My Late Night Wanderings at the Space Center

Hello Troops,
It's 10:35 P.M. on May 21, 2010. We are in the thick of another Overnight Camp. Tonight we are hosting sixth graders from Orem Elementary School (and a few others from other schools to fill out our camp numbers). I needed to get up from my computer and stretch my legs and decided to take my camera. What you are about to see is what I saw as I took a quick walk through the school to check on the ships. There is no theme to this post except to say that this is what I saw on a quick three minute walk to get the blood moving back into my legs. So, here we go - a few snapshots showing a moment frozen in time at the Space Center on a Friday Night.

This is Emily. She is playing the Grand PooPah for the Voyager's Mission. She is the first to admit she has no shame.
"I'm taking one for the team," she said. You old timers may recognize the creature in her arms. He's our little Alien from the Voyager Control Room. He was donated to the Voyager years ago by Shane Skaggs. He won it at Lagoon and thought the Space Center would make it a good home.

Zac H. is training to fly the Phoenix. He's seen here but I'm not sure if we're looking at the back of his head or his face. His hair is so out of control no one is really ever sure.

This is a shot of the Phoenix crew in mid mission. Alex A. is the flight director. They are doing the Phoenix's new mission "Murphy's Law" written by Bracken Funk.

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone. I'm sneaking sugar from my secret stash kept hidden somewhere in the Discovery Room. A walk and a treat is just what the doctor ordered for 10:40 P.M. on a Friday Night. Hmmmm, shall it be salt water taffy or a Peppermint Patty or two. My solution, why ration? It's mine....... ALL mine.

As I stand and experience the wintry blizzard freshness of a Peppermint Patty I ponder the purpose of destroying the Discovery Room. I hear Mr. Daymont in the Magellan Control Room in full voice and character. It appears from his dialog the Magellan Crew is about to venture off their bridge and into this room where they will find the complete and utter distruction caused by maurading aliens aboard the Station.

Isn't it amazing what a red alert screen mixed with a classroom of overturned desks and chairs can become? At the Space Center it could be anything from
1. A classroom with overturned desks and chairs or.....
2. The command bunker of some alien world bombed from orbit by a race of reptiles moving through the galaxy searching and destroying all forms of mammal life they encounter.

Well troops, my walk is complete. It's nearing 11:00 P.M. I'll wander to the cafeteria to set out the ice cream sandwiches and cookies for the late night snack before we put the kids to bed. I'll get this posted but it won't be until after 11:00 P.M.

I hope this post spurred a few cherished memories from the Space Center to our old veteran staff who have since moved on to bigger and better things. My hope is that you never forget the time you spent here at the second Happiest Place on Earth!

Mr. Williamson

A Few Openings For Friday's Overnight Camp

Hello Troops,
We are nearly there, the end of the school year looms before us. The seas are boiling with restless students but our ship is on a steady course for home.

We have a few openings for tomorrow's Overnight Camp (Friday 7:00 P.M. to Saturday 10:00 A.M.) for anyone ages 10 - 14 years old. You'll be joining the 6th graders from Orem Elementary School. If you're interested in attending please send an email with the following information:

Child's Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Age:
Parent Name:

Of course our Blog Reader's discount applies: $38.00 for the camp instead of the normal $43

Send your email to
Director@spacecamputah.org

Thank you,
Mr. Williamson

This Feels Real

Hello Troops,
It's been a busy Wednesday at the Space Center. AT 5:17 P.M. Emily just walked in with a McDonald's burger. She's going healthy for her sustenance meal. Emily has the Voyager 6:30 P.M. mission and is in limbo. Not enough time to go home and eat something before needing to come back.

Brittney is in the Odyssey running our two Junior missions this afternoon and evening. Brittney has a great attitude toward the Junior program whereas several of our other Odyssey Flight Directors find Junior missions slightly distasteful. They just don't like dealing with the younger campers. I'm glad Brittney feel differently. Thanks Brittney.

Bracken is in the Phoenix with Alex and Megan V. doing a 5 hour test run of his new summer mission "Murphy's Law". Tomorrow is Bracken's last day at the Space Center before leaving for university at Fresno California. He has a full basketball scholarship. Bracken has been a real God Send at the Center. His attitude and enthusiasm energizes me! (and that's something to be said). I for one will miss Bracken's energy, drive, ideas and just grit determination to succeed and be the best at whatever he does.

Bracken's new mission is awesome. I saw part of it on Saturday. It's involved so I hope we can pull it off without him here to hold our hands.

I enjoyed Pleasant Green Elementary School today for the field trip. One thing said made us laugh in the control room. I was telling "Perikoi". The ship survived the attack at Moon D of Planet 9. The new course was entered and the captain ordered "Emergency Speed!" The Voyager pulled away. The main viewer showed the moon recede behind them.

The Bridge was quiet. Everyone was working as the bridge music played (a piece I like from the Transformers. Bracken thinks its the wrong choice of music for the mood I'm trying to set and I disagree). A young girls voice suddenly rang out from the quiet and gentle humming of the engines.
"This feels real!" she said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Bill Schuler was in the control room. He looked at me and said something to effect that her comment pretty much summed up the secret of a Space Center experience. With just a bit of effort on the part of the crew it becomes real as imagination engages and the crew transcends the here and now for the land of What Could Be.

I enjoy my job. My dedicated staff and volunteers make it all fun and rewarding.

Mr. Williamson