The Christa McAuliffe Space Center History. New Photos From the Voyager Era. 1990-2012
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| David Call in the USS Falcon |
Today's post starts with newly discovered photos taken during the CMSEC's Voyager Era 1990-2012. Our first photo (above) is a rare find. It may one of only a couple taken inside the Falcon Simulator during its short life in Central Elementary's cafeteria. We set the Falcon up every Friday night for the overnight camp and took it down every Saturday morning after the camp ended. Mr. Daymont, Mr. Schuller, Mrs. Houston and Josh Babb were the flight directors.
In the photo above you see David Call (Chris Call's little brother) acting the part of an agitated Klingon on the verge of a hysterical meltdown. Luckily the young crew has him well guarded. One misstep and David will be nothing more than a splat of red mush on the inside of the Starlab planetarium dome.
Today's second photo was taken in what I believe is the USS Voyager's Projection Room. The volunteers patiently await their orders to storm the bridge, wrecking havoc on the unsuspecting overnight camp crew. The only volunteer I recognize is David Call (wearing the black cap). I'll bet those costumes are still being used today (or what's left of them).
Today's third photo shows Mr. Daymont, Magellan Flight Director, teaching the young campers a thing or two about sneaking up on bad guys in general. Don't the campers know that elementary schools are an Orion Pirate's first choice for a late night hide out from the law? No way the younglings will get by him - unless of course, Metta calls him down; hit by a ricochet blast from a very poor, but lucky, shot of a camper.
Brittney VandenBoss is seen above seated at the Magellan's Second Chair position. It looks like it has been a long camp. Brittney is ready for bed.
It is around 11:30 P.M. on a Friday night judging by what I see in the photo above. The campers are in their sleeping areas getting settled down for the night while the staff gathers in the Discovery Room to enjoy a late night snack before they too hit the sack. A relaxed Bryson Lystrup is pictured talking shop with Matt Long.
Our final picture is of Saint Sheila Powell escorting a group of field trip students to the simulators from their restroom break. Sheila and Lorraine Houston were the dream team of Space Center field trip instructors back in the day. Sheila had recently retired as a sixth-grade teacher from the Jordan School District when I convinced her to come join our staff as a field trip teacher. Those years rest nicely on my memory. Happy times for sure.
Mr. Williamson
On Sale Now! The Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center's Gift Counter has the New Simulator Logo Posters. Don't Forget the Candy and That Telescope Not Even I Could Shift.
Hello, Troops,
The Gift Shop at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center in Pleasant Grove has restocked it's dwindling candy supply just in time for the first school year weekend camps. The volunteer corps couldn't be happier. There was water cooler talk amongst the volunteers of protests, work go-slows, and even a strike if the shop wasn't restocked quickly. A few leftover cheese and crackers along with a few Milky Ways and Butterfingers wasn't going to cut the mustard. Mr. Porter, to his credit, responded to the demands with a lightning visit to the nearest Costco. His return was heralded with a staff and volunteer escort to the Discovery Room for the official Gift Shop Restocking Ceremony followed by the distribution of items far past their sell-by dates (the youngest volunteers will eat anything).
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| The Restocking Ceremony's guests of honor |
Doing the Costco candy and battery run was one of the least favorite things I did during my time as CMSEC director. The highlights of the shopping experience were the free samples and my traditional indulgence - a Very Berry Sundae.
The New Simulator Logo Posters. Pick One Up Today, Along with a Delicious Candy Bar, at the CMSEC Gift Shop. That Smile You're Given by a Blue Shirted Staff is Sincere. Selling a Poster is a Feather in Their Caps
The Telescope. Rumor Has It that it was Once Used by Galileo Himself
Over twenty years ago I purchased a nice telescope for the CMSEC Gift Shop hoping to pick up a little extra cash for the Center by selling astronomical items. It didn't work. The one telescope I bought is still at the Center, tucked away under the display case, just where I put it a couple decades ago.
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| The Meade ETX Telescope. Still Looking for a Good Home |
Perhaps you know of someone interested in a nice telescope once used by Galileo himself. If so, you know where to find it. Just ask for the "you know what under the counter" on your next visit. I don't know if the staff will part with it considering it's been there longer than all of them except Mrs. Houston.
Mr. Williamson
A Post from the Past. March 4, 2001. A Review of the First Acting Workshop
Attention Troops!
The Acting Workshop went very well in my opinion. We had a surprising turnout. Brenda Grant had a fully packed 2-hour program ready. The Voyager, Pioneers, and Blue Shirt present got better as the time passed. At first, everyone was a bit hesitant to get down and start acting but by the end of the time, I noticed IMPROVEMENT! I'm expecting to see the quality of the acting out in the simulators improve. I'm expecting to see our staff wanting to become more involved in the missions instead of just sitting there letting the flight directors do all of the work. Think about it -
1. You could now start making more believable phone calls into the ships giving the telephone officer's the feeling that there really are more people in the ship than just the bridge crew.
2. You could create characters (like my Tex) and then go out into the sets and play your character - acting out scenes that don't distract from the story but enrich the mission for students that need a bit more to do or need to like they're an important part of the story.
3. You can be a more effective doctor carrying the emotions of the story during the missions. For example, if the story calls for the kids to be scared, then the doctor needs to act scared. That will terrify the students. Your doctor character will be so good that the students will actually believe they are on a starship in the future.
4. Our Bridge supervisors will be better by carrying the emotion of the story. If the set is being invaded then the Blue Shirts must call shots while at the same time acting frightened and concerned for the safety of the crew.
These are just a few of the reasons why the acting workshop was held and what I think many of you got out of it. We will have more. For those that didn't attend, please try to make the next ones. If you don't get your acting certificate from attending the workshops, you could be assigned to video your whole volunteer experience at the Center. What a nightmare that would be!
By the way. I actually saw some great acting on Saturday. I didn't know so many of you had it in you!
Mr. Williamson
Theater Imaginarium
The best gifs of the week edited for a gentler audience.
