Space Camp?! ME?! WOW!

Wow, where to begin? I guess it starts back in the fall. I got an email at work about going to a space camp. I have really gotten into teaching science and thought it sounded like fun. On a whim, I filled out the application, sent it off via email and promptly FORGOT about it.

Flash forward until March. I got a letter in the mail from Honeywell. I wondered about it, but figured it had to do with the new furnace we had just had put in. Imagine my surprise when I read "Congratulations! You have been accepted to the 2009 Honeywell Educators@ Space Academy located at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama" ! Alabama! I have never even been there! Space Camp?! I get car sick! WOW was I excited!

I sat stunned for about 5 minutes. I think that some choice words may have come out of my mouth, because my husband asked me if I won money.

I read on.

"Honeywell Educators at Space Academy,” is a six-day program from June 20-26
at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. It provides instructors
from around the world more than 40 hours of intensive classroom, laboratory
and training time focusing on space science and exploration."

I was to be one of the teachers from 45 states and 19 countries, will get an opportunity to participate in two simulated space shuttle missions, simulate walking on the moon and work in the frictionless environment of space on an astronaut simulator.

I was so excited! Honeywell is so generous....

The scholarships include:

Tuition for the 5-day Space Academy program at U.S. Space Camp in Alabama

Roundtrip airfare

Meals and double occupancy accommodations

Workbooks and program materials for participating teachers

The Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy (HE @ SA) program provides 45 hours of intensive classroom, laboratory and training time, focusing on space science and space exploration. During the program, teachers participate in astronaut-style training and simulations, along with activities designed to promote life-long learning in a classroom setting. All lessons and activities are correlated to National Science and Math Standards and are ready to use in the classroom.

You will be selected for one of the following sessions. The 2009 program will take place at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama: June 14-18, June 21-25 OR June 28 to July 2, 2009

You will find out which session you were selected for in March.

Scholarships to the program are underwritten by Honeywell Hometown Solutions and the donations of more than 1,700 Honeywell employees. Each scholarship covers:

1. Tuition for the 5-day HE @ SA program at U.S. Space Camp in Alabama;

2. Roundtrip airfare (from home airport to Huntsville and returning trip from Huntsville to same home airport teacher departed from only);

3. Meals and double occupancy accommodations;

4. Program materials for teachers;

5. Flightsuit.

So, here I am. I am starting to pack, got my motion sickness patch (Lord help me! I am going to participate in everything even if it kills me!) So stay tuned for the next update.... I will post photos and whatnot as I can. There is not ready internet access at Camp... so it may be after the fact.

Cheers!

Space Cadet Heather