T-minus 16 hours (or thereabouts)

Until blast off...

I am off tomorrow (at 10:05 AM to be exact) to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. I will be attending an Educator's Space Camp - and I am beyond excited. (And, by the way, any middle school science or math teacher can apply to be a Honeywell Educator and attend space camp for free - http://www.spacecamp.com/educators/honeywell/)

That is exactly how I was selected to participate. I applied online, forgot about applying, and was over the moon (literally) when I found out I was selected.

My love of science, particularly space science all stems from my work with Girl Scouts. As a long time camper (counselor and assistant camp director), we had the good fortune of receiving a grant to partner with NASA in 2001. With our awesome trainers that came to Dubuque, I really developed my love of all things space. Another opportunity came about in 2009 and we worked with another group on another grant bring the 21st Century Explorer program into the hands of informal education. In 2009, my science/Girl Scout buddies Debby Stork, Marci Seavey, and I traveled to Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX to learn about the program, assist the educators in making changes to the curriculum, and tour a ton of really cool places (the neutral buoyancy lab, the food lab, robotics labs, MISSION CONTROL, and more). If you are a nerd like me, check out the pictures from that trip in the slide show below.

Funny enough, I've never been able to teach space science to my classes... I've always been in the grade above where it's in their curriculum. However, so much of what I've learned about inquiry has come from NASA trainings, that it's readily infused in all that I do!

So, my hope (dependent on internet access at Charger Village - crossing fingers), is to blog daily about my adventures in Huntsville, so I can keep my following (family and friends) up to date on what I'm experiencing! Regardless, I will be taking pictures like crazy and updating entries to post when I have access.

Much to do until I blast off - like packing, laundry, and other assorted tidbits. Michelle