Several Historical Posts from the Space Center's First Blog: SpaceEdVentures. The Imaginarium.

Space Center Blast from the Past Posts
Summary  
People mentioned: 
Sam Brady, Emily Perry training to become a flight director, Josh Babb, Metta Smith. Chris Alldredge, Bryce Redd, Stephen Porter, Matt Long, David Merrell, Dan Adams, Dave Wall. James Porter.

Topics: 
Bug Hunt. Masquerade's first test run. Phoenix Construction Update. Wishing for new controls: perhaps in Real Basic or Flash. Volunteer point system. Summer 2000 report on 48 Hour Camp 2. Discovery Room Construction. The Grand PooPah's First Tellings. What the Magellan's Discovery Room was Intended to be. James Porter Talks about the UV8??

 

David Merrell and Chris Call

Summary:  
People mentioned: Sam Brady, Emily Perry training to become a flight director, Josh Babb, Metta Smith. Bug Hunt. Masquerade's first test run. Phoenix Construction Update. Wishing for new controls: perhaps in Real Basic or Flash. 

December 8, 2004
From the Space Center's First Blog: SpaceEdVentures
by Chris Call

Here I am, sitting down to write the blog, and I have left my notes... elsewhere. Usually I 
keep notes to remember all the funny and interesting things that happen throughout the 
week. Ah well. It happens. 

You may have been wondering what happened to the semi-weekly blog. A new game 
came out recently: World of Warcraft. Very enjoyable. Enjoyable enough that I came to 
work Friday morning with only about an hour of sleep behind me. Yup, it's that good. The 
day went okay, and I FELT like I had enough energy to go around... but the bags under my 
eyes gave me away. (Curse you bags!!!) Needless to say, the blog is back. 

My crew surprised me this week. What I thought would be a horrendous and annoying 
crew turned out to be great! They flew through the mission at fantastic pace, and had a 
lot of fun. Sam played Dr. Tarkis, and the Gelf, and did a great job doing both. 

Emily continues to surprise and amaze me in her training to be a flight director. She ran 
one mission where Josh and I just sat, and watched and wrote things down. We both had 
long talks with her afterward about things that could be improved. She's becoming 
EXTREMELY versatile though. (When you can answer complex questions as the computer, 
at the same time you are changing tracks to fit the next part in the story means you are 
getting good.) Becoming a Flight Director is learning how to multitask in your mind. 
Emily is doing great. Even Mr. Babb agrees... and as everyone knows: " In Josh we trust. "

Oh. I almost forgot. Metta. She must be mentioned. Sometimes, I, and others, are at the 
space center a LONG time. Josh knows what I'm talking about. It's being at the center for 
32+ hours straight sometimes. Metta is awesome because she gets us food. She gets us 
fast food and brings it to us when we don't have time to do so ourselves! There is more 
than one time I would not have survived without that rescue. THANK-YOU Metta Smith!

A funny note: 1... or was it 2 weeks ago?.... I ran Bug Hunt. In that mission, the Klingons 
show up at a very inopportune moment promising to wreak havoc, and just ruin a good 
guy's day. The mission was typical, and Klingons showed up right on schedule. I could 
really tell that the pilot understood what was going on when he looked up at the main 
viewer, and saw the Klingon ships bearing down on them. His face blanched, and he said, 
"Oh $@*#!" 
I've never had quite that reaction before. Usually I stop the mission when certain choice 
words come out of a young man's mouth. On this occasion, I would have done the same, 
if I could have stopped laughing. It surprised and disarmed me. Maybe you had to be 
there, but it was EXACTLY the line that would have been said in a movie. Just like in 
Generations when the Enterprise is plummeting towards the planet and you KNOW they're 
in trouble, Data let out a few choice words too. It was just like that. Especially because 
the kid looked around nervously, as if to say, "Did anyone here me? Is my mom here?" But 
no, no one on the ship heard him because they were busy panicking themselves... At least, 
he thought no one heard. Beware the things we say when we think people are not 
listening... 

Phoenix Development: Marty and Jeff are doing great building the new simulator. Every 
day that I come in, it seems like there's something new. They're very hard workers who 
bend over backward to make sure that things aren't just functional, but that they look cool 
too. Not that I would know, but I think it's hard to find the right kind of people to help the 
space center grow like those 2 have. They do great work, and are both pleasant to be 
around.

RealBasic: Sounds good, but I have not seen anything yet. I see Flash everyday on the 
internet and I say to myself: "wow. wouldn't it be great to have controls that looked that 
good? But it's too hard to learn, and I don't know if young programmers could learn it fast 
enough. Had a dad come in this week that works in Flash. Had a long conversation with 
him. He said that everything we do, Flash could do, that it would be funner, be better, and 
that he knows some people who probably do it for us for free. Hmm... I should probably 
tell Mr. Williamson." 

Christmas Program: We're running an insane 18 hour long mission on December 28-29th. 
ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Whoa. I'm planning on running Masquerade. There is much work 
to be done. Both video and tactical must be done. The story must be streamlined. I 
better finish this now... 

-Chris

Space Center Blast from the Past. Posts from the Space Center's first Blog: Space EdVentures.
The Original Point System for Volunteers
July 2000

Hello Voyagers!

There is a new point system used to calculate seniority in the class of 2000 volunteers. If you go to the database and look up  the Voyager Society and the Student Staff you will see the final column says Points. These points will be used as one indicator of seniority. You get points for the following:

10 points per month of active service (you must work at least one flight per month for these points)
1 point for each flight hour volunteered.
3 points for each hour of class training and staff meetings you attend.
10 points for each station passed
100 point bonus for passing off all stations.
50 points each quarterly report card turned in.

The points, along with your months of service and your staff grade give you seniority. 

Your staff grade is the grade the adult staff give all volunteers when there are openings in the student staff. These points and grades decide promotions. 

Thank you
Mr. Williamson

Space Center Blast from the Past. Posts from the Space Center's first Blog: Space EdVentures.
Summer Camp 2000. Report on 48 Hour Camp 2
July 10,  2000

Hello Voyagers!
48 Hour Camp 2 went very well. It was our first camp with local kids so it got off to a quiet start. The ships were in working order. We are always holding our breath and crossing our fingers because Allan is in the mission home and no longer able to save the day. 

Some of the Highlights of the camp:

1. Matt Long starting training to become the Falcon's 2nd chair.
2. Bryce Redd complete all his station pass off's ! Good job Bryce.
3. Stephen Porter changed his Grand PooPah voice. VERY GOOD! We all like it.
4. Construction continued for the new Magellan Briefing Room. They began cutting through the wall into the Magellan during the Magellan's last rotation. Chris Alldredge had to deal with a flight and the sound of a cement cutter slicing away through the wall into his simulator. HE DID IT. Flexible is the name of the game around here.
5. Right in the middle of the last rotation the Odyssey's TV connection device broke. The kids could no longer see the tactical screen. David Merrell earned his pay that day.

The air conditioning is still off in the cafeteria......... One day we hope. 

Well, today starts another busy week. Privates today with an overnighter. Wednesday a 48 hour camp. Next week we call "Hell Week" pardon the language. Next week we have a Day Camp Monday to Wednesday and a 48 Hour Camp from Thursday to Saturday evening.

All the Best.
Mr. Williamson 

Space Center Blast from the Past. Posts from the Space Center's first Blog: Space EdVentures.
Update on Construction of the Discovery Room
July 20, 2000

Dan Adams, principal of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center and Central Elementary School has begun remodeling a classroom adjacent to the Magellan Simulator to become the Magellan's briefing room and the school's new science education room. The 
Science Center will be equipped with a transition hallway and new entrance into the Magellan set and Magellan control room. The Center will also have a video projector, experiment tables, several computer monitors mounted near the ceiling connected to the internet, a space images display, and a large virtual saltwater fish tank. The room will be used for all science instruction at Central Elementary School and the main briefing and instruction room for all Magellan space and sea programs. Construction is expected to be complete by the opening of the new school year in September.

If it's summer than you can expect remodeling at Central Elementary School. Currently the school's restrooms are being retiled and modernized. Several classrooms are having carpet replaced. The floors will be waxed and walls and carpets cleaned for the upcoming 
school year. 

Dave Wall is currently working to finish the Pathfinder Simulator in Salt Lake City. Current plans call for a grand opening in September. Check back for further updates.

The Space Center's summer season is off and running. Each week between 110 and 130 students attend "Space Camp". Four different camps are offered: Day Camp,48 Hour Camp, Overnight Camp, and Adventures in Astronomy. The campers participate in simulated
flights in our five space simulators and classes in space and science in our class sessions. The reviews of the camps written by our campers have been excellent. The last summer camp ends the last weekend of September.

Mr. Williamson

Space Center Blast from the Past. Posts from the Space Center's first Blog: Space EdVentures.
Update on Construction of the Discovery Room
July 21, 2000

Through the genius minds of Mark D. and myself, we have come up with the way the UV8 will be camouflaged. Instead of a holographic projector that uses to much power, we have the shell (tortouise *DO NOT CORRECT SPELLING). I is many plates that extend outside of the outer hull. These plates can be different colors, such as: Gray (outer hull of Voyager) Black (Space) and Brownish... (Resembles meteor). The shell can cover the entire ship, parts can remain uncovered (like where they are working on the broken stuff). The 
shell has other benefits than just a disguise. It is also like armor, and that's it. Buy with these advantages come disadvantages, 
1. Can not operate thrusters while up, 
2. Only minimal sensor readings, 
3. Look realy cool... wait make that an advantage.

I think that is it for this update on the U..u..V..v..8.8.8.8.8

-James Porter

We all owe DAVE WALL a big thank you the next time you see him, for all the work he does for video night. THANKS DAVE!!

The Imaginarium

The Semi-Secret Society of Flight Directors Meets at Farpoint to Discuss the Art and Science of Flight Directing. Isaac Ostler Takes Second Place at State. Flight Directors Hard at Work. The Daymonts at FanX. Theater Imaginarium.

     The Semi-Secret Society of Flight Directors has its first bi-monthly conclave Thursday, March 23 at the Farpoint Space Education Center headquarter in room 204 (my classroom) at Renaissance Academy in beautiful Lehi, Utah.  
     We call our association Semi-Secret because of the nature of flight directing itself. Most everyone who undertakes a mission in one of our simulators is aware of the 'person' behind the wall. They may even recognize the chief engineer's voice over the ship's speakers as the same person who prepped them for their mission. Yet in the magical world of the simulation, they 'don't' know.  Am I making myself clear?  
     Even when confronted by a crewmember, "Hey I recognize your voice. That was you talking to us during the mission," the flight director will feign ignorance and tell the young camper that he doesn't know what the poor delusional child is babbling about.  To put it another way, the professional flight director is like the great Wizard of Oz. He or she is required to keep his existence as secret as possible, staying securely sequestered behind her curtain, manning his levels, counter levers, switches, dials, smoke machines, computers, media players, etc.  
     We are truly a "Semi-Secret Society".    

     These somewhat anonymous Flight Directors got a behind the scenes look at the USS Voyager's Control Room from fellow Wizards and Farpoint employees Maeson Busk and Alex DeBirk.  Missing was the Voyager's Asst. Director Isaac Ostler, who was excused for a very important Skills Utah EMT competition being held at the same time.

     Maeson and Alex demonstrated the Voyager's technology. There were questions and a whole lot of curiosities to examine. You could tell it was a gathering of flight directors by their sophistication in snooping around for a new idea or two to take back to their own ships.  I reminded them that snooping wasn't needed. The Society was an organization for sharing, cooperation, and mutual support. 

     Present were flight directors from the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center, InfiniD, Lakeview Space Education Center, the Telos Discovery Space Centers, and of course Farpoint. Also present was Casey Voeks from InfiniD and Megan Warner, general manager of the Telos Discovery Space Centers. Many of our brothers and sisters sent their apologies for not attending due to scheduling conflicts.  Several other flight directors were busy with flights - strangely enough. My apologies were given for failing to schedule the conclave with enough advance notice. I committed to schedule the next meeting far in advance so time off could be requested.     

The Flight Directors were fascinated with the Voyager's automatic brig activation system.  A quick pass of a chip card and the brig lights activated and de-activated accompanied by the appropriate sound effect

     The Semi-Secret Society of Flight Director's mission is to promote flight directing as a profession. We celebrate all forms and styles of flight directing, understanding that flight directing is as much an art as a science.  We will work to sponsor research into this type of experiential education with the hopes of creating a general knowledge base and statement of best practices from which all flight director training can spring.  We support each other through our conclaves where our members network and learn from each other. It's awesome to sit and hear stories from talented and dedicated flight directors. 
     This first meeting stressed the fact that we're all in this together. I spoke of the need to work together to guarantee quality in our missions. We are aware that one bad mission can reflect on the network of space centers as a whole.  Future meetings will be held at different space education centers including schools with InfiniD labs.  Learning first hand about the different centers will go a long way toward mutual understanding and cooperation. 
     If you're a current flight director at any space education center or InfiniD school and could not attend Thursday's gathering please contact me, director@spacecamputah.org,  to be put on my email list. 
     We hope you'll join us.  We're quite a talented group and boy, you should hear the stories we have to tell.

Mr. Williamson 
       
Isaac Ostler Takes Second in CPR and First Aid at Statewide Skills Utah Competition  

     Isaac is my right hand man and student director at Renaissance Academy's Farpoint Space Education Center. He is what I call a simulator whisperer.  The USS Voyager responds to his voice, never mine. Isaac also works as a Magellan supervisor at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center in Pleasant Grove.  You'll find him on the Magellan's bridge every Saturday afternoon.
     Isaac is talented in many areas. He's a good flight director. He's a good programmer. He is great with staff and volunteers. He is outstanding at tactical art. What I didn't know about Isaac was his skill in first aid and CPR.  Isaac is training to become an EMT and competed in a statewide Skills Utah competition in CPR and first aid on Thursday.  Isaac took second place out of 15 in the High School competition representing Lone Peak High School. 
     Congratulations Isaac on your achievement.  Now I know who to collapse in front of during a medical emergency!
 
Speaking of Flight Directing. Look at These Talented Flight Directors at Work at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center Last Saturday

     I stopped by the second happiest place on earth on Saturday to deliver donuts and say hello to some of the greatest people I know - flight directors. Jon Parker, CMSEC assistant director, informed me that every ship was booked solidly all day. It was that way last Saturday as well.  These poor flight directors were swamped with crews all wanting to experience the magic of a simulated space edventure.  Here's a shout out to those hard working flight directors and the volunteers and supervisors who work beside them.    

Josh Anderson hard at work on his second Galileo mission of the day. 

Jordan Smith hard at work in the Phoenix Control Room. Notice these dedicated flight directors need to grab a quick bite
whenever the story gives them an opportunity. It's a classic eat while you work strategy for the busy flight director. It was the same when I was CMSEC director. 

Devin Sudwicks flight directing the Odyssey. He was neck deep in a five hour mission

Natalie, Audrey and Time Lord Mason in the Magellan Control Room

Jon Parker was flight directing the Magellan

His lunch sat beside him getting cold. He was in the thick of preparing for a battle scene. Lunch would have to wait

Flight Directors are very busy people wherever they work!

Dave and Melissa Daymont Spotted by YouTube at FanX 2017 in Salt Lake City

Dave Daymont with Wife Melissa at FanX 2017

     Dave and Melissa Daymont were two of thousands of sci-fi and fantasy fans attending the 2017 FanX in Salt Lake City.  Little did they know that they'd also appear in a FanX commercial YouTube video.  You'll find them at 1:01 in the clip.

     Dave was a long time Phoenix flight director at the CMSEC and a good friend of the Space Center.  He works as an Alpine School District IT tech covering four of the district's elementary schools.

     Dave tells me he runs into several Space Center folks at these gatherings. I guess it comes with the mindset.  FYI, I've never been to one of these, and while interested and inclined to do so, the masses of people, lines, screaming, and other displays of mass hysteria convinces me to politely refuse many kind invitations to do so.

Mr. W.   

       

Theater Imaginarium
The best gifs of the week edited for a general audience