season, and as tradition, I stopped by to visit the Center for their last Extended Camp. 

Audrey, Scott, a Nameless Camper, Orion, and Jon enjoying lunch leftovers.
They like to wait until most of the campers are outside so they can eat in peace.

      I timed my appearance perfectly - lunch time.  I know when free food is for the taking.  I caught the Blue Shirts enjoying the leftovers with a camper who preferred intelligent conversation over the rattle that usually flows around the camper's tables at mealtime.  
     "Wow, Space Center Gruel," was my pronouncement after a careful examination of the paper plates. "The workhouse has been generous with you today."  
     Mr. Porter, standing by the serving line, was not going to let my attempt at humor slip by without comment.  "Gruel, this is the good stuff brought in from (he gave me the name of the restaurant but I forgot). Only the best for the staff and campers.  Don't pass judgement until you come and try some."
     I did it!  I finagled an invitation to join them for lunch. "Don't mind if I do," I replied acting like my arm had been twisted.  I'll admit I had to eat my words.  It wasn't Space Center Gruel after all. It was delicious - a Michelin Star worthy casserole very similar to the funeral potatoes eaten in many of Utah's simpler kitchens.  
       

The campers lined up in the gym behind their flight directors for their afternoon rotation.

     The last flight rotation started like all the others from the last twenty plus years.  The campers gathered in the gym. Mr. Porter did his afternoon stand up routine to lighten the mood and get them hyped up for upcoming missions.  The flight directors filed in, took their places, and waiting for the dispersal.   

Lindsey has her (Galileo) crew and is ready for action.

Tabitha shares a light moment with her new Odyssey captain.

Jordan waits on one more to reach the Phoenix's six.

Mr. Porter has his Magellan crew ship shape and at attention.
Admiral Schuler would be proud.

   

     It's mission briefing time.  the Magellan staff gather on the bridge to go over the mission's plot for the newer volunteers.  Event Horizon was the mission that afternoon.

     While the staff brief the volunteers on the ship's bridge, Mr. Porter briefs the crew in the Discovery Room.

Odyssey Set Director Tabitha briefs her crew in the school's conference room.

 Imaginarium Theater
The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience