"Mr. Williamson, Why Don't You Smile." And Why Does Every Odyssey Flight Director Seem So Happy? All From the Archives. Plus Zac Hirschi Marries. Brittney VandenBos is Engaged. News From the CMSC. Imaginarium Theater.

Ten Years Ago at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.  Mr. Williamson, Do You Ever Smile?

 

September 5, 2010

What do you think of this one? Sincere Enough to be Believable?
This is the best I could do after 30 minutes of practice.

Hello Troops,
They often say that kids say the darnedest things. Perhaps its because they haven't lived long enough to learn what is allowable for politeness sake and what isn't. It's a skill we pick up over time and through experience. How many times have you opened your month and stuck your foot in it? How many times have you said something and the moment the words escaped you realized you put yourself into a social corner you couldn't get out of? Of course, most of these types of blunders can be forgiven because we know the person speaking meant no harm by the statement. They just didn't think before they spoke.

Then we have students that say things they know full well carry strong meanings - capable of pushing someone's buttons to force an overreaction and possible embarrassment. This happened a few weeks ago just as the overnight camp was winding up. I was standing in front of the campers giving my final speech before dismissing them to their parents.

One young teen boy raised his hand just after I told them where to put their pens and pencils we used to complete our camp end satisfaction survey. I normally don't get questions at that point of the wind up speech and wondered what it was about "where to put his pen" he didn't get. I pointed to him so he could speak.

"Mr. Williamson, do you ever smile?" he asked.

I'll admit the question startled me. I was hit broadside by something I wasn't expecting and he wanted an answer. I looked for all the physical clues that would indicate he was joking around but they weren't there. From what I could tell, the question was legit. The issue that immediately came to mind was how to answer. I could have ignored the question with a frown, thus fueling the fire that fed the question and proving to the 44 campers that I was incapable of smiling. Or, I could be honest and say that I wasn't aware I looked liked someone weaned on a pickle.

I had to say something quickly because if I didn't the campers would see a crack in my solid 'Camp Director' facade. If I didn't answer quickly then I'd be admitting defeat to this young teen and that I couldn't do.

I opened my mouth to speak, stopped and gave him the biggest smile I could muster. Then I spoke. "I smile all the time AFTER all of you go home!"

I got a laugh from the rest of the campers. His half smile told me he thought my response was lame but I didn't care - at least I got out of the situation with my dignity. I mean, how can we constantly preach that the Space Center is the Second Funnest Place on Earth without always looking so happy you couldn't imagine yourself being anyplace else at that particular time.

I dismissed the campers and purposefully smiled as I walked down the two long hallways back to my desk to tally the surveys. I also made it a point to smile as I worked through the surveys and kept smiling until I knew the last of the campers were gone. Only then did I relax my mouth muscles and let them go back to their natural droopy state.

I will admit some good did come from his question/statement. I am now painfully aware that my appearance does make a difference in how other perceive the Space Center so I've made a start of the year resolution to try my best to smile more. I know it won't look sincere to those of you that know me well but as long as it passes and genuine to those that don't know me then we are in business.

So, here I am. You may call me the Happy Man that Runs the Space Center. Yes, I'm the guy that soon no one will trust because I'll be smiling all the time (isn't it true, you never trust someone that is always happy and cheerful?)

I'm practicing different smiles at home in the mirror. I've settled on two that look OK. The only problem is my teeth. They carry the slightly yellowish hue that comes from years of drinking Diet Coke. Kyle Herring recommended I have them whitened but fear the only thing capable of whitening these aged ivory relics is pure bleach and the warning labels on Bleach bottles warn against it. I see my dentist for a check up in a few weeks. I'll see what he says - once I get him to stop laughing.

So, life continues here at the Space Center. I spent last week filling our field trip calendar. This week we rehearse our new planetarium shows in the the new Digitarium and I venture back into the Voyager and review my school missions. I haven't flown since the end of last school year so I'm a bit rusty.

Thank you to everyone that reads this blog and a thank you to our many wonderful volunteers and staff. I'm grateful you've put up with my grumpy face all this time without saying something.

Perhaps I need to send more time with the Odyssey Flight Directors. They're always happy, bubbly and all smiley. Tis a mystery.....

Mr. Williamson 

Zac Hirschi Marries.  Another Former Space EdVenturer Finds Happiness Outside of Space Service

 

Zac Hirschi married Lisa Leikam on September 5.  Zac was a long time volunteer, supervisor and flight director at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center during my tenure as CMSEC director.  He started with me in the Voyager when he was in junior high and stayed with us through high school.  It was Zac who flew my last mission as Space Center director in May 2013.  

Zac flying my last mission as Space Center director on the Magellan.  May 2013 

 

Zac on the day of his first mission as a Flight Director in the Magellan

Congratulation Zac and Lisa from all your long time friends at the Space Center.  May you both live long and prosper.

Mr W

Brittney VandenBos Engaged to Brandon Decker  

Brittney and Brandon

Congratulations to Brittney and Brandon on the announcement of their engagement. Brittney was another long time volunteer and member of staff of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.  She was the Magellan Set Director for a time and most recently help me create and operate the Young Astronaut program at the Renaissance Space Academy.  

Brittney is a successful businesswoman at DecisionWise in Orem Utah.  

News From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

Last week James Porter took me on a tour of the new Central School.   I was impressed. A beautiful new school to proudly carry the name "Central Elementary".  The Space Center is still under construction and coming along nicely.  James and Doug work out of an unused classroom in the school until the new center opens. Set up along one of the walls is the computer running the planetarium's software.

James gave me a demonstration of the software.  What I saw was impressive.  The software is fairly easy to use - drop and play in a way, yet still able to deliver a professional planetarium presentation.  You don't need to know computer programming to write and produce a state of the art planetarium show.  

The difficulty comes in creating an engaging show.   This is where Doug steps to the stage.  Doug is the Space Center's curriculum director.  One of his jobs is to create planetarium content.  

Watch for news on the CMSC's grand opening here on the Troubadour and on the Space Center's Facebook page.         

And from the Space Center's Facebook page comes this side note about the Center's new trash receptacles.  Have you a suggestion?  Send it in.   

Imaginarium Theater

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

Imaginarium Theater September 13, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

The Space Center's Walls Shook and Almost Came Down, Thanks Christine. Timelapse of the CMSC's New Planetarium Dome. Space Center Artwork. The Sixth Simulator Soon to be Named. Imaginarium Theater.

 Hello Troops,

Things are moving along nicely at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  Word is the new space center should be open in less than two months.  I've been tracking it closely on the Space Center's Facebook page.  By the way, the CMSC is close to reaching its goal of 5000 Facebook likes.  If you haven't already "Liked" the page, please do so now.  Once that goal is reached James will announce the name of the sixth simulator.  https://www.facebook.com/asdspacecenter

"To the many people asking when we are going to be open again, we are crossing our fingers for no delays and hope to be flying again less than 2 months from now.

Our staff have been working hard on developing content for the planetarium, building updated models of our ships, refining the story universe we operate within, and so many other projects.

It's time to start spreading the excitement that the end is in sight. We use our Facebook page to announce new developments, special offers and discounts, and fun news relating to our program. We set a goal to reach 5,000 followers and we are just 170 friends away. As a part of that goal we said we would reveal the last ship of our fleet and gave a bit of a teaser pictured below. So to encourage you to share our page with your friends we'll reveal a bit more to the puzzle. Here's what the model of our new ship looked like over a year ago.

Help spread the joy of our program by visiting our page, clicking the three little dots . . . and INVITE FRIENDS!"

          James Porter 

Here are the latest updates from the CMSC.  Let's start with a video time lapse of the planetarium dome construction.  

 

Audrey Henricksen did a few sketches of the simulators all of you grew up to love.  Thanks Audrey! 

Audrey, A Space Center Legend

                             Jon Parker, the flight director with the always present smile

Ten Years Ago this Week on The Troubadour.

The Space Center's Walls Shook and Foundation Trembled.

August 30, 2010

The Imaginarium's Receptionist diving for cover
at the first jolt and cheer heard from the Space Center

At 9:40 A.M. Saturday last the walls of the Space Center shook. In fact, the tremors were felt throughout the Imaginarium and Wonderland. I was sitting at my desk working on the September Volunteering and Staff schedule when the shaking started.

The jolt was preceded by Christine Grosland, one of the Odyssey's Flight Directors, announcing to her crew that they had successfully finished their Overnight Mission. A millisecond later there arouse a sound from the bowels of the Odyssey rarely heard at such a deafening volume. The cheering was so enthusiastic and energetic it caused my desk to rattle. The light fixtures overhead shook, sending me in a panic under my desk to cower in fear the fluorescent light bulbs would explode and shower my desk and chair with shards of glass.

"What the ..." Alex Anderson shouted from the Phoenix Control Room. "Christine has triggered the Big One." 

In a panic so unlike his normally placid self, Alex shoved his young staff out of the way so he could stand in the doorway for protection. "It's every man for himself," he spat, wildly kicking at anyone who came near him. "Flight Directors are more important than volunteers when the ship is going down!"

The cheering continued for what seemed like minutes. Dust from the overhead rafters drifted downward like snowflakes. Ceiling tiles broke free and chairs bounced around the room like popcorn in a hot skillet. The youngest of our volunteers took hold of anything that seemed stable - their eyes, wide with shock.

Students, attending Wonderland's School for the Imaginationally Deprived, dive for cover as the shaking started. These students are brought to Wonderland for specialized treatment designed to reignite their imaginations and creativity. For some, its too much TV, or video games. For others it is a lack of play. And for some, it is the result of their school's overemphasis on standardized testing.

After what seemed an eternity, the cheering stopped. The Odyssey went silent - the shaking stopped. It's said the Wasatch Fault moved a good six centimeters Saturday morning, thanks to Christine, her staff and the excellent job they did - which resulted in a cheer heard throughout Wonderland.

Needless to say, the Odyssey scored a perfect 1 across the board, the first for the summer season. Congratulations Christine and your staff. What an awesome job.

Mr. Williamson

The Power of Imagination.  

A short story by Yours Truly.  There was a time when I'd write short little stories like this to keep my imagination sharp and in good repair for when I'd need to write those simulator missions.  

September 2, 2010

     Samuel Cooper. Age 10. Returned home from school at 3:45 P.M. He enjoyed a cookie taken without his mother's permission at 3:47 P.M. and at 3:49 P.M. stood in the refrigerator's doorway and drank directly from the milk carton - a serious no no. At 3:52 Samuel sat on the front porch of his home on Elm Street in Eugene Oregon. At 4:00 P.M. Samuel closed his eyes and accessed his direct link to Wonderland's Imaginarium. At 4:01 he relocated.
     Samuel Cooper, Age 10 sat on a stone windowsill enjoying the scenery and calm of the fjord. A smell introduced itself from behind - embedded in the musty smell of moss on stone. Something familiar and dangerously foul. He had one hour before mother would call him for dinner. It was time to act......

Imaginarium Theater

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

Imaginarium Theater September 6, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

Imaginarium Theater. Get your Week Off to a Good Start!

 Imaginarium Theater

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

Imaginarium Theater August 23, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.