See A Concept Design of the New Space Center's Lobby. A Call for Donations. Mr. Williamson Honored by the Naming of a Water Pipe (or Digester Blow Line). Announcing a New InfiniD Lab School in Utah. Theater Imaginarium.

Christa McAuliffe Space Center Lobby Concept Rendition

     For 28 years you stepped into the lobby of Central Elementary School whenever you visited the Space Center. I know what you were thinking when you did it the first time. "There's a Space Center here?!". Perhaps the old school 1956 architecture made you question the directions given on Google. And just before you turned to leave in search of the real Space Center, a member of the staff came to greet you. Kindly you were escorted into the world of the future hidden ever so cleverly behind those old brick walls.  Well, those days will soon be over. In 2020 you'll step straight into the adventure in the new Central Elementary and Christa McAuliffe Space Center soon to be built to the west of the current building.  

     Thanks to Allie's artistic skills you can see a concept design for the new lobby. It is designed to include a galactic ceiling mural with backlit donation plaques for major donors. This is just one of many ways those of us associated with the Space Center want to say thanks for inspiring the next generation of explorers.

#CMSC2020 spacecenter.alpineschools.org

Why are you still waiting to donate?

The Original Donation Plaque

     I had this plaque made to thank and honor the many people who helped me create the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center nearly 28 years ago next month.  The Space Education Center was our gift to the children of Utah. I named the Space Center after Christa McAuliffe, the pioneering first teacher in space who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.  I chose to honor her legacy by building an educational center dedicated to exciting kids to reach for the stars - the final frontier. 

     I retired from the Alpine District and the Space Center in 2013. James Porter is the new director, a highly talented educator and long time Space Center volunteer and employee with the vision, imagination, and calling to continue the center's mission far into the future. James is facing a deadline to raise the funds necessary to build the new Space Center and Planetarium in the soon to be constructed Central Elementary School.  Join the Friends of the Space Center and invest in our program.  If you can help us tag the business, individuals, or family members to pass on our thanks we would appreciate it.

Who is going to be on the next plaque?  #nextadventure #CMSC2020  spacecenter.alpineschools.org/donate

Improvements to the Starship Valiant at Canyon Grove Academy

     Maeson Busk sent the following two pictures showing a few improvements to the Starship Valiant berthed at the Canyon Grove Academy docks in Pleasant Grove.

     Plumbing is something rarely seen on a starship on TV or in the movies. The USS Voyager had the first exposed pipe (actually a metal support beam but let's not get too technical).  It sat just as you entered the ship from the school's stage revolving door. I labeled it the ship's Digester Blowline (I liked the name - it sounded very toilety, something you'd never want to burst in battle).  Nobody ever asked about its purpose so I never had to admit that a digester blow line was part of the paper making process. 
     Fast forward to today and the Starship Valiant continues the Voyager's love for exposed plumbing. I want to thank Maeson Busk, Director of the Canyon Grove Center, for thinking of me when he labeled the pipe. What greater way to honor the Founder than by naming a water pipe after him. Well, perhaps Jon Parker should get credit for naming a ship after me, the USS Victor Alan, in the telling of one of his stories.  Sadly it is the ship first to go down in battle. I believe the captain forgets where the "Raise Shields" button is located.
     Accompanying my name is the number 062458, a number well known in Space Center lore - my birthday, a number used in a few missions for this, that, and the other. We need more of these semi-hidden easter eggs in our simulator sets.     

Another improvement in the Valiant. Engineering panels.  Well Done Maeson and Team.

InfiniD Announces a New School to the Utah Fleet of InfiniD Simulators

     The Troubadour welcomes a new InfiniD Lab located in the Davis School District at Sarah Jane Adams Elementary School in Layton, Utah into the growing network of schools that house experiential learning simulators inspired by the original USS Voyager. Grades 1 - 6 will participate in the simulator's missions. This new InfiniD Lab takes the official number of simulators both past and present to 63.  The Simulator Database is accessible by clicking on the link on the blog's sidebar.

     Are you curious about InfiniD?  Did you think there were only a small handful of starship simulators at a few local Utah schools: The Christa McAuliffe Space Center, The Telos Discovery Space Centers, Renaissance Space Academy, The Lions Gate Center?  

If so, you are mistaken.
     InfiniD is the world's fastest growing network of school-based, computer lab simulators committed to continuing the vision of simulator-based experiential education pioneered in my 6th-grade classroom back in 1983 and fine-tuned and expanded with the building of Simulator 1 the USS Voyager in 1990. Today nearly 40,000 students across Utah are applying what they learn in the classroom on an InfiniD mission. 

     To summarize; InfinD's mission is to provide every school worldwide with an experiential simulator of their own. That's a big goal and they're determined to make it so.

     Take a moment and learn more about the future of education with InfiniD.     

Space News

By Dr. Ryan Anderson

Telos Discovery Space Center

Theater Imaginarium

The Best Gifs From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Friends of the Starship Voyager Gather for a Bit of Child's Play. The Spirit of the Voyager Lives On. Thank You Nolan Welch for 5 Years of Service. Good Luck in Chili. The Magellan Pirates in Full Gear Still Terrorizing the Systems. Imaginarium Theater.

Bradyn Lystrup Briefs his Crew on Child's Play
Renaissance Space Academy

     It was like stepping into a time vortex. I sat in the Voyager's Briefing Room / Situation Room last night surrounded by friends who gathered to relive the magic and fun of the original USS Voyager.  The new Voyager at Renaissance Space Academy is a Farpoint simulator. On hand to support the festivities were the directors of Utah County's other Farpoint Centers; Lions Gate Center at Lakeview Academy, the Telos Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy and Telos University, and of course Renaissance Space Academy.  Supporting Bradyn Lystrup's return to flight directing were good friends from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center, Erin Williams and Connor Larsen, along with he and Jacqueline's weekend warrior buddies - Emily and Skylar Paxman and Todd Rasband.  Absent was BJ Warner - excused due to minor surgery.     
     Returning to occasional flight directing on the Voyager has been Bradyn's goal for several years now.  Bradyn and Jacqueline, his trusty 2FX second chair partner, wife, and mother of his children chose this weekend to make their debut with Bradyn's old mission "Child's Play" - perfect for the Halloween season.

Nathan and Parriss King (Lions Gate Center) Conner Larsen, and Bradyn get the feel of the new Voyager's Control Room.

Bradyn vacated the seat to brief the crew.  Maeson (Discovery Space Center) filled in to work on a few issues
that needed to be resolved. The Voyager recognized his touch from
 last year's LDM season and responded nicely to his commands.

     Preparing for the mission wasn't as bad as I thought it would be when I watched Conner drive up in a towering truck with plastic drainage pipe protruding from the back end.  

Unloading the plastic piping

Installing the tunnels of doom.
Maeson, Connor, Nicole VandenBos, Parriss King, Nathan King, and Todd Rasband.

What better way to terrify a crew than a forced crawl through the gutting tubes of a derelict starship.

The props for Child's Play illustrate the mission perfectly.

With the mission briefing complete, the crew transitioned to the Voyager's Bridge through
the ship's engineering / sick bay section. Parriss manned the first of two transporter
modules.

Bracken welcomed the crew, made up of 10 of my Young Astronauts from the Space Academy's
Young Astronaut / Voyager Clubs.

While the crew trained on the Bridge, a few of the staff conferred in the Briefing Room.
Emily was involved in multiple conversations in true Emily style.

The Captain made the rounds checking on his crew.
He knew the mission would be stressful and wanted his crew ready for the worst.

A few of the crew watched as Adell explained the functions and responsibilities of a Right Wing Officer

     Rarely, if ever, do you have some of the best flight directors both past and present gathered in one ship for one mission.  It was a joy welcoming them all back to the Voyager.  All that was missing was the spiral staircase, bunks, security loft, and the slime devil of course. 

     

Now, An Invitation

     The new Voyager is a beautiful simulator flying with multiple controls (Interstellar, Thorium, and InfiniD).  It is a large starship, the biggest in square feet of all ships built to date.  It is a school based simulator with education and experimentation in the art and science of experiential learning as its primary purpose.  Come learn and fly with us.  Come feel the spirit of the ship's namesake. Visit SpaceCampUtah.org to learn about our private parties, Young Astronauts Clubs for grades 3-6, the Voyager Clubs for grades 7 and 8,  and our Computer Programming Clubs for grades 4-9.  

Mr. Williamson  

Nolan (left) started volunteering in June 2013.  Here he is on one of his first assignments
working a Phoenix mission.

   

Nolan Welch's Last Mission at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center Before Leaving for an LDS Mission in Chili

Nolan on his last mission on the USS Magellan with Mr. Porter, CMSC Director.

Nolan talking to Starfleet Command. Evidently there is a problem with his release papers.
Starfleet says they can't let their best officers just go willy nilly all over the place when so many
credible threats threaten Earth. 

Nolan receiving his 5 Year Volunteer patch from Mr. Porter at Honors Night

     Nolan started Volunteering at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center just over 5 years ago.  He was one of those promising young cadet volunteers you just knew would make a difference in the quality of the Center's programs.  Today Nolan prepares to leave the United States to serve an LDS mission in Chili.  I want to wish Nolan all the best down south, below the equator.  On the bright side, he'll see new stars and constellations he's never seen before.  Say "Hello" to Alpha Centauri for me.

Mr. Williamson

Reports from the Field: Pirates make for a Typical Day on the Starship Magellan at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

By Audrey Henricksen 

(Lissa E. Mason P. JJ M.) 

     After the Magellan flight of Death Trap, I was able to snap a picture of the pirates that terrorized the Magellan crew. Never has there been this much leather surrounding the bridge crew of 6. Let's not forget their fancy hats as well. 

     The leathered pirates captured the crew and unceremoniously deposited them into what the pirates thought was an airlock, but much to their disbelief, the crew surprise them and fought back. After a 15 minute battle for the bridge, the 6 person Magellan crew retook control of the bridge and captured the pirates. 

     We all know Space Center pirates always find a way to escape - and escape they did. They are out there right now plundering to their heart's content.

     Life is good on board the USS Magellan, a battleship like no other. 

Imaginarium Theater

The Best Gifs from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Dame Aleta Clegg: Holder of the Federation Star, Thrice Decorated for Bravery in Combat on Distant Worlds, Hero of the Battle of Tau Ceti IV, Mistress of the Summer Camp Kitchen during the CMSEC's Voyager Era, Author, Former CMSEC Planetarium Director, and Outfitter to the Odd and Unusual Visits the Voyager. The Thorium Directorate Gathers. The Voyagers Build a Saturn V. Imaginarium Theater

Aleta Clegg, Alex DeBirk, Bracken Funk.
If you've lost your inner child I suggest you find it on the Starship Voyager at Renaissance Space Academy, or find a corner in a darkened room, curl up and die.

     Someone walked into my classroom at Renaissance Academy yesterday morning while the Thorium Directorate met with the Master of the Code, Alex Anderson, on issues pertaining to the refit of several of Utah's starship simulators with Thorium simulator bridge software, developed by Alex Anderson and team.  My back was to the door. I heard a plastic bag rustling, glanced over, and saw to my surprise the great lady herself,  Dame Aleta Clegg: holder of the Federation Star, thrice decorated for bravery in combat on distant worlds, Hero of the Battle of Tau Ceti IV, Mistress of the Summer Camp Kitchen during the CMSEC's Voyager Era, Author, mother to many, wife to James, former CMSEC planetarium director, and outfitter to the odd and unusual.  

     "Aleta!" was the cry from many in the Directorate.  

     "I've come bearing gifts," she replied. Out of the bag came a tunic of many colors, a bedecked crown fitting a Paklid prince, Romulanish evening wear, and a magical cape with the power to force a double take.  The cape resembles curtains found only in Victorian sitting rooms of the mid 1800's - tassels and all. 

     Aleta's surprise visit was arranged by Bracken Funk.  Apparently he contacted Aleta asking for costumes for upcoming Voyager missions.  Aleta was kind enough to agree to the task.  Having to deliver her son to BYU Idaho in Rexburg gave her the excuse to drive a bit further south to visit family and friends.  It was good to sit down and visit and catch up on all the news from Washington state.  

The Master of the Code Caped and crowned for the Double Take.

     

     Alex Anderson couldn't let Alex Debirk and Bracken have all the fun.  During a temporary lull in the Thorium conversation Alex found himself drawn to the royal ensemble.  He commented over and over again how good he looked in clothing made for someone of his stature, befitting a true Master of the Code.  We had to agree if we wanted Thorium to run on our starships. 

Alex, Alex, and Matt Ricks were amazed at how the cape and crown transformed Alex Anderson's thought process.
What was once a difficult concept to explain to the code challenged suddenly was easily described and understood.
I've always said that the clothing makes the man.

The Thorium Directorate Gathered at Renaissance Space Academy for Inspiration, Direction, and a Vision Adjustment when Necessary.

       

     Saturday morning at Renaissance Space Academy on Utah County's Silicon Slopes saw the gathering of Space Center directors or their surrogates.  The purpose was to discuss Thorium, the bridge simulator software created by Alex Anderson and associates. Alex calls these high level meetings on a regular basis to touch base with the center's using Thorium.  They're good to deliver news, get feedback and direction, discuss issues and bugs, and inspire the troops.  

     Present were:  James Porter from the CMSC.  Nathan King from the Lions Gate Center at Lakeview Academy, Parriss King representing Telos Academy, Matt Ricks representing himself, Isaac Ostler, Alex DeBirk, and Bracken Funk representing Renaissance, and I attend as the Space Center Founder. I sit their and pontificate as necessary. 

     The future of Thorium was discussed.  Upgrades and wish lists were addressed along with those few bugs that pop up from time to time.  Alex was good to keep the gathering focused and on agenda.

     I can't leave this article without praising the Andersons for Thorium.  Thorium is open sourced for anyone to use.  It is a gift to all from Alex and Crystal Anderson.  It is their way of giving back to the Space Centering community.  Their way of paying it forward.  Thank you.

Mr. Williamson

The Voyager Club's Lego Saturn V

Kyan, Quinn, Connor, and Brahm pose with their Lego creation

     Take a look at this beautiful Saturn V rocket assembled over the last two weeks by members of Renaissance Space Academy's Voyager Club.  The Lego kit was donated to the club by Mr. and Mrs. Moss.  Mrs. Moss is my classroom's paraprofessional. She and I work hard with our drums, rattles, and potions, to rid our 95 sixth graders of their math demons and bring them into the light of sums, products, quotients, differences, and variables.  
     These Voyager's came in after school and at lunch to build this behemoth. It came complete with the proper innards for a trip to the moon circa 1969.  The Saturn V is durable, having been dropped once or twice during its construction and easily put back together again.  Today the rocket sits on display at the back of my classroom on top of the book cabinet.  It is THE conversation piece for visitors, well that and the life sized Dr. Who Dalek  and Marvin the Martian on guard along the north wall.    

Imaginarium Theater
The Best Gifs from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience