| Huntsville, Alabama's Space Camp | | | | The quarters themselves (complete with bunks) look |
| Every kid's most fervent dream is to experience what | | | | like they could be on a space station or colony, not |
| it is like to be an astronaut. The NASA sponsored | | | | somewhere in Alabama. But the best part of Space |
| Space camp in Huntsville, Alabama makes this dream | | | | Camp is the "astronaut training." |
| a possibility. The week long programs help the kid | | | | All kids who attend Space Camp are put through |
| experience what its like to be an astronaut. Some of | | | | astronaut training. Space suits are fitted for the kids so |
| these programs are offered along with other | | | | they get to experience what that feels like. There are |
| community programs like 4-H. Attending a Space | | | | centrifuge rides to help the kids feel the pressure of |
| Camp can be one of the most meaningful and | | | | gravity and zero gravity simulations to help them |
| interesting experiences of your child's life. | | | | experience weightlessness. Using simulators, they are |
| The Space Camp program in Alabama has an age | | | | also taught to "fly" spacecraft like the shuttle. Not to |
| limit, and the full camp is available to kids who are at | | | | forget, the kids can use a contraption that helps them |
| least 12 years old. Of course, there are special | | | | experience what it feels like to walk on the moon. |
| programs at the center for younger kids that offer | | | | After going through all of the "training," the Space |
| many activities they do not quite appreciate. However, | | | | Camp participants get to run a simulated mission. |
| it gives them the chance to assert that they are old | | | | Everyone on board the ship has a role (pilot, payload |
| enough to be away from home. | | | | specialist, space walk, etc.) to play in completing the |
| The programs and activities at Space Camp are | | | | mission successfully. And, because sequencing and |
| designed to awaken creativity and curiosity. The kids | | | | time are important in real space missions, these are |
| learn to design a lunar colony, and attend classes and | | | | elements present in the simulated mission. If you mess |
| seminars to know about the history of the space | | | | up, your simulator shakes you around and you know |
| program. They learn about the Soviet space program | | | | what it is like to crash and burn. |
| as well as the United States program in these classes. | | | | A group may get an opportunity to run the mission |
| They are also taken on trips to the museum to gain an | | | | more than once, if time permits, thus giving the kids a |
| education experience. | | | | chance to play different roles in the mission. The |
| But Space Camp would not be fun if sitting in classes | | | | mission is a fun, hands-on learning experience for the |
| and designing lunar colonies is all that went on. There | | | | young space campers. |
| are life size mock-ups of space shuttles to explore. | | | | |