Space Camp - Day 1

So, apparently the idea that's floating around the internet that there's only wireless internet in the cafeteria at Space Camp is outdated. Cause here I am, sitting in my bunk in the Hab connected to the web merrily (and sleepily) blogging away.

In some ways, it's hard to believe that I'm here. Space Camp! Wow. So many thoughts going through my head, so many emotions and so much. But, first let me go back to this morning....which, in typical, jam packed Space Camp style seems like soooo long ago.

This morning, no worries meeting Brad, Caroline, little Eliza (so cute with such huge blue eyes that seem intent to take in the whole world that is around her) Tubbesing and getting to church. We worshipped at Central Pres, an EPC (Evangelical? Presbyterian Church) congregation. I don't know a lot of the history of the church or the congregation, but the building looked like it had been there a while and I was told that the congregation left the PCUSA not terribly long ago. Brad preached an excellent sermon on Hosea 14 and didn't shy away from the fact that we're all like Gomer, the prositute, running towards everything that's not God looking for satisfaction and fulfillment. And then outlining how simple and joyful repentance and returning to the Lord is. Great stuff. If Brad isn't podcasting his RUF large group messages, he really should be. There was a minor event during the service with a medical issue with an older gentleman in the congregation. Paramedics were called, but the gentleman walked out with them, which can't be a bad thing.
After worship, we all went over to the home of some friends of the Tubbesings for lunch. This was an unexpected treat and the food was excellent topped off by an amazing lemon creame pie. Good conversations with God's people, there's little better way to spend a Sunday dinner. Although we weren't able to hang out for too long. I needed to get to camp for check-in and Eliza was getting sleepy.

When I arrived at camp I was struck by the feeling of excitement and almost disbelief. Here I was, walking through the same doors I had 15 years prior with about the same feelings. After so many months of planning and anticipation, I was finally here at Space Camp. Whoo with an extra helping of Hoo only began to explain my feelings. I got checked in and started to settling to room 420, which will be my home base for the next week. I noticed some things that have changed pretty quickly. There's an extra (bottom) bunk and some extra seating space in the rooms. And the age of the building is showing. But, after almost 20 years of campers coming through almost year round, I guess this shouldn't be surprising. I met my rommate, a young woman who lives in Atlanta and works as a script supervisor in the film industry. I learned that the script supervisor is the person who, among other things, makes sure that all the props that a scene calls for are available to the actors for the scene which is being shot. It sounds like an interesting job. After wandering about the complex for a bit, we met the rest of our team and the whirlwind started.
This week, there is only one full adult team, 16 trainees. We range in age from early 20's through almost (or fully) retired. Lots of occupations. Bruno is another guy in the film industry. He does a little bit of everything in a small production company working on education type films. After four years in the Navy right out of college, Lucy now works at a think tank outside of DC. Buck Rogers (no kidding) spent time in the Army and now lives in Alaska. I know he's got lots of stories to tell and I'm looking forward to hearing about them. There's a married couple who met here as counselors and are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. At least three people are here on birthday or Christmas present trips from their family. This is Bill's 11th trip to Space Camp. He's kinda quiet and I haven't had an opportunity to speak with him too much. There's a guy from outside of Seattle (I'm still learning names) who works at Boeing on the finance side. Sounds like about a third of the team has been here before (so much for the prereq being required for this program, but that's fine).

As for the activities, we've had a lot of tours of the buildings and areas, introductory lectures and some time to get to know each other. The information has come fast and furiously and with everyone still being kinda travel shocked (many had been up since the very wee hours of the morning, and often in different time zones), we were all dragging after dinner. Speaking of dinner, the food was pretty good. BBQ pork (or chicken). Not great, but reasonable for a cafeteria. There's a special line for "adult food" which we've been told we should take advantage of (okay, works for me. :) ).

Some first impressions of the week.
- The program here has gotten less academic than the last time I was here. There seems to be more focus on hands on activities and everything leading up to the missions rather than the more academic nature of learning about the shuttle systems and more of the mechanics of space travel.
- There's less division between the tracks (pilot and mission specialist). Mostly it's the different mission positions and dividing up for scuba and time at Aviation Challenge (the sister program to Space Camp which focuses more on military aviation).
- There's a different feeling between the campers than when I was in high school. We're taking longer to bond as a team, although we're starting to. I think this is because we all come from more diverse backgrounds than high school kids do, we've all had so many different experiences and we've all got different motives and expectation for and about this week. I think tomorrow's activities including time at Area 51 (and leadership reaction/challenge/low and high ropes course. I've heard it called all three things) will help a lot of that. I think it's partly also because with the tracks doing more together, it's a larger group. So there's 16 of us rather than 8.
- This place is still one of the coolest places I've ever been and it's going to be an amazing week.

That's all for now. Not too many pictures yet and I haven't downloaded them off my camera. I'm still a little travel shocked and will be heading to bed soon. Maybe tomorrow.