Space Camp

What a week! I contracted with the US Space and Rocket Center's US Space Camp, to send out instructors to Las Vegas and do their Build-A-Shuttle program with a group of our Las Vegas homeschooled students. It is so incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't use enough exclamation points!!!!!!!!

We cycled about 150 kids through the program each day, and each day they built upon what the previous class had done. It culminated in a HUGE space shuttle/ISS/Payload Bay/Engine Block/Mission Control Center that took up almost an entire gymnasium!

The most incredible part was watching how the instructors gave the children free reign for interpretation. They would say, ok, we're going to use these boxes and buckets to make an engine block. GO! It was hours of work and so much fun and so much cooperative work, and so much learning about space! I just can't say enough about the program or the instructors, or the kids! I had chills all week long, watching it unfold!

Then, the last day, the kids all got to dress up as astronauts or mission control specialists, and put on this play, it was THE BOMB! My son has been walking on his heels vvveeerrrryyy slowly, for days, with his arms outstretched...in preparation of his part.

Ok, enough talk, here are some pics:

Looking over boxes and trying to make decisions for the Engine Block

We had several stations set up through the room. Here some banners are being painted, while the engine block is being created in the background.


This Mommy fell in love with the Satellite she helped her group make. She ended up bringing him home after The Mission was complete!


Flames are being added to the engine block


The frame of the ISS is done, and the frame of the orbiter is now being put together. Thankfully some dads came and helped! Cutting PVC is hard work!

Adding some last minute decorations


Elias with Linda

Then it was time for The Mission. Some in the audience came dressed for it!  Too cute!


The astronauts got on their gear

Then they had to lay on their backs for a long time getting ready to go up


After a successful Launch, Elias had to do a space walk in order to repair a piece of the satelite


Here's another group completing their space walk, after repairing a solar panel


Our Mission Control Specialists did a great job!


Here's our crew, back home safe and sound!


Two of the more adventurous moms took home the ISS and the shuttle pieces


I think the kids will be talking about this for years to come!