We're Starting a New Year and Getting Ready for School. A Few Bits of Cowboy Wisdom to Help You With Your New Year's Resolutions. Imaginarium Theater.

Hello Readers,

     Christmas is over and 2024 is fast approaching. On January 8 most of our Voyagers return to school (with a few returning this week). Returning after the Christmas holiday is dreaded by students worldwide. Teachers get to school first to turn on the lights, turn up the heat, try to remember where they left off in their curriculum, and review their list of sarcastic remarks intended to put overly sugared students back into learning mode. Students will slither back into the classrooms next between 7:30 A.M. and 9 A.M. You hear the roar gradually build as they gather in the hallways comparing their holiday adventures and gifts. 

"Do I look like I'm happy to be back!?"

     I do my best to kindly greet each student as they reluctantly enter my room, but I wouldn't place a wager on the number of optimistic responses I get back. Most give me a look of hopelessness. Others send a defiant stare as if to dare me to get them under control. I accept their challenges knowing that once that bell rings, they fall under my control.

Cherish Prudence, Student Class President, photographed the morning
of the first day back from Christmas Vacation.

     After the Pledge of Allegiance, I list five hours of homework assignments on the board. Next to the assignments I have a note which reads, “Due Tomorrow”. Now I have their complete attention. The silence of shock quickly evaporates into weeping and howling. I wait for the emotions to settle before telling them the part I purposely left off the board. "Give me a good day and good work and you'll be surprised at what could be erased from this list," I say with a kind smile.
     As the day progresses, one assignment after another disappears (depending on their attitude and work of course) until we are left with exactly what their assignments would normally have been.  I will also erase an unwanted assignment if given a positive comment about my lessons or appearance :)

      Soon, just like Pavlov’s dog, they are trained and my well oiled classroom is firing on all cylinders. Instead of the slang and slurs I heard at the start of the day, by 3:00 P.M. I hear only the Queen’s English. I'm also pleased that most have regained control of their emotions and bathroom needs. Its all good.

Students After a Day of Retraining

     Because we're starting a new year, may I take a moment and share a few bits of country wisdom I’ve picked up over the years? Remember now, I’m from South Dakota - the state that lies below North Dakota (if that helps you place it on a map). This may surprise you, but South Dakota does have indoor plumbing, highways, and airports. The Denver to Deadwood Stagecoach stopped running years ago after the first highway was built. Contrary to what you may have heard, you may visit the State without fear of Indian attacks. Best of all, South Dakota doesn’t have a state income tax! The American Dream is alive and well in this capitalist oasis on the northern plains.

Luella Stump, South Dakota Director of Tourism, encourages you to come see the Beauty of the West in South Dakota!"  (side note: South Dakota has a shortage of dentists but you won't find a better buffalo burger anywhere)

     I was raised in rural South Dakota. This is cowboy country. Cowboys have a unique, down to earth wisdom that seems to apply to everyone, no matter what side of the tracks you come from. So, to get 2024 off to a good start, here is a list of excellent cowboy wisdom I picked up over the years. Get you cowboy boots and 10 gallon hat on, play a good western CD, and get ready to get inspired.

• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
• Don't squat with your spurs on.
• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back in.
• If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
• If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
• After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him... The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
• Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
• There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
• Never slap a man who's chewin' tobacco.
• It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.
• When you're throwin' your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.
• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.
• Never miss a good chance to shut up.
• There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

"I got a fire goin' and the biscuits are hot. I'll be waiten for ya."

     Ya’ll enjoy the next few days of yer freedom. If ya’ll have some spare time, get yer horse and come on out and help us with a mission or two.

     My final thought, may the problems of 2023 forget your address so that 2024 will be the best year ever.

Ad Astra!
Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater

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A Merry Christmas to All Current and Past Staff and Volunteers and Proof I was a Good Boy Back in the Day. Jon Becomes a Teacher. Alex DeBirk's Talents. The Center Gets a New Desk. Theater Imaginarium.

Mr. James Porter and Mr. Jon Parker (the only picture I could quickly find of them together) Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas 

 

     The Space Center's leadership team wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas.  Perhaps Mr. Porter and Mr. Parker will take some time off to spend with family and friends, they absolutely deserve it.  

     Aren't you impressed with the new additions to the Space Center programs over this last year - the laser shows, the new Christmas planetarium shows, the new lobby furniture?  And that doesn't even start to list improvements to the simulators.  Under Mr. Porter's leadership, look for more of the same in 2024.  The Space Center is the magical place to be.

     Speaking of Christmas,  are you embracing the spirit of the holiday (or at least enjoying some time off)? 

     Teachers and students relish every minute of every vacation day because we know each passing hour brings us closer to January 8th and the start of the longest stretch of government-sanctioned torture allowed by law and the International Court of Justice. I'm talking about the marathon of time between Christmas and Spring Break, where the hearts of teachers and students grow faint due to cramped enclosed classrooms, bitter temperatures, polluted air - which in turn bring multiple inside recess days, and a serious lack of celebrated holidays.  We are all possessed of near-fatal cabin fever come Spring Vacation. 

Honor's Night Back in the Day

   

     Now that we've reached the end of 2023, I want to thank the current and past staff and volunteers for the time you've given the Space Center over the last 33 years. I consider you friends, coworkers, and overall amazing people.  I'm grateful for the time you've given to help with the missions and classes. I'm honored that you respect these programs enough to make them a part of your lives. 

     What a blessing a simulator based experiential education program would have made in my life had one been around when I was a teenager in South Dakota back in the dark ages. I would have been that super annoying young volunteer needing to be kicked out the door at the end of every mission. 

     I feel rewarded and humbled to be associated with such outstanding young men and women. Thank you, and for you pre-drivers, please thank your parents for their time and gas to get you to the simulators and back. 

The Late 1990's.
Metta, Dustin, Chase, James, Rio, and Ryan Kneeling.
Yes, that guy in the white shirt is our very own Mr. Porter.

     The Space Center is a collective work of dedicated volunteers and staff united in an effort to increase people's interest and knowledge of space. Over time, our efforts will play a part in the creation a space-faring civilization  colonizing the solar system. From there, we will explore the farthest reaches of the observable universe. If you wonder what keeps me working as a teacher and volunteer in this field day after day – there it is, and you thought it was the money.  For shame.  

As you can tell by my healthy appearance, I've never been one in want of sweets.  It was one way to keep me quiet. That's me in my mother's lap wondering why Granny hasn't rewarded me for sitting so nicely for the picture, 1959.

     I hope Santa has you on his list of approved stops. I hope you find your stockings filled with sweets and toys. I hope you remember that giving brings more blessings than receiving. Don't forget the greatest gift you can give is the gift of yourself. Give a little love and kindness to those you care about this holiday season. And remember those who may be in need next door or around the corner. An act of  kindness could brighten the day.

Mr. Williamson 1961. A Good Boy for Santa then and now.

     Tonight I'll be settling down to a long winter's nap hoping Santa remembers my little cottage nestled on a hillside in Pleasant Grove. I should be on his list - it is one of those defined benefits outlined in every teacher's employment packet; as long as Santa uses the broadest definition of the word "good". 

I got a vase for Christmas. Perhaps 1960 wasn't a good year for me.

Well, now that I think about it,  there was the .......
And I can't forget about that time when..........
Then there is the time that ..........
I shouldn't of said that about...............
........ Well, at least I'll have enough coal for the fireplace. Yes - there will be enough coal.

Mr. Williamson and Older Sister Kim in 1963. We Were Santa's Favorites. I'm told by reliable elves that a copy of this photo hangs proudly in Santa's front parlor as examples of children practically perfect in every way.This was originally a black and white photo.  My Grandma Violet painted the photo. She went a bit too heavy on the lips. 

    I want to wish the staff and volunteers of this magical island of imagination a Merry Christmas.  

Ad Astra!

Mr. Williamson

A Congratulations and Tribute to Our Friend Jon

By Mr. Porter

As you can see, Jon has mastered the "Teacher Look" required of all new teachers. This look, when used properly, will stop a student dead in his tracks; and when cast broadly, will quiet even the most disruptive classroom.

     Over a month ago I mentioned something very big that was coming down the pipe. We often have major changes that impact our program and the trajectory of what we do. This is perhaps not one of those moments for us as a whole but it is something for an individual. This person, like so many, has poured their heart and soul into the Space Center. That often has meant sacrificing time that goes beyond a scheduled shift or doing the minimum before leaving for the day. Instead they have nestled a little niche not only into our physical facility, but into so many of our lives. That same sacrificing nature has had them spend many hours helping so many of us even when they probably had other important personal items needing their attention. Thankfully they took enough time and dedicated enough effort to achieve an accomplishment that I felt was significant to draw your attention to. Not to diminish the many, many, similar accomplishments that so many of you have equally attained. But it is my pleasure to share that from my understanding, Jon has completed all steps necessary to graduate and become a certified teacher. I hope you'll join with me in celebrating this milestone in his life. He overcame many challenges to get to this point and so I just felt it necessary to point a little bit of a spotlight on his accomplishment. 

     Congrats from all of us Jon.  

The Space Center's New Lobby Desk

     

     Mr. Porter's Christmas wish came early this year with the arrival of the highly anticipated new lobby desk. 

Hyrum and Marcus trying out the new desk. Marcus dreams of the day when he will sit in the tall seat. It will take time, but he will get there. I'm sure of it.

 

The lobby as seen from the tall seat

     This new desk accommodates two people and  reaches new heights of luxurious comfort when compared to the old desk.  "Knowing that I'm going to get to sit in the high seat of the New Desk motivates me to come to work," Hyrum was overheard saying. "I'm kind of torn now. Do I put in for more lobby shifts or continue my work as a Cassini Flight Director?  This desk makes me wonder."  

     Tours of the New Desk are free of charge.  Contact the lobby staff for an appointment.

Merry Christmas from our Friends at InFiniD Learning

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your favorite team of trouble-makers!

May your days be merry and bright,

/The Infini-D Learning Team

Alex DeBirk, Director of the Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School, Appears with the One Voice Children's Choir in a New Video.

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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