AstroCamp Field Trip: Taking Learning on the Road

The Mayfield 6th graders had a fun and educational trip to AstroCamp last week. From designing, building, and launching rockets (with names such as Netune's Fury, Little Red Rocket Hood and ET Go Home), to streaming across fields on a zip line, a fun time was had by all.

Students were divided into five groups, each group led by an Astrocamp counselor and chaperoned by a Mayfield faculty member.

Besides rockets and zip line, activities included astronaut training, where students constructed a satellite in microgravity conditions (simulated the same way astronauts practice, by floating in water); climbing up a telephone pole and then jumping off (with harness and belaying securely in place); designing and building a lunar landing device, with a water balloon for cargo (lots of splashing!); and participating in team-building challenges and games to foster trust and collaboration. In addition, students experienced electricity and magnetism first hand, literally, by putting their hands on a Van der Graaf generator - a truly hair-raising experience!

Activities continued on into the evening, with a guided walk to a telescope our first night, where we viewed the cosmos, and an evening full of wacky fun and games our second night, as we competed in AstrOlympics.