The Space Place at Renaissance Academy Opens for Summer Camps. Meet Eli, the Space Center's Newest Flight Director. All Cassini Flight Directors, Past and Present, Gather for a 30 Second Reunion - Nearly Short out the Simuator's Systems. Meet the Brains Behind Mission.io. This Week's Imaginairum Theater

Bracken Funk Giving a Mission Briefing to the Crew of the First Summer Space Camp 2026

The summer space camp season for The Space Place at Renaissance Academy kicked off on June 9, 2026, with a Day Camp.  Day Camps at the Space Place are run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 - 9:00 PM.  

Bracken Funk is the director of the Space Place.  He also teaches middle school PE at Renaissance during the school year.  Renaissance Academy has two starships with only one, the USS Voyager, functioning at the moment.  The Voyager is the largest starship simulator in the network of simulators that surrounds Utah Lake.  The other starships are at the following locations:

• The Christa McAuliffe Space Center:  6 Starships

• Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School:  2 Starships

• The Lions Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy:  4 Starships and a space station.

• Telos Academy: 1 Starship

With one starship, Day Camps at The Space Place only take 12 students per camp. Keeping the numbers low ensures every camper has a unique, hands-on experience with the ship and the storyline. 

Megan is briefing the volunteers about the camp and mission

Megan Warner is Bracken's right-hand assistant.  She both flight directs and supervises the Voyager - in addition to her administrative position at The Christa McAuliffe Space Center. Megan has space on her mind most of the day :)

Henry was the other supervisor for the first camp

It was a fun camp, but of course, there were some difficulties.  The crew was on the younger side, so operating the simulator was a challenge, but they managed to pull it off in the end. With the first camp under their belt, The Space Place is ready for a great summer in space. 

A video of the Starship Voyager as the crew boards (then a tour of the ship and the control room)

Meet Eli, The Space Center's Newest Flight Director

Eli is receiving his Navy Blues (FD shirt) from the Phoenix Simulator's Senior Flight Director, Jordan Smith

Eli is the latest graduate of The Space Center's Internship Program. Tabitha Ricks is the Space Center's Administrative Lead for the program. 

Tabitha wrote the following announcement in the Space Center's Discord 

Some of you may have noticed that Eli has been wearing a new shirt today. He has joined the ranks of Flight Director, and you can find him in his native environment in the Phoenix! Eli has managed this accomplishment in 8 months of training!

Because of his unique schooling schedule, he was able to train during field trips and so has a familiarity with both the Magellan and the Phoenix. It's impressive to see Eli take a first swing at an unfamiliar story thanks to his training experience. His first stab is often as polished as many an FD's third pass. Between Eli's instinct for storytelling, friendly demeanor, and love of learning, the Phoenix has gained a mighty flight director.
Well done and congratulations to Eli!!

Tabitha Ricks

Eli, the New Voice of the Starship Phoenix

 

I've personally seen Eli at work, FD training, and volunteering, but what really impresses me is how well he works with the Space Center's youngest campers, our 3 to 9-year-olds who come to the Center for our academic programs.  He is awesome with the younglings. He gets right down on their level and interacts like a real pro.

Congratulations, Eli, on your accomplishment!  

Mr. Williamson

All the Cassini's Flight Directors (Past and Present) Gather for a 30 Second Reunion

Yesterday, by some miracle of stellar alignment, fate brought all the Cassini's flight directors, both past and present, together at the Space Center for one brief moment.    

Here we all are, from left to right: Mr. Williamson, Rachel, Hyrum, Ian, Jon, and Ellie

What a great gaggle of creative brain power all crammed into that tiny space.  I'm surprised we didn't short out the Cassini's electrical systems just by standing in such close proximity to the controls!

Meet the People Behind Mission.io. The Great Casey Voeks and Skyler Carr

Skyler and Casey at Mission.io Headquarters in Provo

You've heard all about them, now you get to see them at work at Mission.io's world headquarters in Provo, Utah.  Two weeks ago, Casey was in Utah to conduct several training sessions for Utah teachers.  I caught up with both of them at the Mission.io headquarters.  We talked about old times at The Space Center and their days at Stonegate, Canyon Grove Academy, and Lakeridge Academy.  We talked about the future of Mission.io and their fantastic plans. It is soooo good to see their successes!  What we started at our little space center in Pleasant Grove has inspired many people to do great things.     

Mission.io's mission is simple: make the best immersive educational programs on the market, then world domination!  All in two simple steps, right? By the way, Casey and family are moving back to Utah in August.  Don't be surprised if you see him wandering the hallways of your nearest simulator.   

Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

A Tribute to Nolan Welch as he Leaves the Space Center for Medical School. Orion Bowers Had His "Reactivation Clause" Briefly Enforced. Admiral Porter and his Team of Breakfast Connoisseurs Forcefully Removed from Pleasant Grove's Fireman's Breakfast. Video of the First Officers' Camp. The Imaginarium Theater

Working at the Space Center has many perks, chief among them the privilege of working alongside some of Utah's finest young people. The difficult part, however, is saying goodbye when life calls, and they return planetside to pursue higher education, careers, and new horizons. 

Last week was one of those bittersweet days as we said goodbye to Nolan Welch. For well over a decade, Nolan has been a dedicated, talented, and deeply caring volunteer, supervisor, and flight director. He first walked through our doors back in the days of the old Space Center as a junior high volunteer, sticking with us all through high school. After a two-year break to serve an LDS mission, he immediately returned to the simulators and remained a fixture at the Center throughout his college years. Since then, he has married, graduated from the university, and decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Nolan with his last Space Center Crew

Nolan (left) started volunteering in June 2013.  Here he is on one of his first assignments
working a Phoenix mission.

Nolan is now heading off to medical school in Texas. While his exact medical path is still ahead of him, wherever he lands, he will undoubtedly be the kind of doctor any of us would be lucky to have. I sincerely hope his journey eventually brings him back to Utah County—because here is one geriatric patient who will gladly sign up to be first on his chart!

Nolan receiving his 5 Year Volunteer patch from Mr. Porter at Honors Night

Nolan, Receiving his Navy Blues (Flight Director) Shirt for Odyssey Set Director Natalie Anderson

Good luck in medical school, Nolan. Thank you for your incredible years of service to the Space Center, and for the care and dedication you showed to thousands of Utah students. Perhaps, when the time is right, and you return home, you'll hear the Space Center's siren song once more and step back into the control room to fly the occasional group through the galaxy.

Wouldn't that be something? A flight director who practices medicine on the side. :)


A Short Video Tribute to Nolan, Including the Last Minutes of his Final Flight in the Odyssey.

A Special Thank you to Jon Parker and Lindsey Matus for their photos and videos.

Orion Bowers Had His "Reactivation Clause" Briefly Enforced this Week. Watch Out, All You Former Volunteers and Flight Directors!

Orion Arrived at the Space Center Uniformed and Ready for Service. "Point me to the problem, and it will be fixed!" he said enthusiastically

Everyone who retires from space service to live planetside is well aware of the Reactivation Clause in their severance contract. Even so, it can be a shock to see a subspace transmission from Admiral Porter pop up while sitting at a desk in some drafty office building in downtown Somewhere, USA.

"Soldier, you are reactivated," are the first words they hear when they answer.

Most spring into action immediately, catching the next shuttle back to Pleasant Grove. Others need a bit of time to explain the sudden departure to their civilian employers. Just saying, "Starfleet has reactivated me; I need to return to space service for a day or two," can be difficult to grasp for those unfamiliar with the Space Center and our tireless mission to keep Earth and the Federation colonies safe in these troubled times.

Orion Bowers, despite having retired to prepare for his next grand adventure, received just such a call last week and sprang into action. His old starship, the Galileo, was in desperate need of new training videos—and the Admiralty determined that only Orion possessed the specific expertise and sheer presence to get the job done right.

Thank you, Orion, for answering the call, donning the uniform once more, and for your continued support of the Space Center. You are a lifelong friend, and the Federation is safer because of you.

Orion says "Hello" to his starship, the Galileo, after a long absence

Admiral Porter and his Team of Space Center Hearty Breakfast Connoisseurs were Forcefully Removed from Pleasant Grove's Fireman's Breakfast on Saturday!

I Took This Just Before Seeing Them "Encouraged Out" of the Fireman's Breakfast


Every year, the Pleasant Grove Fire Department hosts its annual Firemen’s Breakfast—a community-building fundraiser designed to raise money for local emergency services. And every year, Admiral Porter and select hearty breakfast eaters from the Space Center arrive with a single mission objective: All-You-Can-Eat.

This past Saturday, Admiral Porter assembled a crew of the Center's elite, hearty breakfast eaters and marched them into the fire hall. It was a gesture of support for the fire department. In reality, it was an economic disaster for the fire department.

The trouble began when the firemen realized how quickly the Space Center crew was clearing out the rations. Pancakes were vanishing by the dozen, syrup disappearing by the gallons.

By hour two, the Fire Chief was crunching numbers on a calculator in the back room. The grim reality quickly set in: the Space Center crew was eating so much that they were eating into the fundraiser's profits—actively driving the fire department into debt. This wasn't a breakfast anymore; it was an unsustainable siege on the city's pancake reserves.

The breaking point—the moment that forced the hand of Pleasant Grove’s finest—happened at the central table.

A sharp-eyed paramedic noticed something suspicious with Amberlynn. Upon closer inspection, they caught her in the act of stuffing fresh, hot pancakes into a giant Ziploc bag concealed beneath the table line.

That was too much. A breach of municipal breakfast etiquette had occurred.

With video evidence in hand, the firemen moved in. There were no sirens, but the order was clear: Step away from the griddle.

The Admiral and his team were politely, firmly, and legally "encouraged" out of the fire hall for the safety of the city's quarterly budget. Escorted by a couple of smiling firefighters, the crew was marched out of the firehall. "Go look at the fire trucks and don't come back in," the fire chief said to Admiral Porter. And with that, the Admiral and anyone associated with the Space Center have been barred from the premises until summer 2027.

(In all seriousness, a huge thank you to the Pleasant Grove Fire Department for a fantastic breakfast on Saturday! We left enough food for the rest of the town... mostly.)

Video of the 2026 Summer Season's First Officer Camp!

The Space Center's first Officers' Camp was held last week. 52 campers arrived at 8:30 A.M. for the 12-hour adventure. The first part of the camp consisted of the workshops and experiences: Team Building, Diplomacy, BattleSim, and the Planetarium. The afternoon and evening portion of the camp was a long mission in one of the Center's six simulators.

A great time was had by all: The Campers, The Staff, and of course, our Wonderful Volunteers.

Imaginarium Theater
The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

Meet Rachel, The Space Center's Newest Flight Director. Devin Sudweeks Returns for a Visit. Video Highlights of the First Week of Summer Space Camps. Video Highlights of the Second Annual Overnight Camp. Imaginarium Theater.

Rachel in the Cassini Control Room

Rachel has earned her Navy Blues! 

That rumble you felt last night was not the Magellan startup. It was the Space Center shaking as we had another great enter the ranks of our Cassini Flight Directors!!

Rachel with her Flight Director Navy Blues

We're already lucky to have Rachel among our supervisor ranks. Her positivity is contagious - now she's lifting up the Space Center in even more ways! Rachel has put in a lot of hard work and dedication to get her flight director pass. So the next time you see her, let her know how good she looks in navy blue!

Tabitha Ricks

Director of the Space Center's Internship Training Program

PS.  A quick addition by Mr. Williamson.  Rachel is the very definition of positivity.  I've never seen her frustrated or upset, no matter what storm may be churning in the Cassini.  She will be one of our top flight directors, and everyone will love to work with her. Congratulations Rachel!

An Old Odyssey Space Veteran Visits the Space Center

Lindsey and Devon last Week

Devin Sudweeks was an Odyssey flight director in the early 2000's.  In fact, he flew one of the originial Odyssey's last missions in July 2012, just before the simulator was demolished

Devon in July 2012

He wasn't restricted to just one simulator.  

Devon in the Galileo back in the day

Devon was with us for many, many years before life called, and he left the Space Service and went planetside for school.  Today, Devon lives in New York and is earning a PhD in linguistics, with an emphasis on ancient languages, if I remember correctly.  

Devon's family lives in Utah, so he makes appearances in the state from time to time. And when he is in town, he likes to visit his old buddies still serving in the Space Service.  Lindsey is one of those old buddies.  In fact, Devon was Lindsey's flight director trainer.  Lindsey invited Devon to come to one of the afternoon Day Camp missions to work with her.  It was awesome to see him again.  Thanks for stopping by, Devon.  We love to see our old staff and volunteers when they are in town. 

The First Week of Summer Space Camps at the Space Center  

Here is a short video highlighting the first week of summer space camps at the Space Center.  We have several more weeks to come. Thank you, Staff and Volunteers, for the time and effort you put into the summer camps. Your work will bring a lot of joy to hundreds of Utah children and teens.  

The Second Annual Overnight Camp at the Space Center (adult staff only)

The tradition of overnight camps at the Space Center isn't a finished chapter in its history.  Mr. Porter brought back overnights last year with the adult staff only, as part of an annual overnight mission program.  Adults aged 18 and older are eligible to participate as part of a full team of adult staff, crew, and volunteers.  Mr. Porter spent much of his teen years attending overnight camps at the Space Center and wanted to give today's adult staff and volunteers the opportunity to experience what one of those graveyard-shift overnights was like.

This year's overnight mission was held in the Odyssey.  Matt Ricks retrograded the Odyssey to the controls last used many, many years ago.  It took a lot of time, but well worth the fun.  Tabitha Ricks, Natalie Anderson, Lindsey Matus, Dave Stevens, Connor Larsen, Matt Ricks, and Mr. Porter made up the staff.  

Enjoy this short video highlighting this year's Overnight Camp.  

    

The Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

Honor's Night, May 28, 20026. The May Voyager Club Meeting. Imaginarium Theater

James Porter Welcomes Everyone to Honor's Night

On Thursday night, the Space Center gathered in the planetarium for our biannual Honors Night—a special tradition dedicated to celebrating a school year's worth of extraordinary accomplishments. Our staff and volunteers are the heartbeat of the center; they are the people who make the magic happen, expanding minds and inspiring visitors to look up at the universe and dream big.

We gathered to honor those who have masterfully honed their storytelling craft, pushed the boundaries of their technical skills in the simulators, and dedicated significant hours and years of service to our mission. More importantly, Honors Night gave us a chance to celebrate one another, celebrate our shared victories, and strengthen the bonds of camaraderie that will carry us into our busiest season yet: summer space camp.  

James Porter, Space Center Director, opened the event by welcoming staff, volunteers, and families to the planetarium.  He went over several housekeeping items regarding the summer camp schedule, locker use, appearance, and cleanliness... If you've attended past Honor's Nights, you are familiar with the "Necessaries," as I call them.  

The Honories

Sam C
     earned a Magellan Pin and a Starfighter Pin for 100 volunteer hours.
Alex J
     earned a Cassini Pin
Andrew A
     earned a Phoenix and Falcon Pin
Jonathan S.
     earned a Magellan Pin and a Hitchhiker pin for 500 volunteer hours
Omar A
     earned a Starfighter Pin for 100 Hours Volunteering, an Apprentice Pin for 1             year, and 100 volunteer hours.
Sarah W.
     earned a Starfighter Pin for 100 volunteer hours.
Jacob R.
     earned a Starfighter Pin for 100 volunteer hours, a Hitchhiker Pin for 500 volunteer hours, and an Apprentice Pin for 1 year as a volunteer and 100 volunteer hours. 

Chris, Elijah, and Jacob

Sarah, Sam, and Jacob

Sam, Who is that Old Codger, and Jonathan

Andrew A

Alex J

The next Honor's Night will be held at the end of August.  Summer camp season is when we expect many of our 75 volunteers to earn simulator passes and years-of-service awards.  

Congratulations to all those honored at May's Honors Night!

The Staff Meeting to Get Ready and Pumped Up for the Summer Camp Season

The Space Center Staff

The staff meeting for the summer camp season launch was held immediately following Honor's Night on Thursday evening.  The staff gathered outside the planetarium for a staff photo.  The old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words," couldn't be truer when you look at this photo.  Look at those good-looking, energetic, enthusiastic employees ready to receive counsel and instructions from their fearless leader, the Grand Visionary himself, Mr. James Porter. 

James Porter

 

James Porter recorded individual videos for every member of the staff, thanking each for their contributions towards the Space Center. James is a director who shows appreciation, gives guidance, and leads by example - always.  

The May Voyager Club Meeting    

Saturday morning, right at the stroke of 8:00 A.M., the Space Center's Voyager Club (the volunteer organization) met for their monthly Bingo game, training meeting, astronomy, and space science lesson, and raffle.  

Alex J called the Bingo with the assistance of Tyler Weight, the Club's 

Acting Department Head.

As always, many won, many lost, and a few won over and over again.  I've got to figure out how they choose which bingo card to take from the stack.  "Do the cards speak to you?" I asked one volunteer who won multiple times.  If so, I was going to tap him for a few winning lottery numbers for the next big Powerball.

Club Presidents Eavie and Alex introduced the Club's newest 

members

New club members were introduced.  These new inductees will make excellent volunteers.  They are ready to hit the volunteering road with gusto!  

The Club's Acting Department Head, Tyler Weight, did a workshop on

The major acting roles the volunteers will have to play for Cassini's new summer story

Jason Trump on the great Pluto Planetary Debate

Should it, or shouldn't it?

Jason Trump is both the Voyager Club's astronomy and space science teacher and the director of education at Clark Planetarium. He delivered a thought-provoking, passion-sparking lesson on what happened to Pluto's planetary status and whether it should be restored as the solar system's 9th planet.  

I had no idea that the topic would spark the fierce debate it did within the club's members.  Once again, it highlighted the duality of our members: lovers of science fiction and real space science.  These are people who've found the perfect home at the Space Center.  

The final part of every monthly meeting is the raffle.  Several gift cards from Amazon, Smith's, and Swig, along with a blanket, planetarium tickets, a Bluetooth speaker, a keyboard with wrist support, t-shirts, and 2026 Soccer World Cup banners and posters, were raffled.  The meeting ended at 10:00 A.M.  

Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

A Tribute to the Space Center's Staff and Volunteers on the End of the School Year. Working With Utah's Finest, the Space Center's Volunteers and One Who Made a Difference Many Years Ago. The Imaginarium Theater

Cassini Control Room

Dear Staff and Volunteers,

For many of our staff and volunteers, this season marks the end of another school year. Whether you are finishing secondary school, trade school, or university studies, you have reached the close of a long and demanding journey. It has been quite a trek.

Over the past year, we have flown countless missions together. We taught classes and workshops, guided crews through starship adventures, welcomed guests from all walks of life, and even enjoyed a few spirited bingo games at our monthly meetings. Now, as the school year comes to an end, we can look back with pride and satisfaction on all we have accomplished together.

Voyager Club Meeting

I am honored to work alongside some of the finest people in Utah County. Each of you brings your own unique personality, creativity, and perspective to the Space Center. In doing so, you enrich not only the Center itself, but also the lives of every child and family who walks through our doors. Your dedication and willingness to give just a little more than expected are what transform good experiences into unforgettable ones.

We are unusual troubadours.

We perform without recognition. We create wonder without applause. Through our voices, our stories, and our imagination, we guide our guests on voyages through the cosmos—helping them discover not only the universe around them but also something within themselves.

The Starship Voyager's Control Room

Most of the time, we remain unseen. We sit quietly behind the walls of our starships and planetarium, guiding the experience from the shadows. We know that if attention turned toward us, some part of the magic would be lost. So instead, we surround our passengers with sound, light, music, and story, allowing them to become the heroes of the adventure.

Mr. Porter and the Space Center management team want you to know that your work matters. We see your efforts. We appreciate your sacrifices. And we applaud your talent.

Someday, far in the future, when the history of humanity’s journey into space is written, I hope there is a small paragraph about a place in Utah that inspired children to lift their eyes from the ground and look toward the stars, imagining what could be.

Computer Animations Class

Imagination is our fuel. Wonder is our language.

So, troubadours, let us gather once more around the campfire and prepare for the next campaign. Summer lies ahead, and already, countless children are counting down the days until their Space EdVentures begin.

For now, let us rest while the Space Center closes this week for maintenance. Then let us rise refreshed and ready for the busy summer season ahead.

There is still more to do. There is always more to do as we continue playing our small but meaningful part in helping humanity become a spacefaring civilization.

Ad Astra!
Mr. Williamson

Working With Utah's Finest, the Space Center's Volunteers, and One Who Made a Difference Many Years Ago

Since opening our doors in 1990, the Space Center has relied on the passion and dedication of volunteers of all ages. As a part of the Alpine School District, these individuals provide the vital energy and labor that keep our programs running—doing everything from acting and prop building to programming and mission writing. Many eventually transition onto our paid staff. 

It has been my privilege to work alongside them. While we regularly remind our volunteers how essential they are to our mission, they just as often remind us how much the Space Center enriches their lives.

Jackson Miller beautifully embodied this special relationship. He was truly one of our finest, dedicating his talents to our community until the very end of his short life.

 In looking through our archives from late May 2008, I came across a short tribute to Jackson. On this anniversary of his passing, I would like to share it with you again to honor his memory and the legacy he left behind.  

The Troubadour.  May 25, 2008

The Death of One of Our Own.

Jackson Miller
Joined Staff: September 17, 2005
Overnight Hours: 76
Daytime Hours: 97.5
Last Mission: June 15, 2007
Died: May 20, 2008


     On Tuesday, a brave young man passed away from leukemia at the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Jackson Miller was a member of our Space Center volunteer family. He was a junior high student from Highland, Utah. A few years ago, Jackson was a regular volunteer. His favorite ship was the Magellan. He was here for the old Magellan’s last mission before the remodeling. He was soft spoken, polite, and always ready to do his best. I enjoyed his company on the Voyager many times. He was always smiling - that is what I’ll remember most about Jackson.

     Jackson stopped coming to the Center. I wondered why. Later, I discovered he had leukemia. He was fighting for his life. For a brief time, his cancer went into remission. He returned home. He started volunteering again. The chemotherapy took most of his hair, but his smile was still there. I talked to him about his illness. His hopes were high.

     Once again, Jackson stopped coming. I learned he had a remission. He was admitted to the Primary Children’s Hospital. His family moved to Salt Lake to be closer to him.  I didn’t know how serious his condition was until a week ago Friday, when a teacher friend of mine told me he was dying. I was preparing a letter to mail and a card from all of us when the news of his death came on Tuesday.

     I’m saddened we didn’t get to say goodbye while he was alive. I’ll say it now.

     Goodbye Jackson. Thank you for sharing some of your precious few months of mortality with us. I’ll miss your smile and laughter. I’m proud to know that you loved the Space Center. I’m proud that our work brought some joy to your life.

Jackson, it's time to fly

Mr. Williamson

Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience

Book a Summer Space Camp at the Space Center's In Pleasant Grove and Lehi. Mission.io In The News, A New Attendance Record Set! Space In the News. Imaginarium Theater

The school year is nearly over.  Time to find summer activities to keep the kids out of the house and out of your hair :)

It is time to book a summer space camp.  The Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove and The Space Place in Lehi offer space camps in the starship simulators.  Check out the camps, dates, and prices

The Magellan Simulator at the CMSC

The Christa McAuliffe Space Center

The Starship Voyager at The Space Place

The Space Place at Renaissance Academy, Lehi

Mission.io In the News

Hello All,

     As you know, this blog celebrates the achievements of every organization that can trace its origins to the original space center in Pleasant Grove.  Mission.io is one of those successful businesses. The company was founded by Casey Voeks and Skyler Carr.  

     Lately, Casey has been traveling the country, spreading the gospel of immersive, experiential education through simulations.  He has been kind to text me updates. I want to share a couple with you.

 Wednesday, May 13.  Text and Photo

     I'm in Maine today running missions.  Amazing to see your life's work spread far and wide. 

     I was in Hawaii a week and a half ago doing the same thing, amazing to be spread across 5000 miles of our country ( Casey reminded me of something written about him in the Provo Daily Herald several years ago, "Casey Voeks is out there littering the countryside with spaceships.")

Friday, May 15

     1,140 missions were run this past week!  Including in Canada, South Korea, and Cambodia.  This was our biggest week yet. That means 28,500 students went on a mission in a single week.  Momentum is gaining!

_________________________________________________________________

The following is a story about Mission.io in a Texas school district.  

Game-Based Science Builds Collaborative Problem Solvers at Forbes Middle School in the Georgetown School District, Texas

When you enter Julie Ward’s science class at Forbes Middle School, you’ll find that it feels more like a mission control center than a classroom. That’s because students aren’t just learning science, but they’re living it. Through a program called Mission. IO, sixth graders team up in randomly assigned groups to solve high-stakes challenges like saving an endangered ecosystem, retrieving a missing artifact, or regaining control of a stolen spaceship. With clear goals and a shared sense of purpose, student learning is maximized with every new mission.

“Students get full range of the classroom and have complete autonomy,” said Ward. “As I stand to the side and gently guide the mission, I watch the room turn into a dynamic environment filled with high-quality peer interactions.”

While students collaborate, Ward gathers data.

“One of our district goals is to use timely data and feedback to inform instruction,” said Ward. “During each mission, Mission.IO gives me real-time scores based on collaboration, resilience, innovation and knowledge, which allows me to give students immediate feedback that they can implement in the next round.”

Before students embark on their mission, Ward opens with an “I can…” statement to ensure that everyone is grounded in their learning goals for the day.

One recent morning, students entered the classroom to find, “I can collaborate with my peers and use critical thinking skills to be successful in our mission” written in big, bold letters at the front of the room.

For Sixth Grader Sadie Smart, this was an exciting discovery.

“My favorite missions are focused on critical thinking because we have to come together to solve a lot of riddles,” said Smart. “It’s cool to work as a team and share our ideas freely.”

This sense of teamwork and curiosity builds confidence in students, and opens opportunities for the future.

“Before I discovered Mission.IO, I wanted to be an interior designer,” said Smart. “But this class is making me reconsider things…I think I want to be a scientist now!”

If you ask Ward, Smart and her classmates have already earned that title.

“This classroom is a laboratory, and these students are scientists,” said Ward. “We use scientific syntax. We make mistakes. We fail, and we fix. Every scientist that walks through the door enters with a growth mindset, including myself.”

That mindset is having a noticeable impact beyond daily missions.

“Attendance is up because students really want to be here on the days we are doing a mission,” said Ward. “Forbes has high attendance numbers, and I think it’s because we are going out of our way to engage students with activities like Mission.IO.”

The National Competition

On March 23, Ward’s classes used their knowledge and skills to compete in Mission League, a global event where teachers run a special Mission with their class and compete for prizes, bragging rights, and a spot on the leaderboard.

One of the missions ended in cheers and high-fives as the class watched their team climb to the top of the leaderboard, finishing 10th in the nation.

You can learn more about Mission.IO and see mission samples on their website.

Space News Update

By Mark Daymont

International Space Station Now a Spaceport?  I Think So...

 

This morning the SpaceX CRS-34 Dragon cargo spacecraft docked with the International Space Station at the US Harmony module to resupply the Expedition 74 crew. That makes six spacecraft currently docked at the ISS from two different countries. I would think that would qualify the ISS to be designated a "Spaceport", right? Image from NASA.


Imaginairum Theater
The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience