Space Camp debuts at university's Horizons programs

CHRIS PAGANO * CPAGANO@semissourian.com

Students attending the first Horizons's Enrichment Program Space Camp, held at Southeast Missouri recently, were front, from left, Hillary Caldwell, Neha Tandon, Lilli Robinson, Lindsey Hadley. Standing, back, from left are Nick Wallhausen, Matthew Jedlinski, James Holloway, Danny Comeau, Ben Buescher, Brett Slaten and Kyle Brewington. Unavailable for photo were Lessley Dennington, Spencer Lovig and Alyssa Ruopp.By Chris Pagano ~ Southeast Missourian

It wasn't quite like astronaut training in Huntsville, Ala., but chidlren ages 9 to 14 at least got a taste of what life in space is like at Horizons, Southeast Missouri State University's summer enrichment program.

Space Camp was among a dozen new programs offered this year. Programs are created and presented each summer at Southeast Missouri State University.

Students examined the solar system, stars, constellations and their history. They learned about launching rockets and living in space.

For something as simple as pudding, astronauts have to dump a box of instant pudding mix in a plastic bag, add water, shake, then cut a small hole in the corner and suck it out of the bag instead of eating it with a spoon.

"Gross," said 10-year-old Kyle Brewington of Fredericktown, Mo.

Despite the pudding problem, "Space Camp was fun," he said. "I'd come back next year if we don't do the same things."

Just as astronauts exercise daily, so did Space Campers. Jane Comeau said her 11-year-old son, Richard, was sore from exercising.

On the final day of Space Camp, students crawled through a 10-foot space attached to the indoor planetarium set up in Dempster Hall Atrium, called Starlab Planetarium. Once inside the 12-by-20-foot gray, dome-shaped inflatable environment, students watched a slide show displaying the constellations while the instructor asks questions. Starlab Planetarium travels from campus to campus educating students on various subjects concerning space. Children identified the constellations Sagittarius, Aquarius, Orion, Pisces, Taurus and others.

Navigating by compass

For orienteering, the activity of navigating by compass, campers were provided with compasses, a campus map and flags to locations out of this world. Existing locations were renamed after the planets to make it more fun.

"We evaluated the activities early and this was voted the most fun," said Laura Stiegemeyer, student worker at the NASA Center.

"This is the first Space Camp I've attended," said Lindsey Hadley. "I just like learning about space and stuff. We just redid my room in space."

"I wish I could be an astronaut," said Neha Tandon, "but I'm not brave enough."

A model of the solar system was also set up in the atrium on the final day. It included a 5-by-5-foot planet Jupiter and facts about each planet to motivate students to learn more.

Jackie Wortmann, Space Camp instructor at NASA Education Resource Center/Godwin Center, hoped another session of Space Camp would be added next year. "Although not everyone can become an astronaut, informing and motivating youth to desire more scientific knowledge for potential careers or just for the fun of learning makes Space Camp an important new addition to the Horizons enrichment program."

With the availability of four one-week slots, assistant director of continuing education Michelle Kilburn said, "there will definitely be more than one session of Space Camp next year."

New programs besides Sapce Camp that were offered this year including watercolors, archaeology, American Indians, geometry, architectural design and modeling and 3-D modeling and animation.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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