Space Camp, 2006
By Lee Clarke and Helen Young
What a sensational trip!!! What a jam packed two weeks we all had. It all started with a great trip on the plane, and the opportunity to see inside the cock pit of our Jumbo Jet. Three thrill seeking days at Disneyland followed. We went on every ride that was scary, bumpy and wet. We even went on them time and time again, because the boys just loved them. Meals were typical America feasts, which included plenty of pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and coke.
And so off to Space Camp. Negotiating security and the crowds at Los Angles Airport put us on a sharp learning curve. We succeeded in getting through the airport and on our way to Huntsville in Alabama in only one hour and ten minutes. Without the excellent assistance we got from airport staff, it would have taken us at least twice as long. It took us most of the day to get from L.A. to Huntsville.
Then the excitement really started!!!
Above is a photo of Luke, beginning to scale a 20 metre wall while he is safely harnessed and well supported by ground crew. After reaching the top of this structure he was attached to a flying fox for his 100 metre descent back to earth. His comment was, “I was afraid of heights, but now I can do anything”. Andy also climbed this wall, but Mike and Pete climbed an inside rock wall.
One of the major objectives of the camp was for students to work closely together as members of a team, as astronauts have to do. Luke and Andy were part of the Von Teisenhaussen Mission group, while Pete and Mike were part of the Deimos Mission Group. All boys worked really well in groups and completed successful missions, while making friends with new and interesting people from around the world.
Luke experienced repairing a satellite while wearing a full space suit and suspended on cables. Mike, Pete and Andy all enjoyed the roles they selected of Mission Scientist, Commander and Mission Specialist.
Lee thought this was the most amazing personal challenge that she saw any of the boys undertake. While harnessed and supported, they climbed up a 10 metre pole. When they got close to the top, the pole moved in the breeze, making it more challenging. Once they got to the top of the pole, some students even managed to stand upright on the small disc before leaping into space and trusting their ground crew to lower them safely.
All boys built either a one or two stage rocket. These were launched into the air by the boys and they returned to earth via the parachute which was installed in each rocket.
The boys loved!!!! the camp for the following reasons. They loved making new friends, learning the history of space, staying up late, achieving unimaginable tasks, meeting so many vision impaired students and helping others with less vision, trusting their team mates and having so much fun!!!!
One of the outstanding outcomes of this trip was to see the boys realise their abilities and not their limitations. One student even said, “If I can do this, I can do anything!”
Who went in 2006?
Visiting Teachers for Vision Impairment Lee Clarke from Southern Metropolitan Region and Helen Young from Loddon Mallee Region chaperoned four fine young men: Peter and Michael from Southern Metropolitan Region, Luke from Loddon Mallee Region, and Andy from Northern Metropolitan Region.