Kraken Squadron Takes Round 8 in the 2015 Long Duration Mission. Dream Flight Adventures Holds a Nationwide Community of Practice Training. The Imaginarium.

Kraken Squadron Wins Round 8

     On January 9th, Team Kraken ended the 2015 Long Duration Mission by beating the other four squadrons and winning Round 8.  With Kraken's victory, the LDM ends; all that remains is a bit of math and then I'll announce the winner of the Top Squadron Award for the 2015 Long Duration Mission.  

     Collin led his squadron to victory as captain of the round.  Orion was his first officer.

     The two of them made a great team.  Collin had his notebook with their strategies well thought out and read for execution.   

Kevin and Dakota were hands down the best dynamic duo ever to occupy the Damage Control and Engineering stations.

     What is even more impressive is how Kraken took the round's best team award with only seven of their team on the bridge.  It was two stations for everyone.  I quickly learned to get out of the way as they darted from station to station doing their best to keep the Magellan operational in very difficult circumstances.

Much of the round was spent at red alert. Their strategy was similar to the other four teams once they stopped and considered all available information on RA and the alien ship's powers. 

Here are the seven starfleet samurai, poised for their final team picture on the Magellan bridge. 
Orion, Scott, Collin L., Collin E., Dakota, Savannah, and Kevin.  

     After the team debriefing, we found Kraken's coach Christine running a private Galileo mission. She was unable to be on hand for their mission due to her Galileo responsibility. Christine was excited and proud of her squad.  

     Sadly, the Kraken Squadron is no more. The name is being retired along with Nautilus and Prometheus. The Lion, Tiger, and Cobra Squadrons will take their places in the 2016 Long Duration Mission roster. The teams are listed here.  If you're interested in joining us for this year's challenge, become a member of the Voyager Club.  We are sixty five cadets strong and always looking for outstanding students to compliment our ranks.

     Congratulations Kraken!  You've done yourselves proud.

Mr. Williamson

Dream Flight Adventures' December Community of Practice Meeting

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Admiral Starblayze

     All the holiday festivities have made us a bit tardy in sharing an update about our latest Community of Practice meeting, which took place on the 15th.  This was a historic event, as it was the first Community of Practice meeting where all five Dream Flight simulators in the continental U.S. were represented! That’s right, we had flight directors, educators, and admins from the IKS Titan, Highlander, Buccaneer, Dreamcatcher, and Horizon in attendance! 

     The meeting kicked off bright and early at J.E. Harrison Middle School in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District where the flight directors toured the IKS Highlander and its accompanying Mission Ops STEAM lab.

     Mike Kaleta had the morning very nicely organized and he invited Dr. Lutz, Dr. Peretin, Denice Sedlacek and Andrea Hoffman (most of their upper administration) and Scott Ross to attend.  We also had Brian Colgan and a Phys Ed teacher from Burrell who is training to be a Flight Director, Jamie Harris from Penn Hills, Heather and Mike from Shaler Area, and Heather and Rachel from Washington D.C.

     We met in the “Mission Ops” room for juice and cookies for about 30 minutes and then we toured the Highlander simulator.  Mike Kaleta showed everyone several of the cinematic trailers that he’s recently made of his students running missions, and then we had a nice long discussion about our successes and challenges.  Everyone was extremely positive and energized!

     We’re all looking forward to at least three more Community of Practice meetings in 2016 and we’ve tentatively arranged to meet at Penn Hills in February-March.

     We then came to Shaler Area Elementary School where Mike Penn ran a 4th grade Pandemic mission in the Titan.  Everyone stayed until about 2pm.  Some of the SASD administration were able to attend and meet everyone, including Bryan O’Black, Assistant Superintendent.

     Heather and Rachel from D.C. were the last two to leave.  It was great having them meet with full Pittsburgh Flight Director cohort, and we’re so glad they were able to make the trip!

Admiral Starblayze

Troubadour Note: 

Dream Flight Adventures builds experiential simulators similar to those located here in Utah. The company's simulators are found in several schools in the eastern United States and Venezuela.  Gary Gardiner, founder of Dream Flight Adventures, credits the Space Center's USS Voyager simulator as his inspiration for starting the company.  He wanted the wonder and adventure he experienced as a child (Gary was one of our regular campers back in the 1990's) available for children worldwide.  Visit Dream Flight Adventure's website for more information.    

The Imaginarium

Prometheus Squadron Finished the Long Duration MIssion. Brylee Perry is the Newest Flight Director. Imaginez Théâtre

Prometheus Squadron, First to Complete the Eighth and Final Round of the Long Duration Mission

     "Mr. Williamson, why don't you like us?"  The question came from a visibly upset member of the Prometheus Squadron on Saturday.
     The question surprised me. "Mr. Williamson likes everyone," I replied in third person to dilute and deflect the criticism.
     "Well, if you like everyone, why haven't you posted about our mission on the blog," she responded.
     "You mean I didn't post about Prometheus squadron's last round?" I really didn't believe what she was saying. "That's hard to believe. I'm pretty good about posting LDM news." I could tell she wasn't going to let it go until I admitted my mistake.
     "Not ours," she insisted.
     "Well, I'll look into it."  She walked out of the room with a weight off her shoulders. She stood up for her squadron against the imposing Mr. Williamson and uncovered a serious injustice; an injustice I'm correcting today.

November 21, 2015

     Troops, I'm happy to report that the Prometheus Squadron successfully completed their eighth and final mission in the eleven month Long Duration Mission.  They were the first of five squadrons to tackle the final mission and did it with outstanding flare paired with brave, gutsy moves.

     Prometheus Squadron was blessed with a strong coaching staff made up of two former Space Center VIP's - Bradyn Lystrup and BJ Warner.  "They were easy to coach," Bradyn commented after their mission. "Just look at 'em."  Bradyn was right, Prometheus was an outstanding squadron made up of several talented, creative, can do people.
     The final mission was captained by Marissa Ohran with James Lakko acting as first officer. Hunter, Nathaneal, Lizzy, Andrew, Thomas, Mason, Michael, and Jacob made up the rest of the crew.

      The mission debriefing was held in the gym. Lizzy passed out cookies to celebrate. Their final score reflected a squad that knew exactly what they were doing.
     "Remember, Prometheus was the squadron made up of cadets who really didn't know each other. Most of the kids in the other squadrons were all friends before. My team had to start from scratch. They're awesome," Coach Bradyn reminded me.
     Speaking on behalf of the LDM staff, flying with Prometheus was always a joy.
     Congratulations Prometheus on your best mission yet!

Mr. Williamson

Brylee Perry, The USS Odyssey's New Flight Director

     Brylee Perry joined the Voyager Club in May of 2014.  She quickly became of the Space Center's star volunteers, rising quickly through the ranks to Magellan supervisor.  Her hard work and determination paid off last week when she succeeded in passing her Odyssey flight director test mission.
     Tabitha's last act as Odyssey set director was to present Brylee with her flight director's shirt. Brylee's enthusiastic smile reflects her joy at finally reaching her goal. Tabitha's smile is genuine relieve that her last Space Center responsibility was complete - she trained a new flight director to take her place.  All Space Center workers, as far as I know, are still under the prime directive I established years ago. Before retiring, all staff must have a fully trained replacement ready to take over.
     Mr. Grumpy (Devin Sudwicks) stood in the background struggling with his emotions. He knew this presentation was Tabitha's swan song, her last act as Odyssey Set Director. Her time was over, and his rule as the new Odyssey Supremo was starting.  Luckily for Devin, the Odyssey has a great set of flight directors able and willing to make him look good in front of the boss.
     Troubadour readers, you are required to offer Brylee your congratulations the next time you see her. Embarrass her if you can by shouting your congratulations across several aisles in the grocery store or across a few pews in church.

Mr. Williamson            


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