Mission Report: November Voyager Club Meeting (Held in December!)

Date: Saturday, December 6th (The actual November meeting!)

Time: 8:00 AM Sharp!

Location: Christa McAuliffe Space Center (Home Base!)

Even with Thanksgiving pulling us off course and pushing our monthly rendezvous into December, the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Voyager Club had an amazing, high-energy meeting.

For your blog readers who don't know, the Voyager Club is the Space Center's volunteer club for anyone aged 12 to 100. We're not just a club; we're a Space Faring Civilization in Training, dedicated to the twin pillars of creating that civilization and, critically, Volunteerism right here at the Space Center. Astronomy, cosmology, leadership, team-building, and a healthy dose of science fiction—those are things we love.

Bingo Blast-Off and Presidential Welcome

Bright and early at 8:00 AM, the meeting kicked off with our traditional warm-up of several rounds of Bingo. Nothing makes a young volunteer happier than hitting that lucky line.

Club President Eavie then took the con at 8:30 A.M., welcoming our dedicated, yet sleepy congregation.

The Legacy of Leadership

We had a blast from the past as former Club Presidents Aiden and Mikey joined us for an unannounced visit to pump up the volunteers. They shared a few thoughts about the impact volunteers have on the program. They reminded everyone that their work is the engine that makes the Space Center experience unforgettable. Thank you Aiden and Mikey for dropping in. Let's make it every month. It isn't too much to ask :)

Charting a New Sci-Fi Universe

Next up, Space Center Administrator Mitch Foote revealed exciting news: the Space Center is building a brand new Science Fiction Universe! Mitch encouraged all Voyagers to flex their creative muscles and get involved in the story creation process. Imagine: your ideas could become the next great space saga!

Cosmic Cleanliness: A Message from Megan

Every great starship needs a meticulous crew! Megan Warner gave a vital reminder about the importance of tidiness. That staff room? Keep it pristine! Those awesome costumes? Handle them with care and put them away properly! Taking care of our Space Center is how we show professionalism and respect for our mission.

The Main Event: Space Debris - A Lesson in Low-Earth Orbit Cleanup!

Jason Trump, Director of Education at the Clark Planetarium, is the club's teacher. He gave lesson on the growing, very real problem of Space Debris (a.k.a. "space junk") polluting Earth's orbit.

But Jason didn't just lecture; he brought the ultimate hands-on challenge! Every Voyager was issued a Blow Tickler (the kind without the annoying horn—thank you, Jason, for saving our sanity) and a pile of Legos as "space debris."

The Mission: Apply a bit of double-sided tape to your tickler. Then, using only your breath, you had two options for clearing the orbital lanes:

Re-entry Burn: Push the Lego debris off the table (simulating pushing it into a lower orbit to be captured by Earth's gravity and burned up in the atmosphere).
Capture & Containment: Use the sticky tape to capture the debris and bring it safely into a designated "holding area."

The sight of dozens of Voyagers puffing away, strategizing their space junk removal, was hilarious and a blast (watch the video). It was a perfect, fun illustration of a very serious problem.

Raffle Wrap-Up!

The meeting concluded with the part everyone loves: the Raffle. Congrats to all the winners who took home some awesome prizes.

Thank you to every single volunteer for showing up, bringing your energy, and being the vital core of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. Your dedication to volunteerism, training, and all things sci-fi is what makes our club special.

Next Stop: The December Meeting. We have a special meeting in the planning stages.

Mission.io On Fire in Michigan. Skyler Carr Reports from the Frontline. Simulations Based Experiential Education Spreading.

Skyler Carr, and the entire Mission.io team are on missions to change the educational world one classroom at a time. Watch this video Skyler just posted about his successes in Michigan.

What started in a simple classroom at Central Elementary School in Pleasant Grove 43 years ago is making a difference in students' and teachers' lives around the world. Keep Going Mission.io!

James Porter Invites Everyone to Come to the Space Center for one of the Center's Holiday Laser Light Shows in the Planetarium.

Christmas is a special time of year at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove. All month long the planetarium is full of holiday goers enjoying the holiday music and light show under the dome. It is only $7.00 for the 50 minute show. Tickets sell out quickly so go to SpaceCenterUtah.org and book your tickets today.

Imaginarium Theater

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

Mari and Alex. The Space Center's Field Trip Planetarium Navigators

Two bright yellow school buses pull up to Central Elementary School in Pleasant Grove, Utah, between 9:30 and 10:00 A.M. The doors swing open, and a stream of eager students pours out, excited for the upcoming adventure. They aren't here for math class, though learning is definitely on the agenda. They're here for an experience unlike any other: a field trip to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center (CMSC).

Since its opening in November 1990, this Alpine School District facility, attached right to the Central Elementary School in Pleasant Grove, has been the destination for hundreds of thousands of students and teachers. It offers what is arguably one of the best, most unique field trips in Utah—and possibly the world!

Missions into the Cosmos: Group A Takes the Helm

The students are quickly divided into two large groups. Group A heads straight for the heart of the action: the six starship simulators. Stepping inside is like walking onto the set of a Star Trek movie—and you are the main character.

The Magellan Crew

The Cassini Crew

The Phoenix Crew

The Odyssey Crew

The Falcon Crew

The Galileo Crew

These aren't passive simulations; they are fully immersive, theatrical productions complete with dramatic lighting effects, sound effects, and visual displays. The students become the crew, working together to accomplish mission objectives that are carefully tied to their grade-level curriculum.

Team Building: Every mission hinges on cooperation.
Leadership Training: Students take command roles, making "life and death" decisions.
Essential Skills: The entire experience is a dynamic lesson in listening, critical thinking, reasoning, and character education.

These young crews learn to navigate the cosmos, manage their ship's systems, and choose their destiny, all before the lunch!

Stargazing and Science: Group B in the Planetarium

While Group A is saving the universe, Group B begins their morning in the CMSC's state-of-the-art planetarium. This is where the magic of the universe is unveiled. Their morning lesson covers essential astronomical concepts, provides a guided tour of the night sky, and touches on basic physics.

The staff at the Space Center—a collection of enthusiastic people with a deep and infectious love for science fiction and space exploration—guide both groups. Their mission is simple yet profound: to create a space-faring civilization. They are the mentors who make the complex accessible and the impossible feel within reach.

At 11:00 A.M., Group B’s cosmic lesson concludes, and they head into Central Elementary’s cafeteria for lunch, joining the regular elementary students.

The Great Exchange

James Porter, Space Center Director, and Jordan Smith Directing the Magellan Mission from the Simulator's Control Room

After lunch, the groups switch!

Group A concludes their starship missions at 11:30 A.M., grabs lunch, and then spends the afternoon portion of their field trip immersed in the planetarium.
Group B finishes lunch and a quick break, then lines up to enter the Starships for their afternoon adventure as a crew.

More Than Just a Day Trip

By 1:30 P.M., the field trip program wraps up, and the students board their buses. The rest of the afternoon is filled with excited chatter: tales of a daring escape, stories of saving the ship with a quick-thinking decision, and sharing the new knowledge they gained in the planetarium.

This field trip program isn't just a fun day out; it is the primary purpose and most important function of the Space Center. It is the crucial first step where students are introduced to the facility and everything it offers.

From this single, inspiring day, a student's lifelong interest in science and space can take flight. It opens the door to other fantastic CMSC programs, including:

Space Adventure Camps
Leadership Camps
Public Planetarium Shows and Laser Shows
Private Starship Simulator Missions

Join the Mission: The Voyager Club

Voyager Club Members learning the difficulty in mining precious metals from an asteroid, a lesson taught by Jason Trump, Director of Education at Clark Planetarium

The passion for space doesn't have to end when you grow up! Both students and adults can join the Voyager Club, the Space Center's service organization. This is for anyone with an interest in space, astronomy, and science fiction who wants to give back. Voyager Club members serve the community by volunteering at the CMSC for five hours a month, assisting with programming, acting in the missions, visual effects, and even prop building.

To learn more about this incredible center and its programs, visit the official website!

Set a course for adventure! Find more information on the Christa McAuliffe Space Center and how you can join the mission at SpaceCenterUtah.org.

The Field Trip Program Video

Enjoy this video covering a typical school's visit to the Space Center in November 2025. The last field trip before the Thanksgiving break.

Give the Space Center as a Gift this Holiday Season

Gift the experience of the Space Center this year. We have a variety of gifting options that will provide an unforgettable experience for the ones you love.

Find them online by pressing "Book Tickets" at the end of this segment.

Gift options:

SIMULATOR GIFT CARD

- Great for a group or family gift

- For your adventure loving friend or family

PLANETARIUM PUNCH PASS

- For the space explorer ready to learn more about our universe

- Great for a group or family gift

PAIR OF PLANETARIUM TICKETS (2)

- Unique stocking stuffers

- Neighbor gift

- Fun night out

PAIR OF LASER SHOW TICKETS (2)

- Unique stocking stuffers

- Fun White elephant gift

- Perfect family activity or date night

Give the Gift of the Space Center this year! Your adventure awaits!

Book Tickets

The Imaginairum Theater