Contact Victor Williamson with your questions about simulator based experiential education programs for your school.
SpaceCampUtah@gmail.com

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Natalie Anderson Publishes her First Book. CMSC Employee Wins State Competition. From the Archives: Honor's Night March 2011. Imaginarium Theater.

Celebrating The People in the Space EdVenturing Community.  Natalie Anderson (CMSC)


The Space Center (CMSC) has some amazingly talented staff, one of them is Natalie Anderson. You may have had her as your Odyssey flight director and experienced the imaginative talent and acting range she possess. Today we rejoice with Natalie Anderson (published as Natalie Brianne) as her book is published and available to the public. Congratulations on reaching this point after years of hard work Natalie.

Celebrating The People in the Space EdVenturing Community.  Nathan Ford (CMSC)


Celebrating success carries on as we congratulate the CMSC's newest employee, Nathan Ford and his teammates (Pictured: Matthew, Jayden, Nathan, Elijah) for taking 1st place at the TSA (Technology Student Association) high school state competition in the animatronics and coding categories representing Westlake High School.
     For animatronics, the team spent hundreds of hours making a robotic river otter exhibit for a Natural History Museum. It has moving targets and you "shoot" the trash to clean up the river. For coding, they were the only team to successfully complete all of the challenges in the allotted time--as sophomores! They get to represent the state of Utah at the National TSA competition in Washington D.C. this summer. 
    The river otter project will be on display at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center for more people to see their impressive work. You can see some of Nathan's talents already in the CMSC's simulators as he has been helping to imagineer new engineering panels.

From the Archives: Ten Years Ago This Month

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2011

Space Center Honors.

Hello Troops,
We've had a few recognitions recently that I'd like to post so everyone can celebrate the good things that happen here at the Space Center.

     This is Mr. Daymont. He likes soda. He likes soda so much that one is never enough. In this picture you see him reaching for my soda.
     "Want!" he said with hand outstretched.
     "No. One is enough," I answered as I snapped the picture. What followed wasn't pretty. He doesn't take kindly to "No". Especially if it involves a sugary snack.
     If you see Mark on your next visit to the Center, be sure to stop and thank him for his hard work on your behalf. One work of advice, be sure to hide all sweets before approaching. He has a keen sense of smell and can sniff out a carbohydrate from ten feet.

     
     This is a picture of Natalie, Christine and Mark. Christine is giving us the thumbs up. She and Natalie just finished cleaning Mark's face. Someone stupidly gave him a handful of M and M's for an especially enthusiastic clap when the staff took the Magellan Bridge as Orion Pirates. Luckily he didn't mess up his Space Center shirt.


     We're celebrating the February birthdays in this picture. We celebrate staff birthdays at the end of every month. The reasoning is sound. Mrs. Houston only has to bake one cake.  We also save money on candles. Then there's the singing of "Happy Birthday to You". If you've ever heard the staff sing then you'd be grateful we only sing once a month. Anything more than that could result in a visit from the PG police department. Then there is the problem of birds dropping dead from the sky around the school. Our singing is a real nasty business.

     
     This is Mrs. Houston, a Space Center educator. She looks a bit disheveled because of the singing moments earlier. I'm still gritting my teeth. Not to worry, my jaw relaxes before I'm needed to run the next mission.


     And now the recognitions. Miranda was awarded her Year of Service Pin. She's still shivering form the singing fifteen minutes earlier (and I'm still gritting my teeth).


     Miranda is receiving her Odyssey Pin from Emily. Great job Miranda. Emily on the other hand, received a warning for wearing long johns under her Space Center shirt. She complains about the cold, but is that any excuse for punishing us with protruding long johns?


     This is Bro. Alex congratulating Jordan on receiving his Phoenix Pin. Jordan is actually taller than Bro. Alex, but because of Bro. Alex's temperament, Jordan stoops down to keep his head lower than Bro. Alex's.
     You're asking about Bro. Alex's smile? Alex is preparing for missionary service. We've been working with him on his people skills. That smile is the result of three months work. Do you like it?


     This is Jace. Jace was awarded his Voyager Pin on this particular camp. Jace has been working on his Voyager pass since the 5th grade. It was a joy to finally get to give him is pin, especially considering he's an 8th grader now at PG Junior (my jaw is beginning to relax).
     Thanks to our Awesome Staff and Volunteers. 

Mr. W.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011

Wednesday's Thoughts

Hello Troops,
     All is well on the front lines at the Space Education Center. Our forces engaged the Ignoraemii in heavy combat today. We reclaimed the innocent from enslavement using heavy doses of imagination and electrical jolts to restart cognitive thought processes. Yes, It's what we do.
     The battle is still being fought as I type. Jon leads the Voyager's forces. Alex is sounding the trumpet in the Phoenix while Ben urges his Galileo troops over the top to engage the enemy with bayonets drawn. It is a wonder to behold.
     I had the District Metal Shop build a new addition to the Captain's Loft. It was installed on Tuesday. In the following two pictures Jace demonstrates the correct exit from the Captain's Lounge using the new ladder.
     You'll see the new carpeted platform at the exit (or entrance). This gives Jace room to turn around and descend the ladder if he's coming out of the Loft. Once again, done with the safety of our staff and crew in mind.



Alex started the work of installing a couple new cameras in the Galileo this afternoon. The one camera currently in the simulator doesn't cut it.


     We had fun hosting students from Foothill Elementary in Orem and the John Hancock Charter School in Pleasant Grove on Tuesday. Both teams worked well through their respective missions. John Hancock's Captain was very good and Foothill's Ambassador was outstanding.
     Foothill had a few students with unusual names never heard before at the Space Center.
Gomer (Yes, like Gomer Pyle from the 1960's TV show)
Egbert and
Pahoran
     It was refreshing to see those unique names. I think its time to bring back other odd and unusual names that went out of style long ago (or perhaps never were in style). I'd like to see more Georges (we had one last week. First in a long while). I'm also thinking of Fred, Wilma, Betty, Elmer, Hank, Mildred, Luella, Minerva, Abigail, etc.

Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater
The Best Videos From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

No comments: