One Unbelievable and Educational EdVenture The Space Center is a unique and unparalleled experience that combines the fun of exploration and learning with a simulated and futuristic adventure story. Started in 1990, the Space Center began as a classroom experiment by Victor Williamson. Through the drama of space and the fun of learning activities, it was discovered how effective simulation is in education. Starting with nothing more than an overhead projector, Mr. Williamson turned out the lights of his classroom and took his students to the outer reaches of our Solar System and beyond. He found that students not only enjoyed the learning experience, but retained information better than they did when taught conventionally. On November 8, 1990 the Voyager was opened for it's first school flight. Finally Mr. Williamson's dream had come to fruition. He took his program to Alpine School District and supporters flocked to his cause. Soon after, classes from all over Utah and as far away as the former Soviet Union came to experience education in the flight simulator Voyager. The Voyager simulator served alone until the idea of a second and smaller simulator was envisioned. This would allow the Space Center to handle larger class sizes from elementary schools. Mr. Williamson once again jumped at the chance to be able to serve the student population to an even greater scale. Through more grants, fund raising and donations of personal time another simulator was built in late 1995--the Odyssey. The two ships flew next to each other and were able to serve an even greater amount of classes throughout the school district and state. Over the years to follow, class sizes grew and so did the demand for flights deemed not only educational, but fun as well. Recognizing this need, the "Galileo" was brought on line in April of 1999. The Galileo brought a new dimension to the Space Center formula--actual movement. In the summer of 1999 the Magellan simulator evolved from a computer lab, serving the public as another large scale simulator. The Magellan is deemed as the only multipurpose simulator, serving as Central Elementary's computer lab by day and simulator by night. In the summer of 2000, with a $40,000 grant from the Intel Corporation, the CMSEC brought 2 new StarLab Domes and the activation of the "Falcon" simulator. Taken as a more modern day approach to space travel, the Falcon offered a view of what present day space flight may be in the not so distant future. As part of the Space Center's 15th birthday, we celebrated the opening of our new simulator the "USS Phoenix." The Phoenix is often called the most technologically advanced starship simulator in our fleet and some patrons say the coolest, sighting it's aluminum deck plating, rounded ceiling and incredible special effects. One year later, we celebrated our 16th birthday with the grand re-opening of the "Magellan." The Magellan had been closed for several months and was open in time for our summer programs, sporting aluminum deck plating, upgraded hardware, an entirely new set of computer programs. Using the humanities, social sciences, and space education, these 6 simulators work collectively to enlighten minds, young and old, as to what awaits us in the stars and how to apply life's values in real-life situations. "Imagination is more important than knowledge." |
