Author: Michelle

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Space Camp: An Amazing Frontier

The first part of our Spring Break extravaganza involved a 48 hour program at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. We went as a family, with my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best things we’ve ever done together (which is kind of saying a lot).

The Pathfinder program is designed for groups of 4-8th graders – we had 3 4th grade boys, and 6 6-7th grade girls. It was a PACKED schedule, our only downtime was during meals. The 4th graders slept HARD each night, and it was a little much for them, but for 6-8th graders, I can’t think of a better hands on STEM program.

Our group did a simulated space mission, where each crew member was assigned a job and read the script for that position. I got to conduct an experiment on the International Space Station, which my husband commanded. My son was in Mission Control, and my daughter got to do a space walk.

We experienced simulators, built rockets and learned the history of the US space program. We also learned about what it’s going to take to get to MARS, and how the US is planning on getting there in the next 10-15years.

The Pathfinder program stretched our minds to think outside of our midwestern lives, and to think actually out beyond the stars. My kids haven’t stopped talking about it – about how the Mars teams are working on being earth independent and how long that journey will be.

The Fox is already talking about going for a longer program in a few years, and if we can get him there, we absolutely will.

Huntsville is an easy day’s drive from Indianapolis, and it makes a great long weekend destination. The US Space  & Rocket center is worth a visit, even without attending a Space Camp program. It’s currently a member of the ASTC travel passport program, which means members of the Indiana State Museum receive free admission, which makes it even better!

Who knows, maybe one of the kiddos we attended with will get to Mars one day!!

 

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Spring Break Spectacular

We are wrapping up an unusually adventurous spring break for us. We even started early, by taking the kids out of school a day early so we could get a head start.

Our first stop? SPACE CAMP. I lived my best 1986 life, and I think the kids had fun too. We attended a three day Pathfinder program with Scouts, and I cannot say enough good things about it. It was action-packed, it was exhausting, and it was amazing. More on that in a different post.

 

Sunday we parted ways with our group and headed south to the BEACH.

Everything in Gulf Shores and the Florida/Alabama coast revolves around water. The islands are narrow enough you can see both sides at once- the Gulf of Mexico as well as the channel. Every building has a pool, boats rides are on every corner, and there’s even fishing while you wait at restaurants.

Water is everywhere. It made me very glad the kids are old enough to be cautious, and that they have a good foundation in water safety thanks to Goldfish Swim school. They respected the rules and taught me some things about riptides.

I was seriously hoping for a week of sunshine and beaches, but the forecast did not cooperate. Instead of a week of swimming in the gulf, we got lessons in the warning flags and riptide safety. On double red flag days,  we walked the beach and played in the sand.  After three days of double red flags, we were relieved to have just a single red flag on Wednesday. Yes, that was our standard – “at least it’s not illegal to get in the water  today.” it was one amazing day in the sand and surf, complete with wave jumping and jellyfish catching.

Water was everywhere on this vacation . It made me very glad the kids are old enough to be cautious, and that they have a good foundation in water safety thanks to Goldfish Swim school. They respected the rules and taught me some things about riptides.

We had an amazing week and can’t wait to return!

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for partnering with us  to build my school-age swimmers’ confidence in exchange for my honest review of their programs! 

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Progress -Looking Back on a Year of Year Round Swimming

There’s a saying that goes something like, “A year from now, you’ll be glad you started today.” There are plenty of things I could start, but one thing I’m glad we started a year ago was classes at Goldfish Swim School.

The Fox has been swimming now, weekly, for a year and a month, and the word that comes to mind is Progress. He started in a midlevel class – comfortable in the water, but not able to swim for much distance, and his strokes were limited.

Now he swims for an hour at time at Swim Force, and can complete lengths of the pool easily. His strokes are fluid, and he takes any critique seriously.

What he’s learned by sticking with swimming also applies outside the pool – when he starts to lose patience, I remind him that it took weeks for him to coordinate his butterfly, and now he’s really good at it.

Goldfish has been great not only for his technique, but his confidence. A year from now, I can’t imagine how far he’ll be able to swim!

Disclosure: Thanks to Goldfish Swim School for partnering with us  to build my school-age swimmers’ confidence in exchange for my honest review of their programs!