News from Renaissance Space Academy. When Will It Open? A Cool Space Mural at the CMSC. From the Archives: See a Video Star Trek Fan Episode Shot on the First USS Voyager and See a Younger Me Give a Tour of the Center. More Awards? Will it Ever Stop? Imaginarium Theater.

The Space Academy at Renaissance Academy is closed, thank you Covid :(  However, that is not a permanent situation.  Megan Warner has been in on Saturdays working to bring the Voyager back into working order after a long summer of disuse and school construction.  Once the Voyager is back in working order and space worthy, my staff and I will meet with Renaissance administration to outline a "Back to Space" timeline.  We hope to have the Voyager open for private missions sometime this Fall.

The after school Young Astronaut Program at Renaissance may have to wait a bit longer due to the split schedule the school is working under.  More news will be posted here on The Troubadour once it is available.

The Space Academy's InfiniD mission program may resume this Fall.  I'm working with Casey and Skyler on bringing the mobile simulator to our classrooms.  The mobile unit consists of a easily portable lighting and speaker system set up in the center of a classroom.  That unit, along with a set of chromebooks, will allow us to fly InfiniD missions for Renaissance Academy's in school daytime students.  Will wonders never cease!     

Mr. Williamson 

 

The Christa McAuliffe Space Center Planetarium is Wrapped in Space. 

A cool space mural wraps around the outer wall of the planetarium providing a nice backdrop to the planets in the main lobby of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.

From the Archives.  Ten Years Ago

See a short film shot on the original USS Voyager by a group from Weber University. We sure miss that simulator. It was the best.

September 2010

Here we have a short film made by J&j Productions and the AAT Team of Weber University. It was a smash hit at the award ceremony. Check it out.

In that same post was this video clip showing me giving a representative from UEN a tour of the Space Center.  

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

What? More Awards? When will it Ever Stop?

OK Troops,
     It's time to pause from the drudgery of your day to day routine and pay some attention to a few awesome Space Center volunteers that recently received honors during the After Meeting on the last few Overnight Camps.

     Ahem, we'll get started once we can have everyone's attention. Jacqueline Wallace, Rachel Harken we're waiting on you two. Please find a seat.
     Rachel doesn't do Facebook or My Space or any of the other Your Business is My Business social web sites. She believes the best way to find out what her friends are doing is talk to them, face to face.
     Jacqueline, on the other hand, prefers to keep things at a distance and doesn't like being forced into a verbal conversation covering a week's worth of news from someone that doesn't post or tweet.  "So much talk talk. It's so medieval," she was overheard saying while rummaging through the fruit on the glass display case after the camp.
     Rachel had Jacqueline trapped in conversation. 

Jacqueline may look at ease in the photo, but if you look closely at her right hand you'll see she isn't. She's digging her fingernail into her thumb, hoping to draw blood - thus giving her a reason to excuse herself to tend to the unexplained wound.

     OK, it looks like Rachel is letting Jacqueline out of the conversation with a traditional Harken Back Woods Hand Shake. It's the way all the Arkansas Harkens end their visiting. With the hand shake comes an invitation to "come on over for vittles and sweet cider when the meetin is done."
(Actually, I may have this all wrong. It might be that Jacqueline is getting her Galileo Pin from Rachel. Yep that's what it is. My bad...)

     Today we celebrate the fact that Connor Larsen is still a member of the Club of the Living after the near fatal puncture of a Phoenix Pin into his neck by Phoenix Set Director Alex Anderson.
     Alex is a member of the "Children should be seen and not heard" group . Actually, Alex takes their motto one step further and believes that children should not be seen OR heard, but considering the business we're in, he's had to adapt - and it hasn't been easy. It's taken a few years but I've gotten Alex to the point where he tolerates our campers and actually does a good job convincing them that he cares. He says he's living a lie every time he smiles at anyone younger than 15 but, in the interest of a pay check, his smile has become believable, although his voice sounds strained when he has to comfort a frightened small human.
     You've heard in your science classes that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. It is true. Every time Alex forces himself into being agreeable with our customers, someone or something must be the recipient of the 'Reaction'. Today that someone was Connor.
    The picture above was taken just before the Phoenix's pin penetrated one of the arteries feeding blood into Connor's brain. Luckily we had several EMT's on our staff that sprang into action and saved his life.
     (Actually, I may have this all wrong. It might be that Alex gave Connor his Phoenix pin, shook his hand, walked over to the hand sanitizer, applied two squirts, deloused his hands, and sat down. Yes, I think that's how it went. Sorry.).

     Christine Grosland comforted Eric Babb as she awarded his Odyssey Pin. He was visibly moved by the event and covered Christine's hand with tears and other drippings. Christine was a champ and hid her stomach's retching from the watching staff. Eric pulled himself together by the end of the ceremony and asked to say a few words. Forty minutes later, we moved along to the other business of the day.
Actually I think I have this all wrong as well. My reporting of Space Center news is all messed up. I seem to be exaggerating a few facts (My inability to stay true to the facts is my one true weakness I'm told). Perhaps I should appoint reporters that will get the news right. What do you think?
     Thanks Troops for all your Hard Work. Our volunteers are the best in the State and I'll challenge anyone that disagrees.
     Enjoy your supper and the rest of the evening. I'm leaving the Space Center now and heading home. Dave Daymont is running a Phoenix mission. Stacy Carrell is doing the same in the Galileo, and Zac Hirschi is in full swing in the Magellan. It's all go at the Space Center at 6:08 P.M. on Thursday, September 23.

Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater

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

Imaginarium Theater October 4, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

Why Did I Create the Space Center Program Nearly Thirty Years Ago. What is its Mission? What is the Future? Plus, News from the Soon to Open CMSC. And a Good Story from InfiniD Learning. Plus the Imaginarium Theater.

Hello Troops,

I've been asked many times over the last thirty years why I created the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center. The answer comes from my belief that you and I, and all those we know and love, are together on this small blue dot in space. The answer comes from my belief that humankind's destiny lies out there where many things wonderful wait to be known for there is "nothing so far removed from us to be beyond our reach or so far hidden that we cannot discover it" (Rene Descartes).  I wanted to build a program that asked children to look up to see the undiscovered country.

The Space Center's early years were difficult.  Those early imagineering pioneers, those dedicated early staff and volunteers, worked alongside me in our goal to create a space faring civilization - in our own small way and in our own corner of the globe.  Did I ever want to give up?  Yes. What kept the program going?  The excitement of students and teachers, and my firm belief in our mission kept us going. 

However.....     

There was something I saw and heard those many years ago that cemented my will to continue to move forward at great personal cost.  Someone else had found the right words that inspired me; words I've come back to many times over the decades when I needed to remember the uniqueness and fragility of our existence and the absolute necessity we have to come together, despite our differences, to celebrate the fact that we are here and this is our time to make a difference.   

I'd like to share that experience with you. Perhaps, after watching this, you'll come to understand the power of emotion in education and how something lasting only a few minutes can change a life forever.

The three minutes I spent listening to this master teacher may seem insignificant in a life of 62 years - but they were. They inspired me to pass this reverence of what lies beyond in the darkness that surrounds us, and the importance of what we have here on Earth with my students. And thus, from my sixth grade classroom in the 1980's, sprang the foundation from which the Christa McAuliffe Space Center was built upon.

The power of Dr. Carl Sagan's words, spoken so long ago, still impact today's children through the space centers and our Space Academy's Young Astronauts Program by showing them what is, what was, and what could be - if we cherish the pale blue dot in space we call home.

Mr. Williamson

Are you ready for what lies ahead?  This is the call to look up and venture outward.  

Support the Space Academy's Young Astronaut Program for grades K - 8.  Contact me at Director@SpaceCampUtah.org to learn how.  

Victor

News From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

How do you build the 2nd largest planetarium in Utah and six state of the art educational simulators? Take a look and see.

Posted by Christa McAuliffe Space Center on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Ten Years Ago.  From The Troubadour's Archives

The Really Late Friday Overnight Camp Night Report

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

     Not all quiet on the Western Front.

     Its becoming traditional for me to post something about the current Overnight Camp before turning in for the night.
     It's 11:49 P.M. The camp is heavily loaded with boys (34 boys and 5 girls). That means I have four campers sleeping in the Odyssey. Sleeping boys in the Odyssey poses a problem. It's closest to where I sleep therefore any noise they make wakes me up. I told the boys that they could talk until I went to bed - and they are.
     There was a knock on the school's east doors. A dad arrived to pick up his sick son. That leaves 33. He was caught in traffic coming down from Salt Lake. An accident on the freeway.
     Ah, the current conversation in the Odyssey involves how many girl friends each of the boys have. It's interesting the way they try to talk over each other to make their points.
     A lull in the conversation. I think they're getting cold. The air conditioner keeps the Odyssey about 5 degrees above Absolute Zero. Such arctic conditions motivate the boys to crawl up into their sleeping bags for warmth. Soon afterwards they fall asleep, and I follow.
     Overall a good crew and of course we've got a killer staff to working with them.
     I'm getting a sore throat. Could be allergies.
     It's 12:01 A.M. time to go to bed. The air conditioners just switched off. They do this every Friday night at midnight and turn on again ten minutes later.
     Having trouble keeping my eyes open. Best surrender and see if the Odyssey boys will let me have a few restful hours before I'm up again at 5:40 A.M. to clean up before making the WalMart donut run.

Good night.

Mr. W.

A Good Story From InfiniD Learning

Skyler Carr

I got totally punked by one of our schools yesterday.

This is a school that has had a lot of super strange tech issues because their school is so old. I'm on the phone with them a lot. Yesterday I was in the neighborhood so I sent them a message asking how they were doing and if there was anything I could do to help. Their assistant principal responded, "yes, please come."

I geared up for another wild ride of troubleshooting, but when I walked into the room, the kids were all in the middle of a mission and things were working perfectly. Confused, I asked what was wrong and she said, "Nothing is wrong. You've helped us with so much that I just figured you'd want to see how much our kids love it."

Imaginarium Theater

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

Imaginarium Theater September 27, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

Warren's Last Day and Magellan Bridge Take Over. Awards Given For Excellence Above and Beyond the Mundane! Jon Parker Discovers Books (and the difference between Bats and Boats). Lorriane Houston Changes Bulletin Board Paper! CMSC News. Imaginarium Theater.

From The Troubadour.  Ten Years Ago This Month

September 9, 2010

Hello Troops,
     Today at the Space Center is brought to you by "The Imaginarium" located in beautiful downtown Wonderland, right next door to the Department of Culinary Inspiration, where the world's greatest chefs access the inspiration to create tomorrow's Michelin Star winning dishes.

 Warren Nuila's Last Day!
     Supervisor and all around good guy, Warren Nuila, spent his last day in Space Center Blues last Saturday. Warren leaves for Germany on Wednesday to serve an LDS mission. Warren worked at the Space Center for the past 7 years as a volunteer, supervisor and flight director. If you've ever flown on a Magellan Camp you probably worked with Warren.

     This is a picture of Warren and his band of cut throat Orion Space Pirates as they prepare to blast their way into the Magellan's Bridge. Unsuspecting younglings, working on the Bridge, were caught off guard and quickly lost all sense of organization as Warren and the gang burst through shouting      "Get them humans!" and "Shiver me Timbers" and "Aaarrgggg!"
     "You're Down and You're Down and You're down. Yes you. Yes you're down and don't argue," shouted the Bridge Supervisor.
     In a matter of minutes, Warren had successfully taken the last Bridge of his Space Center career. It was a moment to be remember for all that participated. I'm sure Warren basked in the joy of knowing he was once again successful, because of his cunning - not to mention overwhelming fire power.

     In fact, here is a shot of Warren basking. Bless his heart. A Legend at the Space Center and the source of many a child's nightmares over the last seven years :)

Good luck Warren and Keep in Touch.

Awards Given For Excellence Above and Beyond the Mundane!

     Yet once again, awards for our awesome volunteers were given at the end of a recent Overnight Camp. In the picture above you see Julie receiving her Odyssey Pin for demonstrating outstanding talent in pushing play and pause. In fact you see Julie showing us the exact thumb she uses when pushing play and pause - mirrored by Emily, Odyssey Set Director, who also uses her thumb to push play and pause.
     Granted, most people use their forefinger to accomplish the same task more efficiently but that isn't the Odyssey way, according to Emily.
     "You'd be surprised at what the thumb can actually do," Emily said during a recent Odyssey training meeting where the Odyssey staff had all their fingers taped together, leaving only their thumbs to control equipment and computers.

     Mr. Daymont is seen here congratulating Eric and Jordan for earning their Magellan Pins. We were limited on time for the award ceremony (due to the consumption of mass quantities of Lorraine's delicious Snickers Chocolate Cake) which is why you'll see Mr. Daymont shaking both boy's hands at once, thus saving approx. 3 seconds.
     "A second wasted is a second lost," Mr. Daymont is fond of saying.

     Stacy, feeling the pressure of time, followed Mr. Daymont's lead and shook both Jordan and Erin's hands at the same time thus congratulating them on earning their Galileo pin. I should point out that Jordan earned his Galileo pin over a month ago but because he was already standing at the front of the room, and seeing an opportunity to be congratulated a second time for an achievement he was already congratulated for, chose to stay and receive the applause and adulation of the assembled staff. Stacy was willing to go along with the deception remembering what happened the last time Jordan was called out for getting a second congratulation. It was unpleasant, to say the least.

Space Center Staff Assist with Central Elementary School Literacy

     Alex Anderson, Stacy Carrell, and Jon Parker spent part of the this afternoon unboxing and stamping reading books for Central Elementary School's literacy program.

     In this picture you see Alex and Stacy unwrapping and stamping the books with Central School's address.

     Jon Parker did the same from another desk. Jon worked separately because he was working at a slower pace.
     "Them books is the coolest," Jon said as he carefully leafed through each book, taking time to appreciate the artwork. "Whoda thought readen could be fun?".
     "OK Jon, what's your favorite?" I asked.

     "This un right here," he replied opening a book about Boats. "I never figured there was so much learning about bats. Bats are cool the way they can't see worth a darn and shout when they fly so everyone in their way has enough time to clear out!"
     "Jon, that book is about Boats," I said quietly, not wanting to embarrass him in front of Alex and Stacy.  He looked over his left shoulder, hoping neither one was aware of his reading blunder.
     "You're right. It's about Boats and Bats!" he exclaimed.
     "You gotta get up early in the morning to pull a fast one on you," I said.


Mrs. Houston Changes Bulletin Board Paper!

     This just in, Mrs. Lorraine Houston was seen in the Discovery Room this afternoon changing the paper on the left bulletin board! This was done secretly. The old paper had been on the board so long most of the staff were fond of it. There was no telling what kind of retaliation Mrs. Houston would suffer if the staff found out it was her that changed the old, yellowed, stained, ripped paper. She was right to do it secretly.
     The new black paper is very nice and black.
     Those of us still at the Center when school got out went in and admired the new paper.
     "It'll do," Stacy said. "It'll do. No reason to get worked up over it."  Everyone agreed.
     Again, just another day at the Space Center.

Mr. Williamson 

An Entry from the Overnight Journal.

September 9, 2010

Hello Troops,
     Just a quick word before turning in for the night. I'm at my desk at the Space Center. It's 11:42 P.M. so therefore it must be an Overnight Camp! Tonight we are hosting 45 4H campers. They're a great group of kids.
     I just returned from checking on the High School Staff in Discovery. The room was dark and the talking robust (and if your interested in what robust means, look it up). The girls are all settled down in the Gym with Mrs. Houston, Metta and a 4H chaperon.
     The junior high boys are sleeping in the Odyssey. Only McKay seems to be talking. The other five are quiet. McKay is telling a story - the plot is confusing because I'm hearing only bits and pieces. The boy campers are in the Voyager.
     It's cold outside, a sure sign of Fall.
     I'm typing this post on my new (gently used) computer purchased from Alex Anderson. Alex is getting a new one. My old desktop is going to the Magellan Control Room to become their Tactical Computer. Aleta, Lorraine and Sheila are happy. With my computer in their Control Room, the Magellan staff won't be borrowing Discovery's laptop every time they need to run their new tactical screens.
     Jon just walked through the Briefing Room.  "Are they settled?" I asked while I typed the paragraph above.
     "They're settled," he replied as he collected his laptop from the side desk.
     Now its time for me to settle. I've got a pad waiting on the floor in front of my desk with my name on it. It will be sweet slumber once my head hits the pillow. I dream I won't be woken up by a needy camper. Six hours of sleep is all I ask. I'll be happy with five but will settle for four is need be.

Goodnight.
Sleep tight.
Don't let the bed bugs bite......

Mr. W.

News from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

By James Porter

Director

Be sure to Like the CMSC's Facebook Page for up to date information on all CMSC happenings. 

If you're going to act like the crew of a starship you have to look like the crew of a starship. Audrey Henriksen has taken up the call to create the stylish new uniforms of the USS Cassini. They are looking fantastic! Well done Audrey and co-designer Jon Parker

Christa McAuliffe Space Center Staff Gather for Planetarium Training

Planetarium Outer Radius Wall

Imaginarium Theater

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