While the space shuttle Discovery continues to lay the foundation for a manned mission to the moon, The Boeing Company is sending 89 public school teachers from around the world to the 15th Annual Boeing Educators to SPACE CAMP® program July 10-16 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
President Bush recently announced two initiatives to equip new generations of Americans with the educational foundation for future studies in technical subjects through his Vision for Space Exploration and the American Competitive Advantage Initiative. The Boeing Educators to SPACE CAMP® program uses space exploration initiatives to enhance teachers’ skills in presenting math, science and technology lessons that will inspire students and help ensure a skilled workforce for a globally competitive technology market. Since 1992, more than 500 teachers have participated in the annual Boeing program, reaching an estimated 27,000 students around the world.
“We want teachers to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and space explorers,” said Jim Albaugh, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems president and CEO. “Boeing’s K-12 education strategy focuses on helping teachers improve their effectiveness by giving them an opportunity to experience hands-on math and science activities.”
The teachers, from grades 4-12, will spend their days completing workshops designed by grade level. Activities include simulated space missions, astronaut training and lectures by rocketry and space exploration experts. The teachers also will receive resources to implement in the classroom to help their students meet national standards for science, math and technology.
“SPACE CAMP® provides a learning environment where science, math and technology are explored and practiced through the mysteries and wonders of space,” said Julie Ferriss, director of Education at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and graduate of the Space Academy for Educators. “For educators, SPACE CAMP® provides a place to become a learner again and to join with other educators who share the same passions for teaching and learning.”
Boeing worked with U.S. and international school districts to select applicants for the program. This year, educators from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Australia, India, Japan and Singapore will learn what it takes to become an astronaut and how to inspire future engineers and scientists.
After graduating from SPACE CAMP® on July 16, each teacher will return home with a workbook to create lesson plans and additional program materials to use in the classroom. The graduates also will have access to an educator training facility and a Web site offering science experiments and other curriculum information.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.