Imaginarium Theater
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Imaginarium Theater August 23, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Sunday, August 23, 2020
From the Space Center's Historical Files. The Police Arrive at the Space Center with Guns Drawn! Bracken Funk Retires. Brent Anderson Retires, Brady Young Returns to the Voyager. Also, A New Podium for Central. The CMSC Planetarium Dome Takes Shape. Imaginarium Theater.
From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Historical Files.
Comings and Goings. An Update
Twelve Years Ago this Week. August 24, 2008
Bracken Funk Retires
We have goodbyes and hellos for this post. Bracken Funk directed his last Overnight Camp on Friday. He ran his signature story ‘Silhouette’. His final scores were good enough to take first place in the post camp surveys.
Bracken leaves on Wednesday for the MTC in Provo. A few weeks later he will leave Utah. Houston Texas is his final destination.
Bracken leaves on Wednesday for the MTC in Provo. A few weeks later he will leave Utah. Houston Texas is his final destination.
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Admiral William Schuler |
The Police Arrive at the Space Center with Guns Drawn!
The Overnight Camp was picture perfect. The scores were good (not great) and the kids were excellent in both behavior and performance. The Happy Bucket was given out but not used - a mark of another great camp. Equipment problems were fixed without delay. There was one small incident that stained the tranquility of an almost perfect camp. At 11:10 P.M. we were in the cafeteria giving the campers ice cream. Lorraine and I stood there in a semi conscious state staring, but not really seeing the kids as they ate. You know how your mind drifts when tired. My half slumber was disturbed by a staff member telling me the police were outside and wanting to see me about an incident reported by the neighbors. I was busy with the campers and sent Mr. Schuler out instead. With ice cream consumed I walked the boys to the gym. They picked up their gear. Our final stop was the lobby. The boys dropped their things and headed to the restrooms for a final break before bed. I had a minute so I walked outside behind the Voyager and found several policeman along with Mr. Schuler, Bracken, and a few other volunteers standing near the gym wall. Bill told me the police drew a gun on him when he went outside.
“That’s ‘over the top’ for a noise complaint,” I said looking at the approaching officers.
“It was more than a noise,” he said. “Someone was throwing dry ice bombs and one went off next to a policeman,” he responded.
Sure enough, the story was repeated by the officer. He added another fact omitted by Bill. The policeman was moving around the back of the school toward the large outside air conditioner used by the school’s new addition. Near the cooling unit he saw something with red flashing lights. It looked like a bomb! He moved closer to the black object with blinking lights apprehensive as to its purpose. Just then, another dry ice bomb dropped behind the officer and exploded. Needless to say, the police were in a bad mood and determined to catch the delinquents.
The bomb was actually one of our Space Center props set outside by the Voyager staff for their landing party. It was innocent but easily misunderstood. The police wanted to get on the school’s roof to find the culprits. I let them up through the ladder in the custodian’s closet. They found nothing. Whoever it was got away. I wouldn’t want to be them if the police ever find out. I’m sure it would be a minimum of ten years community service and a fine so large they would finally get out of debt to the Pleasant Grove City on their eighty-sixth birthday. I was relieved the Space Center wasn't blamed for the officer’s thrilling night out. The experience was added spice to Bracken’s last mission!
The Overnight Camp was picture perfect. The scores were good (not great) and the kids were excellent in both behavior and performance. The Happy Bucket was given out but not used - a mark of another great camp. Equipment problems were fixed without delay. There was one small incident that stained the tranquility of an almost perfect camp. At 11:10 P.M. we were in the cafeteria giving the campers ice cream. Lorraine and I stood there in a semi conscious state staring, but not really seeing the kids as they ate. You know how your mind drifts when tired. My half slumber was disturbed by a staff member telling me the police were outside and wanting to see me about an incident reported by the neighbors. I was busy with the campers and sent Mr. Schuler out instead. With ice cream consumed I walked the boys to the gym. They picked up their gear. Our final stop was the lobby. The boys dropped their things and headed to the restrooms for a final break before bed. I had a minute so I walked outside behind the Voyager and found several policeman along with Mr. Schuler, Bracken, and a few other volunteers standing near the gym wall. Bill told me the police drew a gun on him when he went outside.
“That’s ‘over the top’ for a noise complaint,” I said looking at the approaching officers.
“It was more than a noise,” he said. “Someone was throwing dry ice bombs and one went off next to a policeman,” he responded.
Sure enough, the story was repeated by the officer. He added another fact omitted by Bill. The policeman was moving around the back of the school toward the large outside air conditioner used by the school’s new addition. Near the cooling unit he saw something with red flashing lights. It looked like a bomb! He moved closer to the black object with blinking lights apprehensive as to its purpose. Just then, another dry ice bomb dropped behind the officer and exploded. Needless to say, the police were in a bad mood and determined to catch the delinquents.
The bomb was actually one of our Space Center props set outside by the Voyager staff for their landing party. It was innocent but easily misunderstood. The police wanted to get on the school’s roof to find the culprits. I let them up through the ladder in the custodian’s closet. They found nothing. Whoever it was got away. I wouldn’t want to be them if the police ever find out. I’m sure it would be a minimum of ten years community service and a fine so large they would finally get out of debt to the Pleasant Grove City on their eighty-sixth birthday. I was relieved the Space Center wasn't blamed for the officer’s thrilling night out. The experience was added spice to Bracken’s last mission!
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| Brent Anderson Programming the Voyager's Flight Computer |
Brent Anderson Retires to Attend BYU
On Saturday afternoon the Programming Guild met at the Space Center for Brent Anderson’s last meeting and official resignation. Brent officially turned the reigns of the Guild to Bridger Maxwell. Brent will be attending BYU this fall, followed by an LDS mission. He hopes to enter the MTC in December. Brent came to me years ago as a youngling with a dream to build his own simulator at his home. He was in the process of raising money. One of his mentors told him to come to the Space Center and learn how I got the place started. I remember that meeting. Brent and his friend stood in front of me with grand ideas. I listened politely. A thought dawned on me as they spoke. If I could take that drive and enthusiasm and redirect it to the Space Center we would have a fantastic new and talented volunteer.
I asked Brent to come on board as a volunteer. He eagerly accepted and the rest is history. The Space Center thrived under Brent’s administration of the Programming Guild. Brent took us out of the dark ages in many respects by streamlining my work and making everything he touched work more efficiently. Brent was awesome. There is nothing more to be said. Both Brent and Bracken will be missed. Wait...... that is worded to weakly. They will be missed greatly!
We held a goodbye open house for both of them at my home Saturday night. It was well attended. We shared stories and memories and laughed for hours.
I went to listen to Bracken’s Farewell speech in Sacrament Meeting this morning. He did well. He overflows with self confidence which was evident to anyone listening to his talk.
On Saturday afternoon the Programming Guild met at the Space Center for Brent Anderson’s last meeting and official resignation. Brent officially turned the reigns of the Guild to Bridger Maxwell. Brent will be attending BYU this fall, followed by an LDS mission. He hopes to enter the MTC in December. Brent came to me years ago as a youngling with a dream to build his own simulator at his home. He was in the process of raising money. One of his mentors told him to come to the Space Center and learn how I got the place started. I remember that meeting. Brent and his friend stood in front of me with grand ideas. I listened politely. A thought dawned on me as they spoke. If I could take that drive and enthusiasm and redirect it to the Space Center we would have a fantastic new and talented volunteer.
I asked Brent to come on board as a volunteer. He eagerly accepted and the rest is history. The Space Center thrived under Brent’s administration of the Programming Guild. Brent took us out of the dark ages in many respects by streamlining my work and making everything he touched work more efficiently. Brent was awesome. There is nothing more to be said. Both Brent and Bracken will be missed. Wait...... that is worded to weakly. They will be missed greatly!
We held a goodbye open house for both of them at my home Saturday night. It was well attended. We shared stories and memories and laughed for hours.
I went to listen to Bracken’s Farewell speech in Sacrament Meeting this morning. He did well. He overflows with self confidence which was evident to anyone listening to his talk.
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| Brady Young Receiving an Honor at Honors Night (A young photo of Brady. I couldn't find later one for this post) |
Brady’s Return
We are loosing two of our best. The clouds gathering over the Center appear dark and foreboding. Luckily a silver lining has been spotted. Brady Young returned from his mission to Florida and is back at the Space Education Center eager and ready to resume his position as Voyager Flight / Set Director. Instead of crawling into a corner and rocking for weeks in fits of depression I’m sitting at my desk thinking we will all survive this hurricane roaring around us. Brady is back - one of our best.
For some reason, and always when we need the help, the right person seems to walk in the Briefing Room Door and say “Here I Am. You’ve been looking for me”. The Fates are with us again my friends and we dare not tempt them. We continue our lives happily knowing that someone or something in the vacuum of space has us under a watchful eye.
Now it is time to stop. Work hard and make each day better than the last. Remember, the success to life is imagination, education and hard work. Take time each day to sharpen each of those legs on success' stool and you to will be unstoppable and nearly irreplaceable.
Mr. Williamson
We are loosing two of our best. The clouds gathering over the Center appear dark and foreboding. Luckily a silver lining has been spotted. Brady Young returned from his mission to Florida and is back at the Space Education Center eager and ready to resume his position as Voyager Flight / Set Director. Instead of crawling into a corner and rocking for weeks in fits of depression I’m sitting at my desk thinking we will all survive this hurricane roaring around us. Brady is back - one of our best.
For some reason, and always when we need the help, the right person seems to walk in the Briefing Room Door and say “Here I Am. You’ve been looking for me”. The Fates are with us again my friends and we dare not tempt them. We continue our lives happily knowing that someone or something in the vacuum of space has us under a watchful eye.
Now it is time to stop. Work hard and make each day better than the last. Remember, the success to life is imagination, education and hard work. Take time each day to sharpen each of those legs on success' stool and you to will be unstoppable and nearly irreplaceable.
Mr. Williamson
News from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center
By James Porter (From the CMSC's Facebook Page)
Today we welcomed back a bit of the old Central Elementary and Space Center. Through the amazing efforts of Wes and his mother we have a new/old podium. It was made from the doors of our previous building and the East tree near the main entrance.
We have such amazing volunteers and we look forward to welcoming them and everyone else back in the coming months. Thank you Wes and mom for your contribution to our community.
The New Planetarium Dome at the CMSC is Taking Shape
Imaginarium Theater
The Best Videos from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
Imaginarium Theater August 23, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Lakeview's Lions Gate Space Center Prepares to Open. Watch a Time Lapse of Central School and the Space Center's Demolition. The New CMSC Planetarium Takes Shape. From the CMSC Archives: The Staff and Volunteers Return to Work and A Tale of Two Captains. The Imaginarium Theater!
Virus or Not, Lakeview Academy's Lion's Gate Center Gears Up for a New School Year.
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| Parriss models the latest in Starfleet Virus Protocol. |
Nathan and Parriss King are busy with opening day preparations at the Lions Gate Center at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Number one on their to do list is safety protocols. How do you fly over 1000 students and teachers in regular rotations in the space edventure center's three starship simulators (Apollo, Artemis, and Leo). It looks like they've settled on two options, Face Mask and Face Shield. One thing I'm sure of, the microphone foam covers will be changed for every flight director. It's a no brainer that those foam microphone covers used at every one of Utah's Space EdVenture Centers are the perfect carriers of every communicable disease currently in the offering.
Parriss reports that this year the simulators at the Lions Gate Center will limit occupancy to 13 crew members with lots and lots of disinfecting between missions.
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| Nathan King testing the equipment at the Lions Gate Center. Have Masks, Will Fly. |
News From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center
By James Porter, CMSC Director
A glimpse into the demolition process that brought a close to the 3rd building to host Central Elementary students. Felt we should say goodbye before we welcome the next group of great minds into our new facility next week.
The New Planetarium Dome Takes Shape at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center, Pleasant Grove, Utah
The new Christa McAuliffe Space Center Planetarium is taking shape. If all goes well the new CMSC will open this Fall. The new Central Elementary School will open its doors for students this Tuesday as the 2020-2021 school year gets underway.
From the CMSC Archives. Ten Years Ago this Week. On the Subway to Wonderland Station. The Space Center Staff and Volunteers Return to Work.
Posted on The Troubadour. August 23, 2010
Today I took the Subway to the Wonderland Station. It is time for the Space Center and the Imaginarium to open for full normal business. The train was packed with Wonderland employees returning to work after their forced vacation (thanks to the Space Center's three week closing for our summer vacation). There were smiles on many faces, the kind that come from knowing one still has a job to return to in these tough recessionary times.
Yes, even Wonderland has been hit by the Great Recession. Millions of Americans have had their financial dreams shattered by the world's faltering economy. Instead of having time to imagine and dream, more and more people are struggling to just make ends meet. Parental stress is also effecting the nation's children, whose imaginations are the primary fuel powering Wonderland.
Regardless of the situation out in the real world, I was happy to be back on the subway heading to the CMSEC and back to my normal routine, surrounded by the kind of people that think outside the box and look at the world a bit differently. We CMSEC folks are a befuddled group endowed with eternal optimism and a belief that the future is bright. The dark forces of despair brought on by the nation's woes are bewildering to us. With a firm mission in hand, the Space Center's staff and volunteers will work to ensure that creativity, wonder and imagination remain vibrant in this world. It is our goal, it is our mission, and it is what we are paid to do.
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| You never know who you're going to bump into on the Subway to the Wonderland Station. Just a few I met on the train today. |
Volunteers and Staff. I'm glad to be back, glad you're back with me and glad to be in the trenches. Let's have a great 2010-2011 Space Center season!
Mr. Williamson
From the CMSC Archives. Twelve Years Ago this Month. The Joy and Pain of the Space Center.
From The Troubadour. August 5, 2008
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| The Voyager Captain |
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| The Magellan Captain |
Well,
Here you have it. Two captains from this summer's camps. The captain of a Voyager mission seems a bit upset. Could the mission be lost? Could his crew be driving him crazy? The other is a captain from a Magellan mission. Do I detect success written in his expression?
These pictures, in a way, represent the Space Center - where every mission is different. Missions can end in success or failure. Where else do you get this kind of an interactive experience that relies on you for its success?
Movies? NO. In a movie you are a captive audience. You watch what's put in front of you. Amusement Parks? NO. You ride the ride. At the end you say it was great or it wasn't. If you're happy you say they built a great ride. If you're not you say they wasted their money building the ride.
Here at the CMSEC your actions decide the results. Work hard, think carefully through all problems, work well as a team, listen to comprehend and you may be successful. That is the joy of what we do at the Space Education Center. We take you out there, step back, and see what you do to yourselves.
Live or die, sink or swim, succeed or fail - it is all UP TO YOU.
There is no place like this in the world.
Thank you to all that participated in our 2008 summer camp programs. Now get ready for there is lots more to come!
Mr. Williamson
Imaginarium Theater.
The Best Videos From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience.
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