The Lima News!

Lima North Middle School teacher participates at Space Academy
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June 27, 2009 - 4:44 PM
Merri Hanjora

LIMA - Heather Hunt, of Findlay, a teacher at Lima North Middle School received a scholarship to attend the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy in Huntsville, Ala. The weeklong training took place last week, June 20 through Friday.

"It is so much fun," Heather said. "I am on my feet running from 7:15 a.m. until 9:30 at night. We are playing astronaut with some of the same simulators that the real space cowboys used."

Nineteen teachers from various states participated. The first day, the group participated in the Space Shot. "This is like a ride at Cedar Point," Hunt said, "and I'm afraid of heights. But I did it and it was cool."

During the classroom sessions, participants learn how to incorporate space into teaching.

Hunt is excited to begin school and to share her knowledge and experience from the Space Academy with her classroom. "I am going to wear my space suit the first day of school," she said.

Each teacher receives a full scholarship following an application and selection process involving competing teachers from around the world. All costs underwritten by Honeywell and the contributions of Honeywell employees.

Created in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in 2004, the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy program is designed to provide teachers with teaching techniques through real life astronaut training and innovative educational tools. Activities include classroom, laboratory and field training which are linked to science and math teaching standards. Since its inception, more than 1,100 teachers from 36 countries and all 50 states have graduated.

For information on Hunt's experiences, visit her blog: www.heatherspacecamp.blogspot.com.