STEM Kansas: Aviation & Space Exploration With Your Grandchild

Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Next, we will take small buses to the Cosmosphere for our Orientation session. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, answer questions, and preform icebreakers. We will review COVID protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. In addition to Orientation and ice-breakers, we’ll also learn about upcoming highlights. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

We will ride to dinner at the Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Que.

Next, we’ll ride to the Hall of Space Museum at the Cosmosphere for an expert-led exploration through the history of the space race between the U.S. and the old U.S.S.R.

At the hotel.

We will hop into a small bus and ride to the Cosmosphere where we’ll begin training for our mission to low-earth orbit in the Astralis simulator with a briefing by our Group Leader. We will also divide into small groups who will be attempting to build a Rube Goldberg machine that plants a flag into the lunar surface (clay). Our groups will rotate between these two activities. Next, we will watch a documentary at the Carey Digital Dome Theater followed by an interactive show about Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s lab. Led by Cosmosphere staff, we’ll see how rockets work with the aid of amazing explosions and his findings.

At a favorite local restaurant.

Riding back to the Cosmosphere, we’ll engage in astronaut training simulation to prepare for our powered flights. We’ll learn the basics of flight controls including take-off and landing using flight simulators.

At a local restaurant.

Back at the Cosmosphere, we’ll go through Mission Team Announcements, create team posters, and patches.

At the hotel.

We’ll ride to the Cosmosphere, divide into groups, and rotate between taking flight in a single engine, 4-seat aircraft, while the other group will build model rockets and begins training for the mission to low Earth orbit. Groups will swap activities in the afternoon.

At the Airport Steakhouse.

We will ride to the Hutchinson Airport. Our groups will swap between taking flight in a single engine, 4-seat aircraft, while the other group will build model rockets and begins training for the mission to low Earth orbit. Campers will fly and get the chance to pilot an actual 4-seat aircraft with experienced pilots.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll ride to our launch site on the Fair Grounds, where we will work with our Rocket Launch Team to launch the model rockets we have built. Each Road Scholar will take part in the countdown and hit the launch button to shoot their own rocket into the sky!

At the hotel.

We will ride to the Cosmosphere and run missions in our Astralis simulator and in Mission Control. Other groups will be going through Astronaut Training Sims that include a 4G centrifuge, Soyuz capsule, and Multi-axis trainer.

At a local restaurant.

Next, we’ll ride to the salt mines and go 650 feet beneath the Kansas wheat to explore the STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Due to its protection from the elements, low humidity, cool temperatures, and security, this unique resource is home to a large amount of original Hollywood film negatives, television masters, and famous costumes, as well as and other important and historical files, documents, and records from around the world.

At the Carriage Crossing Restaurant in the Amish community of Yoder. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Returning to the Cosmoshere, we’ll have a presentation taking us through the season and learn about our night sky in the Planetarium. We’ll then build “battlebots” and have a robotics competition, trying to knock the competition out of the ring.

At the hotel.

We will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive certificates and patches.

At the Cosmosphere. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!