Nathan King Becomes the Center Director of the Telos Discovery Space Center. Dr. Ryan Anderson Retires to Relocate. Imaginarium Theater

 

Nathan King Receives the Hyperion's Microphone from Ryan Anderson

     

     Dr. Ryan Anderson is retiring as director of the Telos Discovery Space Center at Telos Academy in Orem.  Honoring a long tradition in the Space EdVentures diaspora, he made the retirement official by performing the "Changing of the Microphone" ceremony where he passed the Hyperion's microphone to Nathan King, his chosen successor.  

     Dr. Anderson will be leaving Telos to take a new position outside of Utah.  As a community of space education centers, we wish Ryan the very best as he and his family embark on a new adventure. 

     Ryan leaves behind a space center he founded and put his heart and soul into, the Telos Discovery Space Center. The Telos center was unique in the fact that Ryan and his team pioneered the use of simulator based education to provide clinical treatment to the students of Telos U.  Telos U helps boys dealing with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, addictions, social problems, and learning differences. The staff use clinical therapies coupled with the power of healing relationships to promote deep lasting change. The school's aim is to help teens lead principled-centered lives characterized by insightful choices.  

     Ryan wrote the following to describe his Center's unique approach,

Since we tend to work mostly with young adults in our LDM program, we have been continuing to find ways to add a variety of layers to our missions to help keep everyone meaningfully engaged, rather than just busy. As a part of that, we have really been expanding our use of auxiliary timelines which allows us to have specific side stories running that are coordinated with the main mission but which proceed at their own pace.

With that, we have created a fairly large number of detailed second stories for Engineering, Security, Science, Medical, and Counterintelligence that go beyond the old favorites of "there's a bomb on the ship" or "a fight broke out in the mess hall," although we still enjoy using those, as well. 

This has allowed us to focus on helping our participants have experiences with a variety of skills such as management, public health measures, auditing (it's more fun than it sounds like!), human resources, and more realistic cyber security issues.

 

Ryan and Rebecca 

      Very few people have a true understanding of how experiential education can change lives.  Dr. Ryan Anderson is one of those. His enthusiasm was contagious.  I very much enjoyed our weekly planning meetings when the Hyperion opened because I'd walk away recharge just for being around him.  You knew the love he had for Telos and his students. You knew of his commitment to them and his desire to find ways to make their lives better and more meaningful through his simulations in the Hyperion.  

     And standing right next to Ryan during the founding of the Telos Center was his wife Rebecca.  Her talents of visualizing situations and imagineering solutions was amazing. There wouldn't have been a Hyperion without Rebecca. They make one of those powerhouse couples and they will be missed by    the many many people whose lives they've touched and made the better for. 

Who is Nathan King You Wonder?  Read On...  

     Dr. Anderson picked the right man for the job as the new Center director.  Nathan King is one of the few people on the planet who has the background, experience, and education to take on the responsibilities of a Center Director. 

     I've known Nathan for years - ever since he was a young volunteer at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education before the remodeling of 2012 - 2013.  He goal was to become a flight director. After the Center closed for remodeling, Nathan turned his attention to the newly created Discovery Space Center at Stone Gate in Pleasant Grove where he quickly became a flight director on the USS Columbia.  When I asked him how he was doing, Nathan replied, "I've never ceased to amaze all those who've flown with me!"  Modesty is a trait never in short supply when it comes to Nathan :)

Nathan on his first day as a Columbia Flight Director, December 2014.

     From that day on, Nathan moved from success to success and rapidly conquered more starship simulators. 

Atlantis Set Director 2015

In 2015 he became the Set Director of the USS Atlantis at the Discovery Space Center at Stone Gate.  He continued with the Discovery Center when it changed locations from Stone Gate to the Canyon Grove Academy in Pleasant Grove. In 2017 he became a new flight director of the Everest Simulator.

Nathan Getting his Everest Flight Director Pass from Maeson Busk at the Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy.  2017.

Nathan with his wife Parriss and Daniel Kirkpatrick on the Leo in 2018

Around this time the space center at Lakeview Academy was getting ready to open two new starships, the Apollo and the Artemis.  Lakeview opened its first ship, the Leo, in December 2013 under the director of Casey Voeks, Skyer Carr, and Brandon Wright.  Nathan moved to Lakeview to begin working on their ships as a flight director.  He became the center's director when Brandon Wright retired.

Nathan and Brandon in the Leo's Control Room

      Nathan's association with Dr. Anderson at Telos goes back to the beginning of their program.  

Ryan, Nathan and I working on mission ideas for the Hyperion

     That relationship included Parriss King, Nathan's wife.  She worked as a member of the Telos DSC's staff and of course that kept Nathan involved to some degree despite his full time work as Center Director at Lakeview.  

Parriss King (far right) in the Hyperion's Control Room

     In the end, the King's left the world of spaceship simulators to pursue other interests. Nathan turned command of Lakeview's Lion's Gate Center to Daniel Kirkpatrick.  

     I lost touch with Nathan and Parriss until a few weeks ago when Dr. Anderson informed me of his departure and told me that Nathan would be taking over as the new Center Director. His email contained both sad and happy news. The sad news was that Ryan was leaving. The happy news is that the Telos DSC would be in the talented hands of Nathan King. 

     Speaking of talent, let me share with you a few animations done by Nathan in 2018.  Watch these and you'll be amazed at what Nathan can do.  

 

     Now you see what I mean. Ryan has left Telos in very capable hands. 

     Once again, as a Space EdVentures community, we bid farewell to Ryan Anderson and thank him for his many contributions to our mission of pioneering new methods of using simulator based experiential education to the mainstream.  We also congratulate Nathan on his new position as Director of the Telos Discovery Space Center and hope to see many many successes in the future.  

Ad Astra!

Victor

Imaginarium Theater

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

What Makes a Great Voyager Volunteer. Deck the Dome Tickets Selling Fast. Get Yours Today. Space EdVenturers in the News. New Lights for the Galileo II. The Imaginarium Theater

What Makes a Great Voyager Volunteer 

Our Space Center is built on the foundation of great staff and outstanding volunteers.  I was recently asked by a Voyager Volunteer what he could do to be better. To answer that question, I want to talk about the characteristics of a great Voyager Volunteer.

• A Great Volunteer arrives on time. Contact the Center with a Discord message, email, or phone call to the Space Center's main phone number if you're going to be late. 
• A Great Volunteer dresses appropriately. Voyagers should wear the required black or navy blue pants.  If you are in doubt about what pants to wear, always go with black / navy blue dress pants. Athletic pants are OK as well as long as the colored strip which usually runs along the leg isn't pronounced. There is something very impressive about a volunteer walking into the Space Center wearing a Space Center T-shirt and black pants. It makes you look like you're ready to go to work. 

• A great volunteer comes clean. Not showering and shampooing the day of your volunteer shift is not acceptable. Remember, in today's society you should always be clean.
• A great volunteer comes to work willing to take any assignment. Some volunteers say they will only do one thing (BOO). We appreciate volunteers who ask for their preferred position, but add that they are willing to do anything (YEAH). That `can do' attitude makes a great volunteer.

• A great volunteer enjoys the customers and is willing to work with them. We admire volunteers who enjoy training crew members and answering their questions.
• Great volunteers do their best to learn and expand their talents at the Space Center.  What are you good at?  Let's see if we can use your talents to improve our programs.  Contact me if you have an idea for a class, workshop, club, or activity.  Much of what we do at the Space Center came from volunteers and staff over the years.

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• Great volunteers follow directions from their Flight Directors and Supervisors and get their tasks done. Some say "Yes" to an assignment and then walk away never completing it. Volunteers, be a Flight Director and Supervisor's favorite by being someone who follow directions and completes tasks without requiring require constant supervision. 
• Great Volunteers understand the atmosphere we try to maintain at the Space Center. Our family friendly atmosphere is central to our role as a educational entertainment site. Our great volunteers watch their language. They are careful not to discuss things that would be inappropriate around other staff and children. They know not to talk about customers, staff, or other volunteers in a negative way openly where they may be overheard. They understand that if they hear other volunteers or staff involved in inappropriate talk, they walk away and confidentially let myself, Mr. Porter, or Mr. Parker know.
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• A great Voyager Volunteer praises the work of others and offers to help other Voyagers learn and grow.  Be a good friend to all.   
• A great volunteer understands that the Space Center is a social organization. In any social organization, there are reasons some people rise to the top. Voyagers, advancement in any organization requires a few things.
• Hard Work with a willing attitude.
• A willingness to take the tough assignments. This includes the worst positions in the ships and even the worst cleaning jobs.
• Understanding when to talk and when to be quiet and listen. Learn from what you hear.

• Smile and be positive. Positive and cheerful people rise faster in any organization.
• Look around and see something that really needs to be done and do it without being told. That is very impressive.
• Look for ways to advance. Look at what others are doing. Jump in and make it known what you want and that you are willing to work hard to get it. The world is full of those that sit on the fence watching others work hard and move ahead. They cry and cry saying they were never given a chance to succeed. This behavior makes you look like a child. Get off the fence and get your hands dirty. Work and advance. It is really that simple.

• Let the paid staff know who you are. Always come in and report to your Flight Directors and Supervisors when you arrive.  Keep doing this until they know your name.  Also, it is good to wear your lanyard and Rank/ID card so people can see your name. I'd like to see more of you wear your lanyards between missions in the halls and foyer.  Your lanyard identifies you as a valued member of our organization.  

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• At the end of every mission, ask the Flight Director or supervisor to comment on your work. Tell them you can take praise and criticism. Then be ready to hear the truth. Sometimes it hurts and that's why most people don't ask that question. Be brave and ASK. Voyagers who advance want to be noticed. Get noticed by risking a bit of self esteem and pride to find out what you really need to do to be better.

Mr. Williamson

Deck the Dome Christmas Laser Show at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.

     Starting December 15, the Christa McAuliffe Space Center opens the Deck the Dome Laser Show.  You can't beat the price of $7.00 per ticket - the absolute best priced Christmas show in the valley.  You'd better hurry and get your tickets, many of the shows are already sold out.  Make this a family tradition.

Space EdVenturers in the News: InfiniD

Skyler Carr from InfiniD cannot help but leave a trail of new best friends everywhere he goes. Check out this interview with him, about online and alternative learning concepts at the GESS Conference in Dubai.

Space EdVenturers in the News: Telos Discovery Space Center

Nathan King is at Telos Discovery Space Center. Nathan started as a young Space Center volunteer and Flight Director years ago. He went on to work for the Discovery Space Center at Stonegate and then transferred to Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs to become the director of the Lion's Gate Space Center. Today, Nathan is a flight director at the Telos Discovery Space Center (And soon to become the director. Look for an upcoming post with that news).

Nathan has been busy at Telos implementing a couple new and exciting changes to the Hyperion simulator.

1. A New Set of Starship Controls

     2.  An Idea Never Tried Before; Offering Single Tickets to Group Missions for Adults. What a Great Way for Adults to Meet New People with Similar Interests

Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School.  New Modifications to the Galileo II Starship Simulator

    

Our friends at American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center are busy getting the Galileo II back to working condition. Their Voyager Club works on projects every Wednesday afternoon in the school's shops. One of their projects is a new ceiling light for the Galileo II. Alex Debirk says that he is excited to get to work on another project for their Galileo. Here are the designs.

Imaginarium Theater

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

Rob Smith, A True Friend of the Space Center, Retires from the Alpine School District. The New Laser Show at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. The Side Effects of Space Center Volunteering. Imnaginarium Theater

Rob Smith and Family

     The Space Center community is paying tribute to Rob Smith, who is retiring after nearly 22 years of serving as the ASD Business Administrator. Rob has always been a good friend of the Space Center.  Because of his leadership and gentle arm twisting, the Space Center was able to raise the necessary funds from private donors to build the new planetarium and the funds to make our simulators what they are today.  

     When news of the demolition of the old Central School came out I received a call from Rob asking me to stop by his office.  Rob grilled me on the history of the Space Center, how it came to be, its mission, original goals and vision.  He told me he was putting together a funding presentation to take to businesses both in and out of Utah for the purpose of raising the funds to build a world class space education center complete with a real planetarium; and that is just what he did. 

     I've said this many many times over the last 33 years and I'm going to say it again; "When the Space Center has had a need, the right person always walks through the door."  It is magical how that has happened time and time again.  Rob was that person to help us transition from the old center to the new and for that, we owe him so much.  

     Thank you Rob, and please enjoy your well deserved retirement.  I'm assuming there will be many visits to the Space Center included in your soon to be abundant free time :)  

Victor

The New Daft Punk Show at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  You've got to Come See This One. 

     James Porter has a hit on his hands with the new Daft Punk laser light show at the Space Center. If you like great music played on a state of the art sound system in a fog filled planetarium illuminated by scores of lasers then this show is for you.  The would make an excellent family Christmas outing for the holiday season.  Book tickets today through the Space Center's website.  

     

    

Volunteering at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center has a Lasting Impact 

     Can one ever be the same after volunteering at the Space Center?  Skyler Carr and Brooks Heder both volunteered as teens way back when and look at them now.  

     Skyler and Brooks work for InfiniD Learning, taking the concept of experiential education through engaging simulations to the world. 

 Imaginarium Theater

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