What makes it worthwhile?

I know that I have touched upon this subject in different ways, but it needs reviewing. As we work to try and develop our own education program here in the valley as well as make it possible for others through the Proteus project it is important to understand why. There is a lot of free time that goes into a project like this and I should emphasize free. The only success that has ever been achieved in this sort of program has been made possible by the countless hours of volunteers and unpaid time by employees. These are individuals who have decided that it is worthwhile to spend time programming, redesigning computer stations, or adding a new plot twist to a story because they want to improve the experience for students. Why aren't they at home enjoying some leisure time instead?

I believe one of the main reasons is because they have been affected by the program in some way and they want to pass it on. For some it might be that the space center sparked their interest in science and they are currently pursuing a career in that field because they found out just how much fun discovering can be. There are many who have participated and passed it on because for them they were able to live out a fantasy that helped them escape their difficult lives if only for a few hours. During those hours they were part of a team that went out and accomplished something good. For many volunteers this was the place where they felt comfortable as they were surrounded by other nerds. Yes that is right. We space center folk are a bunch of nerds. There is a little bit of nerd in all of us even if we don't admit it. The reason I know this is because there are cameras and microphones in the ships and some of the things I have heard and seen are explained only as nerdy.

Back to my point rather than justifying my social status. I don't believe there is any singular reason for why people volunteer at the space center. There are many different ways in which the program has enhanced peoples lives and many have decided to help others get something as well by volunteering. I'm so glad that even before this program has fully started I have had people contacting me about wanting to volunteer. I appreciate the support and as soon as I have a way for you to help I will let you know. The space center is a powerful instrument that has affected the lives of thousands if only in a small way. If this were not true the program would have failed years ago. So thank you for your support and hopefully we can make a difference with the students in our area soon.


Proteus Progress
Thanks to Landon, a former employee of the space center in Pleasant Grove, we are moving closer to figuring out the different elements that will go into getting this project underway. Landon works with the USU radio station (I'd give you a plug but I can't find the link to your program) and has helped us understand how they stream their broadcasts over the internet. This will be vital since the sound aspect is essential for creating an effective atmosphere in the simulator.

Who hasn't heard of the space center?

Everywhere I go someone seems to be talking about the space center. While down in Provo, I enjoyed a lunch with my mother and I was surprised to hear the table next to us talking about their recent visit to the CMSEC. It got me thinking of just how often this sort of thing happens. Whether it be people talking about a simulation they just went on or seeing a young boy wearing their summer space camp shirt. People all around have been influenced by the center in some way.

When asked what my employment was or what I liked to do for fun my answer was, "I work at the space center." I was always surprised that whenever I brought up this point there was always someone who spoke up, "You work at the space center?" Followed by, "I love that place. My 6th grade class went there and I was the engineer. If our pilot hadn't steered us into the sun we would have succeeded." It has always been enjoyable to then have a chat about what they liked about the experience and the details they could remember. This sort of situation happened from the time I started working in the eighth grade to having conversations in my college dorm at Utah State University. There always seemed to be someone who had gone there, and they never forgot the experience.

Why such a long name?

I thought I would take a moment and explain why our program is called the Cache Valley Space Education Center. You'll notice that much of it has been adapted from the original space center, the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center. The Pleasant Grove space center was helped in their development by a grant from The Christa McAuliffe Fellowship in 1990. Since their goals are hand in hand with ours there was no real reason to come up with something new when the title carries so much meaning already.

So why Cache Valley? I'm sure we could rearrange the name should a sizable donation come along. I don't have any problems being the Steve Jobs Society for Space Explorers. Joking aside, naming it after the valley describes several things about it. For one, even though we aren't getting started with a grant, we will be supported by the volunteers who put in their time to develop the program. These volunteers are going to be parents, teachers, and students from the valley. The second part answers who we are serving - the students of our amazing community.

Cache Valley also describes where our program is located. So why not call it the Nibley or Thomas Edison space center? Well, no one knows where Nibley is unless you are from the valley. Thomas Edison is doing a lot to help this program get started, and without the work that the administrators and volunteers have put in we wouldn't have a chance to start this program. That being said we get back to those whom we hope to serve. We want to have all of the students in the area enjoy this experience and Thomas Edison has caught the vision and is allowing us to work with them and use their facilities to make this possible.

Now for the rest of the title, I think it is a bit more obvious. The platform in which we teach science, social studies, the arts, and all other subject matter is done in a simulated space ship. So if you have a central location in which to educate students using the wonderment of space, you end up with Space Education Center. Put all of that together and you end up with our working title, the Cache Valley Space Education Center.

A quick note when mentioning putting things together. Truly this is a community project and will become a community resource. Nobody personally gains from a program like this. The hours go uncounted as far as payment or any sort of financial gratification is concerned. Our non-profit organization is here to provide a service to the community and will only survive with the help of caring individuals who want to build for our students an amazing program. Thank you for everyone who has voiced their support and already started putting in hours of service to get this program started. A special thanks goes to Mr. Williamson and the outstanding volunteers who have built up an unique program in Pleasant Grove and for supporting our efforts to create one to enjoy in our community.

Creating the Experience

How exactly does a small converted classroom or trailer get turned into a star ship? If you are going to understand how that works we'll have to give you a peek into how the simulators work.

As explained before, each of the students on a flight are given a position on the ship. Almost all of them have a computer station except for a few positions like the Captain and the Ambassador. On their station they will have the controls to different parts of the ship. Some control the engines and steer the ship while others repair any damages that occur to the ship. This is very unlikely when all you are doing is investigating a spacial anomaly near a suspected black hole on the other side of an unnavigable asteroid belt. These stations they control their ship as they try to accomplish their mission.

On the other side of the curtain is where the magic happens. Separated from the bridge of the ship is a small control room. In this control room is the Flight Director and staff which is generally made up of volunteers. They also have computers that allow them to see what is going on inside the ship and what the students are doing. Now, without giving away too much about what goes on to destroy the illusion, I'll tell you that the story is developed and the students are able to interact with endless possibilities from the control room . This is unlike any computer game. The result of what happens in a computer game is somewhat fixed and once it has been programmed, it will respond the same every time. In the control room, the students decisions are processed into lighting, sound, and visual effects.

In order for a classroom to be changed into a star ship you will need some computers, the programs for the stations, a sound system, a tv or projector (so the students can see where they are going and what's happening around them), a separate control room, and some trained employees & volunteers with lots of imagination. Of course to help out the visiting students imaginations, we do all we can to make the classroom look like a space ship. That way when they step into the ship they're instantly transported into another world and they can immediately begin enjoying the experience. It is no small task to create this kind of experience which is why we are reaching out to build this as a community and need any help you have to offer.

Cold Hearted (New Mission Teaser)

As the sun is eclipsed by Jupiter the distinct outline of a starship is seen soaring past Io. There is no mistaking the silhouette, it is the Proteus and it is swiftly passing through the solar system on its way to an important mission. Hours earlier a mysterious incident happened in the far off system of Beta Pictoris. One of the science satellites studying the nearby nebula has been destroyed. A probe has been launched from Markham II, a science platform not far from the system, but it is imperative that a ship hurry there to investigate.

Beta Pictoris is not distant from the Tyrrian Empire, an alien government not friendly with Earth. Suspicions are high and nerves on edge concerning the developing situation. Military advisers are speculating an invasion into human space while Earth's best scientists hypothesize about the nebula's involvement and the possibility that there is merely interference with the satellite. Not wanting to take any chances it has been decided to dispatch the newest and fastest ship in the fleet to investigate the situation, the Proteus.

Will the Proteus be able to get there in time to stop an unforeseen danger? Find out in the upcoming flights offered at the Cache Valley Space Education Center.

Volunteering

In answer to a question we received, there are not any opportunities to volunteer at this time. However, as soon as the Discovery is up and running, hopefully by January of 2010, there will be plenty of chances to get involved. We hope to build a great volunteer program similar to the CMSEC system that has over a hundred student volunteers from all over Utah County. It is our plan to provide the same kind of rich experience for students in the Cache Valley area.

Some of the different opportunities that will be available to student volunteers will be acting as characters on the missions and helping with controlling the simulator. There are many different aliens and other humans that are encountered aboard the Discovery and it is a much greater experience when you get to meet them in person. Volunteers will take on roles such as an engineer from a lower level checking in with the bridge about a repair. This helps to create the illusion that there are hundreds of other people on the imaginary decks below the bridge. I remember doing exactly that one time as a volunteer and a crew member asked me where I was from. I started going off about how I missed my home on Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) and started to tell them how I first was interested in engineering when I took apart my first flux capacitor. Luckily I had spent some time writing a short story about my character before I went out.

Over the years of helping as a volunteer I learned a lot. One of the most important things I learned has transferred on to help me with school and work. I learned about the importance of effort. I wasn't paid as a volunteer and it took a lot of time and effort to perform the different assignments I had. Yet, I kept going weekend after weekend and using my own money I had earned from chores to buy costume pieces and other items to use at the space center. What I learned was that the more I put into it, the more I got out of it. If I worked really hard to make the missions more exciting for the kids attending, I had more fun.

There are a few requirements that should be known before you decide to be a volunteer. The space center is an extracurricular activity that you can participate in only after school is accomplished. Volunteers must maintain grades at a B level. This means that if you have a C in one of your classes for a term you will not get to participate as a volunteer until you bring that up. Grades are turned in every term to make sure that time which needs to be spent studying and working on homework isn't being taken up by volunteering. The other main requirement to be a volunteer is to be a hard worker. The space center is fun, but you must be willing to work and understand that you aren't coming to play around. You are there to make the experience of the students attending a better one. This means that you might not be doing something 100% of the time and you may have to spend some time just observing to learn how everything is run. It isn't always the easiest thing to be a volunteer, but it is definitely worth it for those who are interested.

Why Teach?

The question I often hear isn't always the same, but runs along this basic line, "What made you want to be a teacher?" Some times this is in reference to the low pay or more frequently because I went into secondary education and no one can figure out why I would want to work with teenagers. To answer that question, I have some of the more typical responses about how I like working with kids (they're actually pretty funny) and I that I want to do something challenging where the day is never the same. Depending on who is asking the question, you may get one of those responses, especially if you were one of my professors filling out an evaluation. If you really want to know . . . just read on.

When I was in the eighth grade I had my first volunteer experience at the Christa McAliffe Space Education Center in Pleasant Grove. I had been attending the center on field trips, private flights, and summer camps since the sixth grade. Before then I had posthumously experienced them through my older brother when he would come back and set off my imagination with the stories from his visits. My volunteer visit evolved from an occasional one to a steady weekly attendance. I like to think that it was because I did such a good job, but it also helps that no one liked doing the stuff I had to do. Over the years I worked my way up the volunteering ladder and eventually became a paid employee. From start to finish I spent six years of weekends, summers, and the occasional evening private flight at the space center.

There was something unique about how one felt at the space center and I deduced that it was somehow related to teaching. To test the idea I earned a bachelors degree in Social Studies Composite from Utah State University. So far I haven't been disappointed with my hypothesis about teaching bringing that similar feeling the space center did. You see, whenever the students would enter into a simulator I ran, they offered me a challenge. I had to keep their attention, try to teach them something, and most importantly help them succeed. With teaching, it is the same in my eyes. Instead of a roaring cheer at the end of a mission as the ship sails safely away, I have the "ah ha" moments when students finally catch onto some new concept or recognize how a calculation works. It is a wonderful feeling that I haven't found anywhere else.

In a nutshell, this is my reason for teaching. I suppose I am sort of greedy. With the help of the community I hope to start up this space education center for the purpose of satisfying my needs. I need to hear fifteen students cheering at the top of their lungs after narrowly avoiding death. I need to watch as a shy stuttering boy steps up to his role as the ambassador of a starship and gains the praise of his classmates. I need to help students know that they can succeed at anything and experience what it is like. For all this to happen I need to have the support of the community to give the students in our area a chance to experience something amazing.

It's Over Already?

Some of the most disappointing words at the space center are, "Sorry, but we are out of time and we have to end your mission now." Field trips last just under two hours and it is a difficult thing for students to learn their position, get underway safely, encounter the problem, and save the universe all in such a short time. That's why there are private flights, overnighters, and summer camps.

Private flights are setup to allow a group of friends or family to come and experience the space center together in a convenient time frame. These are really well suited for birthday parties as it allows the group to have a good time for two and a half hours, it doesn't take up the whole day, and it is as affordable as going to the movies. Afterward you can go home to cake and have fun talking about the adventure you just experienced.

Overnighters are probably the most popular because they allow students to really get immersed in their mission. For a total of 5 flight hours the crew will head off into space and face the unknown. Landing on strange planets, bartering with traders, battling space pirates, exploring nebulae, and completely escaping reality from Friday night to Saturday morning. Many of the overnight weekends are reserved by teachers so that their students can all sign up for the same date. This means that when they get there they are going with their friends and not experiencing being away from home for the night with complete strangers.

Summer camps are the ultimate experience without any time restrictions allowing amazing simulator experience mixed with classroom activities. Many of the activities include building and launching rockets, teamwork exercises, science experimentation, and of course even longer more elaborate simulator missions. Summer camps can range from 1 to 4 days in length; some spending the night, others coming in the morning and leaving in the evening for several days in a row. With a variety of options parents can find a camp that best suits their child and gives them an opportunity to be involved in something unforgettable.

Field Trips

The field trip is the backbone of any space center. It is the reason for their existence. Teachers bring their students to enhance the learning that is taking place in the classroom. So what goes on in a field trip to the space center?

The first thing that happens actually takes place in the classroom. Before you fly off into space there is a lot of preparation that needs to take place so that the experience can be a success. Teachers will need to read the Mission Briefing with their students and select the crew positions. There are also lesson plans and activities that help lead up to the field trip for teachers to use, not to mention the great motivational tool that has now been given to the teacher as students performance, behavior, and class participation can determine positions or other rewards related to the field trip.

Once the fateful day arrives, it is time to board the bus and see how the students perform. At this point the class will have already been split into two groups. The first group will head directly into the simulator for nearly two hours of flight time. The other group will begin in the classroom and planetarium section of the field trip. After eating lunch the second group will trade places with the first and it will be their turn in the simulator. As the field trip comes to a close, it's time to load the bus full of energized students to head home and tell their tales of danger and exploration.

Thomas Edison Charter School visits the CMSEC

Arising early on a Tuesday morning, eight lucky souls piled into a vehicle and started the two hour journey from Cache Valley to Pleasant Grove. Upon arriving at the space center anyone would get out of their vehicle and be confused. "Where's the space center? This is just looks like an elementary school!" Once you enter into the space center you come to find that small additions that utilize every inch of space create an amazingly unique experience.
Our small group started off with a tour by the space center creator and director, Victor Williamson. We visited the five simulators, the Discovery classroom, and the starlab. It is fascinating to think that back in 1990 this now extensive program started out as a classroom lesson using an overhead projector, some transparencies, an imaginative teacher, and a captivated room of students. Eventually our tour ended, and with a few questions answered our crew was ready to get started on a mission of their own.

The brave crew of the Phoenix, that's one of the simulators, consisted of six fearless rookies. We brought along three Thomas Edison students and three parents for the adventure. Our reluctant captain was faced with a crew that had no idea what they were about to experience. Narrowly avoiding catastrophe several times throughout the mission, they finally reached the end. Since I wasn't part of the crew I can't speak for how they felt about the mission, but I can say that our captain might have punched her make believe nemesis if she had the chance.

You are probably wondering why a group would travel so long to visit such a place. The answer is that it can be found no where else in the world. The space center is truly unique in the experience they offer as they blast you off into an interactive story that no movie, video game, or other activity can simulate. You shouldn't feel bad for our small crew since many have traveled from much farther such as Idaho, Nevada, California, and even Russia. So two hours isn't all that bad, if the company is good.

That still doesn't fully answer the question of why attend. The parents and faculty of Thomas Edison see that the space center program is an amazing opportunity to teach students and excite them about learning. So why should such a place only exist in one location? With the support of the community, Thomas Edison Charter School hopes to be the host of a space education center that can service the students and community of Cache Valley and the surrounding area. A lot of preparation and work still lies ahead to get a program like this running, but we hope to keep you informed on our progress and that you might see ways to help us in that endeavor. So stay tuned.

Interviews about the Space Center

A similar space center program, iWorlds, was started up in Murray with the help of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center. This video gives a good quick glimpse into the program. The interviews provided were teachers and students who participated in the CMSEC program.