Mr. Fawks at Space Camp 2018

On Sunday, July 8, 2018, I found myself meeting Adriauna Archie, Michaeja Chamblee, and Martiana Olsen early in the morning at P.S. duPont Middle School at the back of the building near the cafeteria.  All four of us were meeting to embark on a journey that would take us across the United State to Space Camp in Hunstville, Alabama.  Even though this trip was primarily for these three Space Campers, winners of this all expenses paid trip sponsored by Fish and Richardson, I found that I too was in for an adventure of a life time as I journeyed along with them to Space Academy which is a Space Camp adventure for middle school aged students.  With this being my third trip as a chaperone, I found that I too was about to learn so much to enhance my professional development.

Space Camp is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

Can you spot the Saturn V rocket or the Pathfinder Space Shuttle?  

As you can see, there is plenty to see and do at Space Camp! 

During my visit, I spent a lot of time taking picture of Adriauna, Michaeja, Martiana and other Fish and Richardson sponsored students from all over the United States. The Fish and Richardson teams of Honeywell and Intuitive had a busy schedule from early in the morning to late in the evening every day.  I did my best to travel with them, not only to take pictures, but to also gain knowledge about space.

 So when there was even a chance to break away, I spent time exploring the musuem exhibits such as Math Alive!, watching museum movies at Spacedome IMAX or the National Geographic Theatre in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration.  I visited the Marshall Space Flight Education Resource Center on several occassions for posters, lessons and materials to enhance my own teaching and was able to acquire some amazing book resources for my classroom.  I also ventured away form Space Camp to tour the Marshall Space Flight Center.  As the week unfolded, I found that I was learning just as much as all of the Space Campers.

The images above are just some of the many things on exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.  There was so much to see and do!  If you hold your cursor over the picture, you can get some additional information about each image.

Spacedome Imax Theatre

 A Beautiful Planet is a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space, providing a unique perspective and increased understanding of our planet and galaxy as never seen before. Made in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the film features stunning footage of our magnificent blue planet — and the effects humanity has had on it over time — captured by the astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). From space, Earth blazes at night with the electric intensity of human expansion — a direct visualization of our changing world. But it is within our power to protect the planet. As we continue to explore and gain knowledge of our galaxy, we also develop a deeper connection to the place we all call home. From IMAX Entertainment and Toni Myers — the acclaimed filmmaker behind celebrated IMAX® documentaries Blue Planet, Hubble 3D, and Space Station 3D — A Beautiful Planet presents an awe-inspiring glimpse of Earth and a hopeful look into the future of humanity.

Dream Big: Engineering Our World - Narrated by Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges, Dream Big: Engineering Our World is a first of its kind film for IMAX® and giant screen theatres that will transform how we think about engineering. From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings, to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, Dream Big celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small, and reveals the heart that drives engineers to create better lives for people around the world.

National Geographic Theater in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration

Extreme Weather is an up-close look at some of the most astonishing and potentially deadly natural phenomena, tornadoes, glaciers, and wildfires while showing how they are interconnected and changing our world in dramatic ways.

In Saturn’s Rings -In Saturn’s Rings is a groundbreaking giant-screen adventure that takes audiences on a journey of the mind, heart and spirit, from the Big Bang to the awe-inspiring rings of Saturn.  Over 7.5 million mostly unseen real images from the Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Hubble Telescope Milky Way time lapses, and more are brilliantly brought to life in this ground-breaking epic immersive journey across space and time.

While visiting the Marshall Institute Educator Resource Center/U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Program, I was able to reiview lesson plans and acquire materials for use in my classroom.  Here are some of those resources!  My suitcase was heavy for the trip home!

There are so many additional resources that can be downloaded from the NASA website.  Additionally, I was able to get some of Takara's Royal Museum of Science Space Series Dioramas.

Takara's Royal Museum of Science Space Series

If you love all things outer space and the first thing you do is towards the Space section of a museum, then this collection was meant for you. Takara's original Royal Museum of Science Space Series is like having a space museum in your very own home. Each of the 8 pieces passionately depicts a milestone in Space history from Sputnik to Apollo 13 and beyond... Beautifully sculpted and meticulously hand-painted down to the very last detail, each diorama is outta this world! 

 I was fortunate to get the following 5 dioramas from the Educator Resource Center.

Finally, I took the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Tour!

 As a teacher of STEM, it hardly seems adequate or possible to thank Fish & Richardson enough for the opportunity to chaperone students from P.S. duPont Middle School to the Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  After three years as a chaperone, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with teachers from across the United States.  I have witnessed the Space Campers working collaboratively on missions and taking part in an incredible week long adventure as they learn so much about space.  But most importantly, I have had the ability to continue my own professional development during this amazing week.  If I get the chance to chaperone again next year, I will again have the opportunity to learn even more.  

I also would like to thank Adriauna, Michaeja, and Martiana for being the absolute best Space Campers!  I enjoyed being the chaperone and for having been able to tag along with them on this awesome journey.  I look forward to having these three Space Campers share out with other students their experience in the Space Academy program. 

This year, Space Camp was a trip out of this world!