Contact Victor Williamson with your questions about simulator based experiential education programs for your school.
SpaceCampUtah@gmail.com

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School Launches a New Mission "Dual Edge". Mad Dog Spotted Near Lone Peak High School. A Missing Young Astronaut Squadron - the Search Continues. Imaginarim Theater

I got a short text from Alex DeBirk last week telling me of the launch of his new mission "Dual Edge" for his school's simulator Discovery.  With the paragraph came the photo below.


Alex's message read:

     These costumes go with the Martian bridge set. We told our new story Dual Edge today. This mission teaches about Native American wars of the 1800s. Here are two of the mysterious Gaians, dressed in special environment suits so they can survive in Discovery's atmosphere. The Gaians are our analogue of Native Americans, people who are forced to leave their land because of pressures outside of their control.



Alex DeBirk's classroom at American Heritage converted to a Mars Base for their new mission Dual Edge. The desks you see are from the old Starship Voyager's bridge at Central School 

 

Utah Valley's Space EdVenture Centers are gearing up for the summer space camp season.  The Christa McAuliffe Space Center has several new missions in the final stages of development with two test flight coming this week - one for the Odyssey's new mission and one for the Galileo.  The Space Place at Renaissance Academy is nearly ready with its new 5 hour mission as well.  Camp registrations are well under way. It should be a fun, busy summer.

Mad Dog Spotted by Mr. Williamson Near Lone Peak High School


I spotted Mad Dog's Minivan near Lone Peak High School two 
weeks ago and took a picture at the traffic light

Reports have emerged that the infamous leader of the Orion Space Pirates, Mad Dog, was recently spotted near Lone Peak High School in Utah. Mad Dog, a notorious wanted fugitive across the galaxy, has been on the run for years, evading the Federation security services at every turn.

It seems that Mad Dog had retired from a life of crime and settled on Earth in hopes of avoiding detection. However, his ego may have gotten the best of him, as he was spotted driving a mini van with license plates that gave him away.

It's not often that a notorious space pirate chooses to settle on Earth, let alone in Utah, but it seems that Mad Dog was hoping to fly under the radar and start a new life. However, his past caught up with him, and his presence in the area has caused quite a stir.

Local authorities are reportedly working with the Federation security services to apprehend Mad Dog and bring him to justice. It's unclear what his plans were for the future or how long he had been in Utah before being spotted, but one thing is for certain – his days of anonymity are over.

The sighting of Mad Dog near Lone Peak High School has left many residents of the area feeling uneasy, especially given his violent past. However, it is reassuring to know that the authorities are on the case and working to ensure the safety of the community.

It remains to be seen what will become of Mad Dog, but for now, residents of the area are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The hunt for this notorious space pirate is far from over, and it's likely that we'll be hearing more about him in the days and weeks to come.

Renaissance Academy Young Astronauts Missing in Nebula Hundreds of Light Years Away


One of the few pictures received from Command

The space community is holding its breath as news emerges of a missing 5th Grade Young Astronaut squadron from Renaissance Space Academy. The squadron has been missing for the last few months, several hundred light years from Earth, and the search for them is ongoing.

The only clue we have to their whereabouts are a few pictures transmitted by the ship's computer to Terran Space Command before their starship Voyager went dark. The images show the crew at work on the ship's bridge apparently working a plan to place the ship into the nebula - the reason is unknown.


                                  The photos show the ship at Red Alert

Adding to the mystery, the Starship Montgomery, which was in the region charting new star formation, has also gone missing. This has left the space community reeling and searching for answers.

Experts are working tirelessly to decipher the few images sent from Voyager's computer in the hopes of finding any clues that could lead to the discovery of the missing squadron. The search for the squadron has become a top priority for Terran Space Command, and resources have been mobilized from across the galaxy to aid in the search and rescue efforts.


                         The Voyager's Captain saw something in the cloud

The Renaissance Academy community is understandably concerned for the well-being of their young astronauts, and the missing squadron has left a void in the hearts of many. The school's 200 other Young Astronauts and Voyagers are rallying around the families and friends of the missing cadets, offering support and assistance in any way they can.

We think this is a photo of the communication's officer trying to call for assistance

As the search for the missing squadron continues, the space community is reminded of the inherent dangers of space travel and the importance of safety protocols and procedures. The situation is a sobering reminder that space travel, while exciting and full of possibilities, can also be dangerous and unpredictable.


The last photo. Why was this operation's officer hiding as he decoding a message. What danger was the ship in?

The search for the missing 5th Grade Young Astronaut squadron from Renaissance Academy and the Starship Montgomery is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The thoughts and prayers of the space community are with the missing astronauts and their families during this difficult time.


Imaginarium Theater

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

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Curious About the Starship Simulators outside of Utah? Watch this Video About One of Our Sister Ships, the IKS Marvel in Michigan. Audrey Hendriksen's Short Documentary on the Space Center. Imaginarium Theater


The Bridge of the IKS Marvel. Dansville, Michigan

People are surprised to learn there are 8 starship simulators very similar to the 14 Space EdVentures simulators we have in Utah County outside of Utah.  They are part of the Dream Flight Adventures Network created by Gary Gardiner.  


Gary spent many hours of his teen years attending both overnight and summer space camps at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in the 1990's.  That's where he got "hooked" on experiential simulator based education. His goal was to create a similar program in Pennsylvania where he settled with his family.  Today, Dream Flight Adventures has 8 simulators in two states, the District of Columbia, and one overseas simulator in Venezuela. 

Recently the IKS Marvel was highlighted in a Michigan educators video.  The teachers and administrators do an excellent job describing what we do with our simulators and I encourage everyone to take a minute and watch the video.  Let's celebrate the work of our sister simulators and wish them the very best as we all work together to create a space faring civilization.     

The IKS Marvel

Location:  Dansville Elementary School — 1264 Adams St, Dansville, MI 48819

Flight Directors: Angela St.Amant

Crew Complement:  32

Plan a Visit:  The IKS Marvel primarily flies missions for students at Dansville Elementary School, but it will welcome visitors from other schools, districts, and groups from its surrounding community.  Please stay tuned to our blog for updates.

Launch Date:  May 2019

The Video on the Marvel and its Educational Team




Audrey Henriksen's Short Video Project on the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

I'm not one to draw attention to myself or to stand out in a crowd. I prefer the quiet life, spending time doing my favorite hobby - sitting quietly. It has been mentioned that I'm humble to a fault and I humbly agree. However.... there are times when one must step out beyond the cloistered walls of room 304 to promote causes dear to one's heart and recently that is what I did at the request of everyones favorite Blue Shirt, Audrey Henriksen.

Audrey was tasked by a professor to make a short video on a topic of her choosing. The Space Center was Audrey's topic which was no surprise to anyone. Audrey contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to step before the camera and be interviewed. Of course my first reaction was to politely decline but considering that everyone owes Audrey a favor, or two, or three I happily accepted the request.

The finished video is below. Audrey gave permission for it to be posted to The Troubadour for all to enjoy. Audrey - Job Well Done!




The Imaginarium

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



Sunday, April 23, 2023

The Media Department at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center Launches. Learning to Code is Important to our Voyagers. Infini-D is Ready to Start This Year's Infini-D League

 


The Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Media Department, under the command of Commander Hayden, held its inaugural meeting on Saturday, April 14th from 10:00 - 11:30 A.M. Also attending was Sector Chief JJ from Section 31. The creation of the Media Department marks a significant step forward in the Starfleet's mission to explore the galaxy.

The Media Department, comprised of a group of elite CMSC Voyager cadets (and they are looking for more), is tasked with producing sophisticated imagery, computer-generated and real-time maps, and diagnostic starship operational readings to be displayed on starship tactical screens. The starships, whose home port is Starbase Williamson near the Outer Rim: Falcon, Magellan, Cassini, Phoenix, Galileo, and Odyssey - will benefit from this department's work. The imagery this team will provide will give the necessary data a ship's command crew needs to operate a starship safely and efficiently in any situation.

During the meeting, Commander Hayden addressed the group, emphasizing the importance of their work in the broader context of Starfleet's mission to explore and expand humanity's understanding of the universe.

"We are the eyes and ears of the command crew," Commander Hayden said. "Our work is essential to the success of any mission, and I have every confidence that this team will meet and exceed expectations in the years to come."

The cadets, eager to begin their work, spent the remainder of the meeting discussing their individual areas of expertise and how they could best collaborate to produce the highest-quality imagery and data possible. They also discussed potential challenges they may face in their work, including time constraints and unforeseen technical difficulties.

Despite these challenges, the Media Department is poised to make a significant contribution to Starfleet's mission. Their work will enable the command crew to make informed decisions in real-time, improving the safety and efficiency of starship operations. With the skills, expertise, and dedication of the cadets comprising the Media Department, the future of Starfleet's mission looks brighter than ever before.



Are you interested in joining the Media Department at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center? We need your willingness to learn and desire to serve. And how cool is it to know that your work could be seen by the thousands who fly in our starships every month. Contact Mr. Williamson for more details. victorwilliamson@alpinedistrict.org

The Farpoint Voyager's at Renaissance Academy's The Space Place Work on Learning Computer Code


The CMSC Voyagers are joined by the Farpoint Voyagers in learning computer coding and starship media creation. Every Saturday morning from 8:30 - 9:30 A.M. members of the Farpoint Voyager's meet at Renaissance Academy to work on their coding skills. Google's CS First provides the curriculum. The cadets are using SCRATCH to create computer games. Yesterday, the cadets began making escape games.

Calling All Voyagers in Grades 6-9!  The Infini-D League is Starting.  Teams will be Formed.  We Need You!

logo

Infini-D League is coming on April 24th! 🚀

 

Are you ready for the most thrilling and exciting competition of the year? The Infini-D League missions are back and better than ever before! This year's competition promises to push the students' skills to the limit, testing their abilities to work together and overcome challenges. 

🗓️ Dates: April 24th - May 19th

👩‍🏫 Grades: Kindergarten to 9th grade

🏆 Prizes: Infini-D Trophy and pizza party

❓ How to compete: run the Infini-D League mission with your class

📝 Rules and leaderboard: check out the official website for more information

Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure with your students as the Infini-D League missions. Stayed tuned for more updates closer to the competition!

2022 Infini-D League Winners

K-3rd grades winners:

🥇 Provo Peaks Elementry (UT)

🥈 Home Elementary (TX)

🥉 Cook Elementary (UT)

Top New School:

⭐ Alpine Elementary (UT)

K-3 winners-Provo Peaks Elementary (UT)

4-9th grade winners

🥇 Edgemont Elementry (UT)

🥈 Cook Elementary (UT)

🥉 Provo Peaks Elementary (UT)

Top New School:

⭐ Duval Charter School at Southside K-8 (FL)

4-9 winners-Edgemont Elementary (UT)

CMSC and Farpoint Voyagers, look for more information here on the Blog and in the Google Classrooms.  

Mr. Williamson


Imaginarium Theater

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