Space Camp 2004

Report by Jeni Blake, Visiting Teacher, Southern Metropolitan Region and SCI-VIS Chaperone in 1998 and 2004

How lucky we were to be part of the 15th year of Space Camp for the Vision Impaired in Huntsville Alabama from September 20th to 3rd October 2004!

I had the experience of organising the first DE&T group from Victoria to travel to Space Camp in 1998 when all we knew was that we were going to a camp in America in a state starting with Al. We knew it was not Alaska and that first year we went via Tennessee as we did not know Huntsville had an airport!

Now seven years later, yet it seems like yesterday I was finally leading another group with Geoff Bowen, Psychologist from the Statewide Vision Resource Centre. In 1998 the organisers were struggling under the weight of voluntarily organising 200 students from all over the world and I wondered how much longer this wonderful program where all children are on an equal footing would continue. They not only had access to the latest technology they had equity. We talk about the “expanded core curriculum” needed to enable students with a vision impairment achieve their goals. Here was a program that had a spirit of teamwork and friendship that crossed all races, religions and challenges. Wow and we were part of it!

We were the 7th expedition to go and from the first meeting we had a good feeling that it was going to be a most memorable. From the many sausage sizzles at Mitre 10 in blizzard conditions, walking the streets asking for donations, writing trillions of letters to the ‘let’s get going’ great sighted guide training we received from Lynden, Orientation and Mobility Instructor from Guide Dogs Victoria at Forest Hills Chase Shopping Centre, all were part of that focus “Getting to Space Camp”. Lindsay, Michael, Laurel, Mel, Nicole and Natasha were not only great ambassadors for their families and schools but immensely popular amongst the other students and a pleasure to take on a trip. Since returning the internet has been running hot especially with the Canadians to which we seem to share a common bond, maybe they might venture Down Under for our Commonwealth Games.

Each year we touch the lives of many people in our bid to get yet another group of students to experience what they often say has been the highlight of their life, so far! These Friends of Space Camp give us help in so many ways from just reaffirming that the many hours of ‘blood, sweat and tears’ climbing the paperwork mountain with medical, legal and insurance documentation, to direct sponsorship which gives us a basis to start each year. It would be so easy to say it is too hard. From the people in our local communities, our families and friends who support us and to the organisations and businesses that stand behind us in our belief that this program makes such a difference to the lives of those who participate we thank you sincerely.

I often reflect as a Visiting Teacher that with our limited time and resources we are often dealing only with the tip of the iceberg; but perhaps we are like the story of the starfish – a little boy keeps throwing starfish back into the sea. The grandfather walking with the little boy queries his intentions when there are thousands of starfish that need his help. The boy replies that he has made a difference to the lives of the ones he has thrown back to the sea. This is the philosophy we relate to, and as Geoff Bowen is famous for saying, “We want students with vision impairments to become taxpayers to pay tax to support us in our nursing homes”.

Our students deserve the best opportunities to make a difference in the world and have satisfying jobs and careers. Exposing them to like-minded individuals who have goals, ambitions, problem solving skills and motivation sets them up with a confidence that they can achieve their goals and dreams.

We can not hide the fact that some of our students are going blind or that they have other difficulties and challenges, but we can celebrate and focus on the good in their life and escape to a world of space in all its wonderment, even if it is just for a week. To have spent a week learning about astronomy, rocket science, physics, astrophysics, chemistry and space history makes science more enjoyable and somehow easier to connect to the articles in the paper and the news on the TV. It is a pathway to life long learning.

Been there done that. It is hard to believe that these students have trained like astronauts, met challenges and been leaders and team members in a 30 million dollar camp that students from Ireland, Holland, San Lucia, Canada, Mexico and most states of the US have attended. All share a vision impairment or blindness and get the chance to meet others with the same condition and sometimes worse vision conditions.

For teachers it was a chance to network, show off our Aussie inventions for vision impaired students and marvel at the skills displayed by our students when they are participating in a level playing field. It is easy to demonstrate confidence, leadership, self esteem and achievement when the information is presented in an accessible format and the pace allows for your needs. The Graduation ceremony at the end of the week is a moving experience because every student in camp has co-operated with their peers and achieved beyond their expectations. We had the privilege to have our student Nicole win the “Right Stuff” award for 2004 – the top Space Camp award for the student that displays the ideals of the camp. Space Camp for the Visually Impaired is the favourite week of the year for the Camp Counsellors who take groups of sighted students for the other 50 weeks of the year. With a small amount of training and lots of support they are given 20 students who are blind or vision impaired to instruct. They find it extremely challenging but immensely rewarding.

I have always said our students stand tall after being to Space Camp and it cuts our workload down by half. Whether it is from the attention and interest they get from their teachers and their schools, the community who supports them, or having to struggle to raise the money to go, they come back and continue to change in the weeks and months and now years later.

We now have students who are over 21, have been working, or who are in the final years of their courses and we are proud of the choices they have made. Over 35 students have attended SCI-VIS and over 10 staff from metropolitan and regional Victoria and that is something we are immensely proud of. Every student who has been to Space Camp has matured, made good choices, set themselves goals, and had loads of fun! We are now asking them to be mentors to younger students.

Space Camp for the Vision Impaired – SCI-VIS – relies so much on goodwill and volunteerism. The staff of the SVRC and the co-ordinator Deb Lewis who has been instrumental in her leadership of keeping SCI-VIS part of our annual calendar have been invaluable. It would not happen without their interest and hours of volunteer work. If you'd like to support our fundraising efforts, please call Jeni Blake on 0428 134660.

On behalf of Geoff and students Lyndsay, Natasha, Michael, Nicole, Mel and Laurel thank you to all the Friends of Space Camp for making 2004 SCI-VIS possible.

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