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Kansas

STEM Kansas: Aviation & Space Exploration With Your Grandchild

Program No. 14914RJ
Enjoy a high-flying adventure with your grandchild as you get hands-on in a shuttle simulator, take flight in a single-engine plane and learn how rockets work at a live presentation!
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Start
GrandparentScience & TechnologyAges 10 – 14
Length
5 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,299 / ADULT
999 / CHILD

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
12 meals ( 4B, 4L, 4D )
3 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
7 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
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.
Dinner:
At the Hutchinson Community College Cafeteria.
Evening:
Next, we’ll ride via buses 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 USSR.
Activity Note
Getting on/off 15-passenger buses; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1/2 hour. Walking inside Cosmosphere, approximately 1 hour. Note: Digital Dome theater can cause dizziness and nausea for those with motion sensitivity.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will hop into a small bus and ride to the Cosmosphere where we’ll begin training for the airplane flights using flight simulators. Campers will also build a model rocket. They will be able to design the rocket by choosing the type of nosecone and fins they use.
Lunch:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Afternoon:
Riding back to the Cosmosphere, we will learn about how astronauts live in space and then campers will try to complete every day tasks while wearing the same thickness of gloves astronauts wear while doing a space walk. Next, we’ll ride to the salt mines and go 650 feet beneath the Kansas wheat to explore Strataca, previously known as the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Campers will take a tram ride through the salt mine, led by Strataca staff. 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 master recordings, and famous costumes, as well as and other important and historical files, documents, and records from around the world. After the tour, we will ride back to the Cosmosphere where campers will train like astronauts on our 4G centifruge and mutli-axis trainer.
Dinner:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Evening:
After returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. Relax or swim in the hotel pool.
Activity Note
Getting on/off 15-passenger buses; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1/2 hour. Walking inside Cosmosphere. Wear layered light clothing as simulator experiences can be warmer.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll ride to the Cosmosphere, divide into groups, and rotate between taking flight in a single engine, four-seat aircraft, while the other group will create different types of motorized model aircraft.
Lunch:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll ride to the Cosmosphere where campers will design, build, and compete in Battlebots. The goal is for campers to push other robots out of the circle or flip them on their side/back.
Dinner:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Evening:
After returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. Relax or swim in the hotel pool
Activity Note
Getting on/off buses; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking about 1 mile, standing about 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride to the Cosmosphere and run missions in our Astralis simulator and in Mission Control. Other groups will be going through the shows which include a documentary in our Digital Dome Theater, a show in the Planetarium, and a live science show on the history of rocketry in Dr. Goddard’s lab. Groups will also replicate the Apollo 13 emergency to see if they have what it takes to make it home safely.
Lunch:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Afternoon:
Returning to the Cosmosphere for our final afternoon, our groups will alternate and experience the activities that they did not get to this morning.
Dinner:
In the cafeteria of Hutchinson Community College.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Graduation day! We will participate in a ceremony and receive certificates and patches.
Lunch:
At the Cosmosphere café. This concludes our program.
Afternoon:
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!
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