Honor's Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center: The Clans Gathered. Many Honors Were Given. No Tears Shed But Smiles Were Plenty. Imaginarium Theater

     And just like that, the summer was gone.  The starships at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center did their duty ferrying hundreds of 10 to 15 year olds on adventures from one sphere of space time to another, across the vast galactic realms, facing nearly impossible adversaries brought to life in living color by the talented staff and volunteers.

     Tradition calls for the gathering of tribes to celebrate the season's achievements. And so the call went forth calling all chieftains and clans to the gathering place to honor those who found glory in story and to say farewell to others who heard the siren's call and set sail into the ocean of possibilities. 

Shall we begin?

Honors Night: The Clans Gather            

   The call to assemble came shortly after 7:00 P.M. by Chieftain Porter.  Most clansman sat with their kin. The log nearest the fire was by tradition held for the elders, namely myself and Jade of the MacHansens.  

    The first item for discussion was general cleanliness.  "Aye, let there be a clean campsite for a nod’s as guid as a wink tae a blind horse," Chieftain Porter emphasized.  Most were quick to understand the remarks were steered toward the barbarians of Icewind Dale who are not remembered for knowing that place for everything.  

     Speaking of the Barbarians of Icewind Dale, the next topic for the gathering was personal cleanliness.  

     "Are ye saying we foul the wind?" said the Icewind Chief, who, may it be said, sat mysteriously alone. "Yer bum's oot the wind with that remark!"  

     Chieftain Porter thought a moment before replying, "Look abut ye man - a lesson is ta be learned."  

     Clan growth was highlighted. Volunteer numbers hit the century mark and those on staff are at 33.  

     The camps for the wee bairns was pure dead brilliant!  Soon the bairns will be properly trained to deal with the English.  

    Matthew of the northern MacRicks and his braw engineers were celebrated.  They made a gadget for the Galileo which supposedly can turn water into wine. It is also good at re-inverting the bionic electro-ceramic bio-containers, and detecting anomolous power signatures in the tantulum containment core booster.  

Galileo Honors

     Brylee of the Bally MacPerrys awarded Kayla and Aiden their Galileo pass pins.  

Phoenix Honors

     Silver of the Strathclyde MacPerrys was quick to shake the hands of Jackson, Michael, and Brylee on the occasion of their receiving the Phoenix pass pin.  

Odyssey Honors

    Mitch, the new Odyssey chief, brought Kayla back to the floor for the presenting of the Odyssey pass pin.  

Magellan Honors

     Tyler, the new Magellan chief, presented his picks for the Magellan pass pins: Aiden, Noah, Michael, and Amberly.  

Aiden, Jackson, Kayla, Micah, Michael, and Rachel. Jon at the front

Missing is Emily W.

Cassini Honors

     Jon, of the Highland MacParkers, was rumored to be lookin a bit peely-wally in the head for delivering so many to the floor for their Cassini pass pins.  

     "Ma hied's mince," said one wee bairn behind me, "How's this possible."  

     "Keep yer head," I answered back.  "Each one is well deserved. That Jon knows how to steer a cart across a balley tempest."  And with that said, the matter was dropped.

Apprentice (100 volunteer hours)

          Called to the floor to receive their Apprentice patches were Addison P., Alex R., Amberly P., Grace M., Micah C., Mo' W.,  Nathaniel G., Porter C., Rachel J., and Sterling D. 

5 Years of Service Award 

     Micah C., and Jeff G., both were awarded their 5 year recognition at the gathering.  Jeff wasn't in attendance. Micah of the Shetland MacCleggs was and took the hand of Chieftain Porter in gratitude.  Micah was asked to make a wee speech.  He did and did himself proud.  There were no slurrings and no cussing which all know is common among the MacCleggs. 

The Starfighters (2 years volunteering)

     A Starfighter, what every wee bairn wants to be when they grow up.  Ten reached that level in volunteer service over the last several months and were honored at the gathering. 

The Hitchhikers 

     While not a flattering name, it is an honor nevertheless. These four have gone above and beyond in volunteer service and hours and reach Hitchhiker status.  As Chieftain Porter said, "The Space Center would be nothing without the volunteers."  The gathering thanked them for their service.   

 

Defender of the Universe

     What a thing to put on Jackson's cv, "Defender of the Universe".  What future university or employer could let his resume pass without notice?  

     "So Jackson, I see that you are a Defender of the Universe.  Please explain."  

     To which Jackson will reply, "Do you have an hour and a surviving sense of wonder?"

     Congratulations Jackson on your achievement!  And let it be said that the volunteer hours spent to receive this award do not include the many many many many many hours he spent on trains and busses to get to the Space Center.  What a kid!

Time Lord

     The gathering of the clans sat in reverent silence for JJ as his tribute played across the planetarium screen.  He started as a wee bairn ten years ago just barely able to lift a battle axe and now commands starships.  

     I've had the pleasure to work alongside JJ in the Cassini. His imagination and drive to innovate and improve the work we do at the Space Center is impressive and exhausting. Right now we're teaching him this simple phrase: "Let's think this through."  :)

     JJ, you keep thinking outside the box:  "Innovate, Improve, or get out the way" is his slogan of the day.  Congratulations JJ. 

Mentor

     Aiden received his Supervisor Blues at Honor's Night as a Mentor. 

New Trainees

     Addison and Micah are both inducted into the Trainees, meaning they've impressed the Center's Set Directors with their talent to the point where they will be taken under someone's wing and trained in the Ways of the Warrior.  

     And if you're wondering, Micah did his best to steal all the thunder at the gathering.  

New Set Directors

     There were two new set directors named at Honor's Night. Their appointment deserves a separate post so look for that next week.  

Summer's Lord of the Votes

Jackson, Amberly, and Michael

     What grand titles for the summer's Lord of the Votes winners.  Here they are, the best of the best at smoozing up to the campers with things like, "Hey lookin good, are you loosing weight?" and "Hey, between you and me, we all think you're the best on the crew.  Keep that between us - ok."  

     In reality, they got top votes for being good at what they do, tending to the campers and playing great acting rolls.  Congratulations!  

Top Flight Director for the Summer

    Scott, I surrender any hope I may have now, and in the future of ever beating you at Top Flight Director. You are the one, the man, the Supremo of Supremos, the Keeper of the Mic, the Voice of Voices, the true Troubadour! 

     There, I said it. Scott can now fade into the sunset a happy man.......... Congratulations Scott; the honor is well deserved. You are truly gifted in the control room.  Come watch Scott fly the Phoenix if you want to see a master craftsman at work.    

           

The Best Summer Story

     I wrote both the USS Canada and The Fugitive so I'm happy to see the Fugitive in 2nd place.  Hey, all the summer missions did great - just look at the point spread.  It isn't that much. 

     Let us all congratulate the Odyssey on Plight of Thieves.  I've not see the mission but it must be fantastic! 

      

Mitch, Lindsey, and Nolan.  Absent is Natalie.

The Odyssey's Flight Directing Staff

Top Simulator

Mitch, Hayden, and Audrey.  Absent; Scott

The Phoenix Staff

Top Ship for the Summer Camp Season

     It couldn't go to a better ship.  The Phoenix has truly found its place in the Space Center's history book.  Congratulations Silver (Set Director) and staff for an outstanding job in leading the way. Top simulator and Top Flight Director, the perfect combination.  

     Just remember this old saying, "Uneasy is the head that wears the crown."  There are rumors afloat that clandestine meetings are being held in dark alleyways and unsavory pubs regarding next summer's missions.  Mind you, just rumors.  

 

Final Words from the Chieftain to the Clans

     The evening ended with a few wee words from the Chieftain, James MacPorter.  "Look ye at comparisons from the last year to this. What a bonnie summer its been. Now put that in yer bonnet as ye take to the road and remember to haste ye back.  The wind is blowing words of a busy school year so yer strong arm and back are needed.  Now go and don't dawdle too long, yer rides may be waitin."  

     And with that the gathering dismissed.  

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More Photos from the Old Central Elementary School and Space Center (A Continuation from Last Week's Post). This Week's Imaginarium Theater

Hello Troops,

     Last week's post started our photograph tour of the old Central School we all fondly remember.  This week's post continues where that post left off - in the Cafeteria and Kitchen area.  Once again I want to thank Central's Custodian, Brandon Pace, for the photos he took of the school all ready to open for its last school year, the 2019-2020 school year.  

     Each of the photos you see have Space Center memories for our Space Center staff and volunteers.  In addition to my Space Center memories, I have my memories of these hallways and rooms from my time teaching 6th grade full time from 1983 - 1990 before I opened the Space Center. 

     The Lunchroom.  My biggest Space Center memories of this room are:  This is where we set up the USS Falcon weekend simulator in the two Starlab Domes.  This was also where we had many a movie night after returning from swimming on our 3 day overnight camps.  And let's not forget the many many landing parties this area gave us.  Great times for sure.

     Looking from the entrance of the Lunchroom toward the Galileo.  Needless to say, this part of the Lunchroom was our domain.  The floor had permanent ruts from the Galileos wheels.  We sure made our mark on the old school.

     This was the walk in refrigerator.  I was in and out of this fridge all summer long for our summer camp meals and every Friday and Saturday for our overnight camp food.  This was also my place to cool down when the school's air conditioner would go out.  A few minutes in the "cooler" and I was good to go for another hour.

     Ah, the kitchen itself.  This is where Bill Schuler and Aleta Clegg spent many a summer cooking up our summer camp meals. Our staff used this area for landing parties way back in the early 1990's until the lunchroom staff put a stop to it.  Over time our landing party locations were whittled back to certain areas of the school.  

     The Faculty Room across from the Lunchroom.  The Space Center used this room on weeknight and weekends and summers for mission briefings and landing party areas.  One memory that comes to mind was the time Bracken Funk used this room during the summer as a major crime scene for his crews to do forensics.  Great Times!  

     The Workroom.  Late on a Friday night you'd find me in here making photocopies of  checks and cash.  It was required by the district accountants for all bank deposits.  I'd be making photo copies with the door closed so my work didn't disrupt the endless hallway landing parties of 5 busy simulators.

     The school's front office and foyar are just up and to the left in this photo.  The library and Briefing Room were on the right, opposite the school's front doors.

 

     The school's entrance and foyer.  How many times did you sit on that bench and wait for your ride to pick you up from your Space Center duties?  For many an overnight camp this is where I'd gather the overnight camp campers at 11:30 P.M., give them their final bathroom break, read them the overnight camp rules, and then disperse them to their sleeping areas.  The staff stood behind me to accept the campers and show them to their sleeping quarters.  

     The entrance to the school and Space Center.  Think of the hundred thousands of people both young and old who came through those doors for field trips and camps during the Space Center's time in the old building.  Amazing, isn't it? 

     Central School started in 1893 in its first building which sat on this same property.  This display case in the school's foyer held many mementos from the school's long past.

     Opposite the display case was the school's office.  The sick room was at the back of the office.  Many an ill camper laid on that sick bed waiting for a parent pick up on the long summer overnight camps.  Many a time I'd be in that room looking for bandaids to heal the scraps and cuts from crawling around in the ships and hallways. 

     That's it for this post.  Watch for more next week along with photos from the Space Center's last Honor's Night held on Thursday night.  

Mr. W. 

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The Christa McAuliffe Space Center and The Space Places's Last Summer Camps of the 2021 Season. Great People, Great Campers, Great Starships. The Imaginarium Theater.

      Two Space EdVenture Centers held their last summer space camps for the 2021 season last week.  The Christa McAuliffe Space Center's last camp was Friday.  The Space Place at Renaissance Academy held its final camp Saturday night.  

     Mason Perry flew the Phoenix.  He flew "Finding the Libertaria" (the last Phoenix crew is pictured above).  I sat in on the five hour camp.  Mason did an outstanding job.  "I want you to tell me how I can improve and feel free to give any suggestions," Mason said to me just after the mission got underway.  I admire anyone who is open to suggestions.  It shows they love their work and want to be the best.  Of course all flight directors have their own style, so it should never be "It's my way or the highway" but learning from each other is the Space Center way.  Mason was kind enough to education me on the Phoenix.  After all those years of listening to the Phoenix missions from my desk in the old Briefing Room I'm ashamed to admit I understood the ship the least of all the simulators.  Mason took the time to education me on Phoenix lore, methods, missions, and philosophy.  Only now do I fully appreciate the task of flying the Phoenix - a ship stuck between the big ships (Magellan and Cassini) and the little ships (Odyssey, Falcon, and Galileo).  My hat is off to Jordan (Phoenix Set Director) and his outstanding staff. 

     Connor Larsen flew "Ashes of War" for the Magellan's last summer camp.  He is pictured above with Audrey Henriksen (Supervisor) going over a few story details.  This camp was Conner's last before returning to the east coast for school and his second favorite job after flight directing - playing the organ for the local Catholic parish.    

     "Ashes of War" opens with the crew donning orange safety vests and boarding an unfinished starship two weeks away from its official launch.  Pictured above is Scott Wiltbank, geared out as a very laidback construction cleaner with hair desperate for a good wash and brush.    

     Working alongside Scott was Nolan Welch (above in blue), his custodial sidekick known to be dangerous with a vacuum cleaner in the performance of his duties.  Many a varicose vein has been ruptured due to his disregard for people's legs as he powers through a bridge with this ACME portable vacuum cleaner model 13B (pictured below).   

 

Connor teaching his crew how to properly use the Magellan's magnetic tracking map

     And finally, the formal crew photo for the Magellan's final summer space camp.  The Magellan is a beautiful simulator with a dedicated staff of teens and young adults who work hard to ensure every camper has a meaningful experience in their simulator.  

Just a few of the happy people who make the Magellan a magical place

     Pictured above is the final summer camp crew of the USS Cassini.  They flew "Greenpeace", a wonderful mission I wrote over 20 years ago.  To be honest, I'd lost my appreciation for Greenpeace as a good story. My attitude quickly changed over the weeks I sat in the Cassini Control Room working with Jon Parker.  His appreciation for the story grew on me until it was my turn to take the helm of the Cassini and fly the mission myself.  Now that the summer is over, and I flight directed the mission many times throughout July and the first week of August, I have to say that I once again really like the mission and am glad Jon choose it for the Cassini's summer camp story.  

                    

     I want to thank Jon Parker, Katie Young, Nolan Welch, Ian McOmber, and Scott Wiltbank for welcoming me into their ranks as a formal staff member of the Cassini.  I'm not always an easy person to work with when I flight direct.  I like to change things on the fly and add or take away story aspects to fit the crew or my particular interest for the day.   Of course I'd get looks of shock and horror as I played the Cassini like a crazed flight director on the odd day but they recovered quickly and rolled with every twist and turn I threw at them.  

     Jon was kind enough to critique my missions and in the end I GOT MY CASSINI FLIGHT DIRECTOR PASS FOR GREENPEACE!  All that is left is relearning my field trip missions and then I think I'll be an asset to the ship and a help for Jon who has been shouldering the Cassini all by his lonesome for the longest time.  

The last Cassini crew learning the ship's electrical panel

     This is Natalie Anderson (left) and her last summer camp crew on the USS Odyssey.  Natalie's love for flying, and the Odyssey itself, is perfectly evident when you watch her fly in the ship's Control Room.  Natalie is a busy person with school, life, and her writing career, and yet there is always time for the Odyssey.  She is another one of those amazing people at the CMSC who grew up attending camps and volunteering.  The craft and science of flight directing is strong with this one.  

     The CMSC's summer season officially ended at 6:10 P.M. Friday with the tallying of final votes, the announcement of the camp's top simulator, and the taking of the final staff and volunteer photos.   Conner leaves Utah with a win for the Magellan.  All that was left was the fat lady's song and the turning out of the lights.  

     The CMSC will be closed for this week for carpet cleaning and reopens on August 12 for private missions.  School field trips begin September 1. 

The Space Place at Renaissance Academy's Last Camp for the 2021 Summer Season.  

       I drove to The Space Place in Lehi to observe a part of Bracken Funk's last summer camp for the 2021 summer season.  The camp started at 5:00 P.M. and ended at 11:00 P.M.  It was a six hour telling of a version of my old mission "Supernova".  This adaptation was called "SpookyNova" and set in the FarPoint Universe.   Most of the crew were current or former Renaissance Academy students as were the volunteers working behind the scenes to make the mission awesome for their friends.   

     Megan Warner worked IIFX and ran our outstanding staff for the night (L-R:  Mark, Nathan, Italia, Sawyer, Isaac, and the CMSC's Scott Wiltbank). Scott graciously came out to help because Bracken was short a bridge person / doctor for the mission.  Thank you Scott for pinch hitting and saving the day.  You are appreciated.

     Even I did my bit to make the mission successful.  I briefed the crew on the mission.  After my riveting oratory the crew uniformed up, bathroomed and watered, and lined up in firing order for the transpod journey to the waiting Starship Voyager above.   

                                Bracken met them on the bridge and the training session began.  

The Final Summer Camp Crew of the Starship Voyager commanded by Jackson with Brandon as his first officer

Jackson patiently waiting for his orders to be carried out. 

 Oliver at sensors looking intelligent

      Better crews are hard to come by and this crew ranks near the top of the heap.  Of course I taught most of them as 6th graders so awesomeness was instilled in them.  

The crew as pictured from the back of the bridge

     The Space Place's Starship Voyager lives true to its name in what it offers a crew as a set and a flight director for story telling.  For example, this is the ship's brig, just around the corner from the ship's Bridge.  Notice the force field lights - activated with the small touch screen mounted to the wall.  Tap it and the force field lights come on and off - all accompanied with sound effects.  Cool? Right?

Voyager hallway signs as you exit the Transpod

Bracken and Megan mid flight.  Looks complicated doesn't it?

And finally, the large screen TV used to track the crew throughout the mission.

     I start the 2021-2022 school year on Tuesday with teacher inservice classes and classroom set up.  Students return to school on Tuesday, August 17.  The summer has flown by it they always do.  I'm looking forward to meeting my new students and getting the year off to a great start.  I'm also very happy to get back into the Voyager and Cassini Control Rooms to practice the art and science of flight directing.  It is a passion of mine if you haven't noticed.  Is there a better job on this planet?  I seriously doubt it.  

Victor 

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