United States Space Camp

U.S. Space Camp is hosted by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and day camp educational programs for children in various age groups and adults. These programs include space oriented camp programs, aircraft themed Aviation Challenge camps, and outdoor oriented X-Camp programs, with the intent to promote science, engineering, aviation and exploration.

History

Space Camp was founded in 1982 as a camp for children using the United States space program as the basis to excite children in the areas of math and science. The idea for the camp came about as a result of a discussion between Dr. Wernher von Braun and Edward O. Buckbee. During public appearances, Buckbee has stated that the camp was the idea of Dr. von Braun who was touring the U.S. Space & Rocket Center with Buckbee in 1977 when he noticed children studying rockets and making notes. According to Buckbee, von Braun commented "We have band camp, football, cheerleading; why don't we have a science camp?"

U.S. Space Camp Foundation

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp (formerly U.S. Space Camp) in Huntsville are run by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, which is a state agency. The agency is not allowed to operate outside of the state. The U.S. Space Camp Foundation was established to promote Space Camp and develop other camps across the United States and internationally.

In addition to the Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, there have been two other Space Camps in the United States: Space Camp Florida and Space Camp California. Each camp was an independent operation run under the guidance of the non-profit U.S. Space Camp Foundation.

There are a number of internationally hosted Space Camps, including Space Camp Turkey, Space Camp Canada (known as "Camp Spatial" in French), Space Camp Japan, and Space Camp Belgium. The foundation has been looking to open additional camps including possibly in China.

Space Camp Florida

Space Camp Florida opened at some point in the 1980s and shared facilities with the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida. It closed in 2002 due to financial difficulties. Some 50,000 children attended the camp during its run.

Space Camp California

Space Camp California was located at Mountain View, California and opened its doors in 1996. Space Camp California closed its doors January 6, 2002, also due to financial difficulties.

Space Camp's 25th Anniversary

Summer 2007, marked the 25th Anniversary of Space Camp and the related programs. Space Camp used the 25th Anniversary to celebrate the history the space program, the camp and all of alumni who attended the camp. The summer of 2007 marked several milestones in the camp's history. In its first 25 years, its mission had been to excite young people to study math, science, and technology. The 500,000^th camper, Samantha Rice, graduated June 15, 2007. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center added to the museum the Space Camp Hall of Fame, which was designed to honor graduates, former employees and supporters who have distinguished themselves after attending camp or contributed to furthering camp ideals. The first inductee was Dr. Wernher von Braun.

Programs

Program names are used to define the age or focus group for which the specific program targets, with "Space Camp" referring to both a camp program and the parent organization. The camp offers numerous programs for various ages and durations of visit. The majority of attendees visit during the summer, though spring and fall often see many school group visits, parent and child bonding camps, and adult or corporate programs.

Space Camp

Space Camp is offered for children between 9 and 11 years old, and typically runs from three to six days in length. The curriculum is designed to balance a strong emphasis on education with a spirit of fun. Children enrolling in Space Camp have the option to choose from one of three "tracks", each with its own unique activities and areas of study: space, aviation and robotics.

Space Camp was the first of the camp programs offered, which is why it is used as the umbrella organization name. From the small groups that attended in 1982 it has grown to more than 500,000 graduates in week long programs.

Space Academy

Space Academy is a program intended for ages 12-14, offered in both six- and eight-day sessions. Trainees (campers) may select from two different tracks: the "new" track, for those who have not previously attended the camp, and "alumni," for children who have. It builds on campers' previous experiences.

Advanced Space Academy

Advanced Space Academy is designed for young adults aged 15-18 years. There are two tracks offered: Pilot and Mission Specialist.

The program was originally known as Space Academy Level II and was started in Fall of 1987.

Parent/Child Space Camp

The Parent/Child Space Camp program allows parents or guardians the opportunity to attend Space Camp with their child aged 7-12 years. The program is three to four days in length and includes activities in which the adult and child work together.

Parent/Child also has an Aviation Challenge option. Pilot/Co-Pilot is designed for the young fighter pilots and their adult heroes. Offered during the summer months.

SCI-VIS

In cooperation with teachers of visually impaired students, Space Camp facilitates a week long "Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students" by providing the same experience to visually impaired students as sighted students. Adaptations are made to the computer systems campers use in activities and simulations to provide speech and large print output. Special materials, including handbooks translated in Braille, and equipment are used during the camp. It is a fully participatory program intended to immerse students in an environment not limited by sight. For many students, SCI-VIS may be their first opportunity to interact with others of similar abilities. Referencing what may be a common sentiment among attendees, a SCI-VIS slogan is "Just because I can't see the stars, doesn't mean I can't reach for them."

Other programs

Space Camp offers several other programs. These include corporate programs, programs for adults and educators and a variety of educational field-trip programs for school groups. There were also special alumni sessions during the summer of the 25th Anniversary. Space Camp also started a new camp called X-Camp, an outdoor leadership camp.

Aviation Challenge

Aviation Challenge, or AC, is another umbrella branding for a set of aviation oriented camps at Space Camp. It consists of three main programs for children from ages 9-18. As an aviation oriented camp the fundamental teaching aid are computer based flight simulators, which are used in training attendees to fly, act, and think like United States Air Force, Navy or Marine fighter pilots.

Mach IMach I is the AC program for children from 9-11. Campers learn basic flying skills, such as taking off and landing, dog-fighting, and ground munitions delivery. Campers also participate in survival training on both land and water.

Mach IIMach II is designed for young teens from the ages of 12-14. In Mach II the basic flying skills from Mach I are expanded upon, culminating at the end of the week in a "TopGun" competition, to determine the week's best pilot. While flying campers also learn land and water survival skills and culminate the week in a NAVY SEAL Search and Rescue (SAR) mission during the day, and an escape and evasion activity that night.

There is also an eight day version of Mach II.

Mach IIIMach III is the final stage of AC, designed for young adults aged 15-18. Flying in Mach III becomes even more difficult, using full sized simulators, communications, the pairing of a pilot and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) to work together, and daily missions that are scored. Mach III campers once again learn land and water survival, using equipment such as the "helo-dunker" and a zip line to simulate a parachute landing. Culminating the week is an extensive Navy SEAL Ops mission and very challenging escape and evasion activity.

In 2005, Mach III added a 12 day version for their die hard trainees.

The Mach III 12 day program was discontinued in 2008. It was replaced with an 8 day program.

Facilities

Simulators

There are simulators at Space Camp, such as:
*The MAT (Multi-Axis-Trainer) – Simulates disorientation, similar to the Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (MASTIF) developed for Project Mercury

*The 1/6 Chair – Simulates walking on the Moon

*The 5DF Chair – Simulates the frictionless environment of space in five degrees of freedom

Space Camp additionally uses rides or attractions that are on site at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center as instructional tools. While these are not true simulators, the use of these rides enables the rider to experience in a simulated fashion or better understand some aspect of space travel.
*Space Shot – Simulates liftoff.
*G-Force Accelerator – Simulates the G-Forces put on astronauts while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere or during launch.

Spacedome IMAX Theater

The Spacedome IMAX Theater provides a venue for presenting some of the space and science oriented films produced through the IMAX camera/projection system. The theater is part of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center museum complex. As Space Camp is operated by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, it makes regular use of the theater.

Accommodations

If a Space Camp program takes more than one day, "campers" stay at the space camp's Habitat 1 or Habitat 2. Habitat 1 is a large building designed to house young people. It is constantly manned by staff and has full CCTV. Male and female campers are usually assigned to separate floors.

Aviation Challenge trainees stay in Habitat 3 where they are required to maintain military standards to their bays and racks. There are two floors to Hab 3. Males live on half of the ground floor and all of the second floor. Female trainees stay on one hall of the Hab. The bays are named after legendary fliers and military aces.

Media and popular culture

Movies and TV

*"SpaceCamp", the movie, was released in 1986 and resulted in a large growth of registration and attendance.
*In several Nickelodeon game shows during the 1990s, grand prize trips to U.S. Space Camp were often offered.
*In the movie "Stranger Than Fiction", the main character's friend, Dave, states "You're never too old to go to Space Camp, dude..." At the end of the movie, he can be seen looking at at Space Camp brochure about "Adult Programs" from the 2006 season.

Notable attendees and guests

*Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger is the first Space Camp alumna to become a NASA astronaut. Metcalf-Lindenburger, a former classroom teacher, was selected as an Educator Astronaut in the 2004 astronaut class. Dottie attended Space Camp as a high school freshman in the spring of 1989. [http://www.air-space.com/SCChina.htm]
*Chelsea Clinton attended U.S. Space Camp during Bill Clinton's first term.
*Recently, one of Tom Hanks' sons attended camp, and he was present for graduation. (The elder Hanks had brunch with former Apollo astronauts while in Huntsville.)
*The elder President Bush visited during his term as president, and subsequently was used on the U.S. Space and Rocket Center brochure for a period thereafter.
*Dan Quayle visited during his term as Vice President.
*Al Gore visited during his term as Vice President
*Kris Kristofferson attended along with his son Jesse at Parent/Child Space Camp in the summer of 1991.
*The cast and crew of Apollo 13 visited Space Camp during pre-production.
*Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen attended U.S. Space Camp during production of The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley.
*Elizabeth Cooper, the daughter of Mercury Seven astronaut Gordon Cooper, attended Space Camp Florida in 1990.

External links

* [http://www.spacecamp.com/ Official Website for U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge Programs]
* [http://www.spacecamp.com/details.php?cat=Alumni&program=Alumni Official Website for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge Alumni]
* [http://www.hab1.com/ Community Site for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge Alumni]
* [http://www.myspace.com/spacecampalumni Grassroots Website of Alumni Andi]
* [http://www.tsbvi.edu/space/ Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCI-VIS)]
* [http://www.spacecamp.org.hk/ Youth U.S. Space Camp] for Hong Kong students to U.S. Space and Rocket Center in August each year.