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| Summer 3 Day Overnight Camp Phoenix Crew: July 2008 |
Summary: Commentary on visiting schools and field trip behavior. We all feel sorry for Lorraine. Another great overnight camp under our belt. Construction throughout the school this summer. A Nightmare for sure. Matt Long to reprogram the Odyssey and puts the finishing touches on the Voyager's Isolinear Panel. The Spotlight is on Chris Call, Megan Warner, BJ Warner, Sam Brady, Alex DeBirk, and Emily Perry. James Porter Returns.
Hello Troops,
We close another week at the Space Center. I'll take a minute and review the events.
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| The Phoenix Crew waits to board the ship. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Visiting Schools:
On Monday and Tuesday we hosted GroveCrest Elementary School's fifth grades. They were briefed well. The missions went as expected. As always it is exciting to see the kid's reactions to the simulators the first time they see them. Wednesday was a mixed group of two schools from the Jordan School District. One was good and the other was a challenge for Mrs. Houston. It is always the afternoon class that gives us the most trouble in the classroom.
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| The Galileo Crew is ready to board: Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
We get them all hyper in the simulation and then turn them loose on poor Lorraine. If the teacher will step in and help things go better. If the teacher sits back and does nothing to discipline his / her class what is Lorraine expected to do? I don't know the answer to this problem. If the teacher doesn't care or is too burned out to do anything about a disruptive class then perhaps we should not invite that school to attend in the future. I feel it punishes the good kids the field trip benefits and the teachers that are trying. There must be a better way. I'll sleep many nights on it and see what solution comes to mind.
Thursday and Friday saw Valley View Elementary School at the Space Center. All the teachers tried but once again it was really rough on both afternoons. One teacher was trying to help but the kids were too sauced up.You know, the time of year also plays a part. This is the time of year when kids smell spring in the air and that means the start of summer.
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| The Odyssey Captain likes her job: Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Overnight Mission:
We hosted American Fork Junior High School's gifted seventh and eighth graders Friday evening. They looked big and that made some of our flight directors anxious. They sat in the gym huddled together in groups talking and laughing while they waited for the start of the camp. I looked them over thinking this could be good or it could be really bad. I was also worried our principal would be in roaming the halls all evening long delivering the Utah
State Core Test to all the classrooms. I told Mr. Daymont that the Voyager and Magellan landing parties might be canceled if she was going to be `wandering'. We couldn't have her walking dark halls with kids crawling around an obstacle course as they imagined moving through an alien ship.
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| The Odyssey Switchboard Officer: Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
By 9:00 P.M. she hadn't arrived so I gave the order for the landing parties and the overnight missions went ahead as planned. At 11:00 P.M. we met in the gym for ice cream. The flight directors reported success. This was another enjoyable overnighter. Wow, we have been lucky for the past few weeks as far as the camps are concerned. The teens were giving us every sign they were enjoying themselves. That is all the applause we need.
I crossed my fingers hoping they would go to bed and let us get some sleep. I had a little heart to heart with them telling them how much we needed their help with the sleeping portion of the camp. I asked them to just go to bed and sleep so we could sleep. I explained that we've been doing camps for twelve years and will continue doing so as long as the campers make it somewhat enjoyable for us. They listened and went to bed without a problem! We all slept well Friday evening.
The simulators all got excellent reviews, even the Falcon. The Falcon has had their problems in the past with the older and more experienced crews but not on this camp. They loved it. Good job Stacy, Lorraine, and the Falcon crew!
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| The Galileo Operations Officer: Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Summer Missions:
In a few weeks the simulators will be running their new missions. These missions are the official `dress rehearsals'. Would you like to be a member of the crew? Watch for upcoming announcements on how you can be the first to experience the missions of 2003-2004.
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| The Odyssey Crew trained and ready for launch. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Space Center Radio:
Saturday afternoon I sat at the offices of RCTI with Kyle Herring in Orem for the Victor Williamson Radio Show broadcast over the Space Center's web site. Can you believe how far we've come with that site since last March?
The show was announced in an email to the members of our Frequent Flyer Club. Congratulations Kyle on a job well done and thank you for all the volunteer time you give the Center. Kyle, like so many others, knows that the Center exists because of the volunteering spirit of those that have been touched by the vision of what we do.
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| The Voyager's Engineer learns his panels. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
I sat in a conference room with a microphone in hand The mic was connected to a computer. Kyle and his friend Mark sat in the office next door and monitored the signal over the internet. I spent one half hour talking about the history of the Space Center. I described in detail how I did the very first missions in my classroom with a boom box and overhead projector. The time went by quickly. We will do one every month. I'll announce the next one over the YahooGroup.
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| The Voyager's Damage Control Officer: Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Upgrades:
Matt Long was in on Friday working on the Voyager's isoliner chip cabinet. It is getting exciting to know that will be up and running soon. Matt will begin working on new Odyssey controls to extend the number of people the Odyssey can serve. Thanks Matt!
The Magellan's air door connecting the Situation Room to the Bridge broke at
the end of this last overnighter. One door seem to have come off its railing. I'll put that at the top of our repair list.
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| The Voyager's Left Wing Officer. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
The District was in on Friday looking over the school and the Space Center. They have decided the school will be completely rewired for internet and phone during this summer construction phase. All our simulators will be wired with phones and internet connections. There will be ports in the walls for internet cameras and such. This will open the door to new possibilities especially for broadcasting our missions over our web site.
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| The Voyager's Right Wing: Sensors, Scanners and Right Wing.Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Construction Update:
Prepare for the worst Troops. The building will be in total shambles all summer long. This will be worse than anything we've experienced in the past. I should have shut the Center down all summer but now it is too late. We are going to run amidst the chaos and mess. We'll all just pull together and get through it.
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| The Voyager Command Officers. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
The Spotlight is on You!
Chris Call. What a trooper. I know Chris has been spotlighted before but this week he put us all to shame with the number of missions run. He comes in at 9:30 A.M. and puts in three to four missions a day. His attitude is always positive and his missions always given 100 %. Last week he heard a complaint from one of our advanced officers that their mission in the Odyssey several months earlier wasn't very good. He called them and offered a half off mission he would personally run on Saturday evening after an overnighter and two private missions! No one has ever done that. Times like that make me sit back in my chair and thank all the powers that govern our existence that Chris Call took an interest in the Space Center years ago and became a volunteer.
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| The Phoenix Crew trained and ready for launch. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Alex DeBirk!
We were all treated to a special video Saturday morning after the votes were counted. Alex Debirk played highlights of Lehi High School's production of Le Mes. We got to hear him sing a couple of songs and then kiss the female lead. Alex was outstanding both in his acting and voice. After the video segment Lorraine took the floor and told us That Alex's Klingon Commander in Maximus was the best she had ever seen at the Space Center. I looked at her wondering if she included me in that generalization; she did. Alex was the best at playing that part. I guess we will all have to make a point to come in and listen.
Alex is another flight director that always has an excellent attitude when it comes to his missions. He is outgoing with the campers and makes them feel welcome and wanted. I rest easy in the Voyager knowing the Galileo has two of the best running its missions. Alex and Julie make an outstanding team. You're a lucky one to get to fly the Galileo these days.
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| The Magellan Admiral having second thoughts on taking command. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
Megan Warner, BJ Warner, Sam Brady, and Emily Perry:
I need to mention some really great volunteers. Megan and Sam are Voyagers. BJ and Emily are Pioneers. I want them to know I appreciate their willingness to always stay and work extra missions. They always check the work schedule and let me know that if there are
openings or if I just need an extra worker they are available and will do everything they can to assist. What can I say true examples of the volunteering spirit.
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| The Phoenix Crew bonded nicely with each other. Summer 3 Day EdVenture Camp. July 2008 |
James Porter is Coming Back!
James Porter is coming back to Orem for the summer. He spent the last school year going to school in Logan and running the Pathfinder. He will be here preparing for his LDS mission. He is planning on working the overnighter on May 16th. I'm wondering if James has an interest in dong a few missions? We shall soon see.
Well Troops,
That is about it. Be Good. Study hard. Respect your parents and your teachers. Finish the school year on top.
Mr. Williamson
Reality's Edge Introduction Video
In case you may have forgotten, the Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy Charter School has been rebranded to Reality's Edge. They have an introductory video on YouTube. Check it out.
Imaginarium Theater
The Best Videoettes From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
