An Introduction to AstroCamp Redlands USD – GATE Program May 17, 2017
Where and What is AstroCamp? • AstroCamp is located in the San Jacinto Mountains near the town of Idyllwild. • AstroCamp is a hands-on physical science program with an emphasis on astronomy and space exploration. • RUSD has taken GATE students, historically, for 3 days in the Fall.
2017 AstroCamp Dates Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 We leave on the morning of Friday, Sept. 29 th from a centralized RUSD school and return to the same school on Sunday afternoon. We travel by bus to AstroCamp.
Housing and Food • Groups of students are housed within AstroCamp dorms by gender. • Parent and District chaperones sleep in the same dorms but in separate rooms from the students. • Students receive three generous meals daily, served family style, in AstroCamp’s dining lodge.
Learning Groups • Students are placed in mixed-school groups for the AstroCamp experience. These groups stay the same for the time at camp. • Typically, two chaperones are assigned to each student group. • We cannot guarantee that best friends will be placed in the same learning group.
Activities • Students participate in classes within their camp group. • All classes reinforce a “space” theme. • Classes reinforce science learning in a fun format!
What Students Can Expect • Students (and chaperones) are assigned to an instructor who will lead them through a variety of exciting classes. • Typically students have two classes each morning, two in the afternoon, and one in the evening.
What Students Can Expect • During these classes they participate in a variety of activities. (They can build and launch rockets, experience micro-gravity in the pool, climb to the top of the Power Pole or have a “hair - raising experience” using a Van de Graaff generator. ) • During the evening their instructor will lead their group on a fantastic night adventure. They begin by taking a night hike up to the telescopes area where they will view planets, galaxies and stars. On another they might get to experience AstrOlympics in the gymnasium.
Rocketry – Part I • In this class, one of the most popular, students begin by learning about forces and Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion. Next, students use their new knowledge of how motion works to create their own rockets out of a two liter bottle. Each Student Needs to Bring a 2 Liter Bottle to Camp!
Rocketry – Part II • In the next class period students launch their rockets using water and pressurized air on AstroCamp’s specially designed rocket launching field. Each student will control his or her own pressurization and launching process from their customized launch consol. Students will time the flight of each rocket, and with the help of the instructors, they will use this information to determine the height of each rocket’s flight.
Cosmic Lander • Students design and build their own “cosmic landers ” out of a variety of materials. Students can take cues from previous NASA and JPL sponsored missions or branch out and try their own unique designs. Just like NASA and JPL students will be working on a budget and will have to keep an eye on costs as they plan their construction. • Finally students will crash test their landers. Will they survive a landing on a harsh planetary landscape? • What will their success rate be when compared to those of NASA scientists?
Atmosphere and Gases Students will learn about planetary atmospheres and changes in states of matter as they experiment with pressure, temperature, density, and other gas properties. They will form hypotheses and follow the scientific method through to discover the answers. This class is full of interactive experiments and dramatic results. This is always a popular favorite because students get to blow stuff up in the name of science!
Astronaut Training • Students will experience the feeling of near-weightlessness as they undergo their own mission in AstroCamp’s indoor pool. • To prepare, students will learn about what gravity is, how it works, and what “weightlessness” really is. • They will be briefed on their “mission” and will discuss various ways of communicating with one another in the vacuum of space. Once in the pool, students will be divided into small groups and will construct a “communication satellite” while floating in the water. Once all teams have finished their portion of the satellite all the parts will be put together to form one large satellite that the team will then “launch” into space.
Astronaut Training
Cost • The cost of the trip breaks down to approximately $265 per person. • Payment is due when registering for AstroCamp in August 2017.
Registration 2017 (We register students until spaces are filled and then begin a waiting list). • GATE students: Register on Saturday, Aug. 26 th at the District Office, PDC, 8:30AM to 11:00AM. • Non-GATE and GATE students: Register on Monday, Aug. 28 th , at the District Office, PDC, 5:30PM to 7:00PM.
Chaperones • We will need a limited number of teacher and parent chaperones. • Parent chaperones will need to pay their own tuition fee, participate in all AstroCamp activities, and supervise groups of students for the entire weekend including bus travel. • Parent and teacher chaperones will be selected from a variety of school sites. • We are limited in the number of chaperones who can attend. • Please let us know if you would like to be considered as a possible chaperone at registration.
Chaperones • AB346 requires vetting of overnight chaperones - including Redlands Police Department background check at a chaperone expense of approximately $21. All chaperone required paperwork must be turned into school district, within set timelines, for RUSD Board approval, prior to departure.
AstroCamp Parent Group • AstroCamp is a self supporting, parent assisted activity. • We need a small group of parents to assist with AstroCamp registration and paperwork. • This committee runs registration, gets sign- ups, and helps create our database of participants. • See the AstroCamp principal leader to help out.
More Information • Please visit http://astrocampsummer.org/ for more information on AstroCamp.
RUSD GATE Contact Rachel Malatesta, Principal Arroyo Verde Elementary School phone: (909) 307-5590 Email: rachel_malatesta@redlands.k12.ca.us
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