The Troops Sit on the Porch with Papa Parker and Sip Lemonade After a Full Day of Safeguarding the Galaxy. Mr. Williamson's Request is Approved by the Magellan Council. Imaginarium Theater.

 

     It's late Saturday night. The swing shift is off duty.  The staff are gathered in the office for a good old fashion chinwag.  It isn't often the younger staff get to sit at the feet of an old veteran like Papa Parker and hear the tales of daring flight directors and courageous supervisors from times past.  

     "You think this has been a long day?"  I hear Jon reminise as she strokes his chin to find the right words.  "Try flying a full day's field trips, then a 4:00 P.M. private mission and then an overnight camp.  Now that's a day's work."  Around him I see wistful eyes of the youngling staff wondering if they have that same grit. 

     "And then there were the summer camps......." Jon settles more comfortably in his chair as he clears his throat to continue.  "We started with a staff meeting at 6:30 on the first night. After that we signed the campers in. After sign ins Mr. Williamson divided them into rotations and the first flight and classroom session started. We'd finish at 11:00 at night and meet in the cafeteria.  The campers and staff got ice cream before they got their sleeping assignments. Lights out was at 11:45. Think of having 42 to 60 young 10 to 14 year old campers that you were responsible for all night long. We just prayed they'd let us get some sleep."  

     "Did the staff stay overnight too?" someone asks.

     "Most did. I did for sure because Mr. Williamson had me chaperoning.  He slept on the floor in front of his desk and I slept on the Voyager bridge keeping an eye on 25 to 27 boys sleeping on the bunks and the bridge floor if there weren't enough bunks.  Everyone got up at 7 in the morning - then breakfast and back into the ships and classroom. Lunch was at noon then back to the ships until supper at 7:00 P.M.  After supper we walked them to the Pleasant Grove swimming pool to swim and shower.  We'd get back from the pool at 9:30.  Everybody met in the cafeteria with their sleeping bags to watch a Wallace and Gromit and a Star Trek episode before going to bed at 10:30. Some of the staff sold pop and candy in the hall to make some extra money. 

     The next morning the campers had breakfast then back to the ships and classroom. Lunch on the third day was the last meal. After lunch there was time for one more rotation before the campers met in the gym at 4:30 to fill out the surveys and vote for staff.  The camp ended at 5:00 P.M.  You want tired?  Try that schedule every week all summer long.  Now that's tired." 

     "How did you do it Papa Parker?  How did you do it?" a small voice asks over the hushed room.

     "Well, you just had to. You'd be surprised what you can do when you just have to."  Jon replies.  After a moment, a slight grin spreads across Jon's face. "Did I ever tell you guys about the time I burned all my "Get out of Jail Free" cards because of a smoke bomb?  Well, It all started one overnight camp..................."

The Magellan Coordinating Council Grants an Old Man's Wish 

     I'm pleased to announce that my sincere request to sign the Magellan's Control Room flag has been agreed to by the Magellan Coordinating Council.  The news was announced in a Facebook comment related to last week's Troubadour Post.  

     The permission included the certificate above - officially signed by Connor and Nicole.  While whimsical in appearance, the certificate carries the seriousness of rank and privilege.  With this certificate, I have the right to sit in the Magellan Control Room - Not as a guest - but as one of them.  I couldn't be more proud. I imagine myself sitting in the control room surrounded by some of the Space Center's best and brightest as they exchange playful, friendly, and teasing remarks back and forth waiting for my turn to insert a well constructed and rehearsed witticism.  Does life get any better?   

     Included with the certificate was this letter of worthiness to be used at any time in the future when future Magellanites doubt my credentials to sit with them to break bread. Also, this is the video proof Connor referred to in the letter above. 

     Thank you Connor and Nicole for this kind offer.  Connor, I shall wait to sign the flag until you return to oversee the investiture.  I want this done properly.  

     To almost correctly quote President Reagan, 

Ich bin ein Magellanite

(an extra donut or two to anyone who can tell me the significance) 

Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater

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

Katie Young's Last Odyssey Mission. A Sacred Magellan Tradition Continues. Today's Imaginarium Theater with a Tribute to the People of Ukraine.

 

Katie in the Odyssey Flight Director's Chair on Friday

     Katie Young's last Odyssey mission before leaving on an LDS mission was Friday night.  At least that was the plan.  I stopped by the Space Center to get a photo or two of Katie and to say my farewells.  I wasn't the only one.  The Odyssey, which only has one volunteer or perhaps two on a lucky day, had an army of volunteer / well wishes on hand to work her last mission. 

Katie's Final Staff:  Nolan, Hayden, Katie, Tyler, Mason, Jon, Orion. On the bottom row Hyrum, Ellie, Cecily, and Audrey   

     Yes, you counted right. There were 11 staff and a crew of 8. Wow, those 8 young girls were about to get the mission of their lives..... until.....

     During the mission briefing (pictured above) in the school's Conference Room, the captain, reacting to Katie's intense briefing, vomited.  It was one of those "we're done" vomits. Because it was the birthday girl, the crew packed up and left. Katie's last mission lasted as long as a briefing.  I guess you could say it was anti-climatic.    

     The good news was the staff had some time to just chill and enjoy each other's company.   Audrey also had time to snap a good photo of Katie pretending to flight direct a last mission.  

     Katie has been with the Space Center since 2017.  The photo above and below were taken at the Honor's Night Breakfast and ceremony held that year. 

     In 2019 (pictured above) Katie got the big promotion into Flight Director training along with a class of very talented individuals.  Katie earned her Supervisor Blues and took a position in the Cassini where I was privileged to work with her last summer. 

     Natalie and Tabitha stole her from under Jon's nose at the end of the summer and made her an Odyssey flight director. 

     Katie has one of those "Go To Work" personalities.  She is also a poster child for the Optimists of America!  "It will all be good," is the perfect slogan for Katie.  She will be missed by all those who had the opportunity to work with her.  

     Take care on your mission Katie. We are planning on your return as per the small print in your dismissal papers; you know - the Reactivitation Clause. 

Aaron Signs the Magellan Flag

     

     And with that signature, Aaron became "Somebody" in the eyes of the Magellan management.  Yes my friends, you are nobody until you are invited to sign that flag. I've been trying for years and to no avail.  Alas, I'll spend the rest of my days in that purgatory of what ifs.  "What if I spent more time in the Magellan."  "What if I complimented Conner more on his organ playing."  "What if I had made it a rule to bring treats to the Magellan staff first before putting them in the staff lounge."  We will never know.    

     

     Beware Magellan staff, I have a key and I see a couple unoccupied corners on that flag where a very very small signature could be inserted.  I'm just saying......

Imaginarium Theater With a Tribute to Ukraine

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

Meet the Newest Members of Staff at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center: A Tradition of Excellence Continues. Another Space Center Baby Born. Laser Shows Coming to the Planetarium. Imaginarium Theater.

By James Porter

Be sure to "Like" the Space Center's Facebook Page.

We have some absolutely amazing staff here at the Space Center and we want to take a moment to highlight our volunteers who have trained so hard to reach various paid positions over the last few months.

Aaron is our most recent Magellan supervisor.

He is preceded by Cecily and Hayden.

The Magellan holds our largest crews and is often containing many rambunctious birthday party children. So it takes a special breed of staff to help focus that level of energy toward accomplishing mission objectives and crew unity. Aaron does so with a calm persistence, Cecily with her warm and welcoming persona, and Hayden sets a futuristic military tone that gets them right in character.

Gracelyn has been our volunteer venturing into new realms as she has been the first volunteer to take on the training to become a planetarium Navigator. Taking guests through a journey of the cosmos all on your own with some of our most complex and challenging equipment is no small task. She has grown in confidence and her presentation skills are ever improving as she deals with larger groups attending our shows. So you are in luck if you see her welcoming face when you walk through our doors.

On the Cassini side of the fleet we have Ellie and Hyrum. The Cassini has the added challenge of creating an identity as one of our newest ships. Both of our new supervisors have worked diligently to create amazingly detailed subplots, characters, and other little gems that really make the Cassini come to life. Ellie and Hyrum are both contagiously upbeat and a pleasure to work with.

A small blurb is hardly enough to showcase the efforts of these great staff members, but we wanted to congratulate them for their accomplishments. It is an ongoing challenge to train staff for our unique positions at a rate sufficient to meet the growing demands of our program. This isn't your typical teenager job. So when you see any of our staff we want you to know how truly dedicated they are to making our program an amazing experience for all who attend. They are greatly talented individuals and we are fortunate they share those talents with all of us.

A New CMSC Baby is Born

The club of Space Center babies is small but growing. A Space Center baby is a youngling born to parents who met at the Space Center through their volunteer or staff work. Today The Troubadour is pleased to announce the birth of the newest member of this prestigious club, a baby girl to Tabitha and Matt Ricks. The fact that Dr. McCoy was the delivery doctor is the proof that this child will walk on Mars one day - no doubt about it. Congratulations Matt and Tabitha!

Laser Shows Coming to the Space Center Planetarium.

They are still a long way out, but today with some additional donations from generous businesses and individuals the CMSC reached a funding milestone that will allow it to purchase laser equipment for the planetarium!

You can't have a laser show without fog. The planetarium's hazer fogger will see that the job of fogging up the place is done right. Jon Parker will testify to that. Rumor has it he is still trying to find his way out of the planetarium.

Imaginarium Theater

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