NEWBERRY — In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing, the Newberry Opera House, with sponsor partners Samsung and Piedmont Technical College, recently announced Astronaut Camp.

This five-day camp will run from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. July 22-26. Each day will include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities, physical activities, “Astronaut Training” journaling and lunch. Led by Janet of PBS’s “Janet’s Planet,” NASA STEM Certified Florida Teacher of the Year Dr. Lori Bradner and more fun instructors. The $125 fee includes all week and lunch.

Janet Ivey, creator and CEO of PBS’s Janet’s Planet, has over 27 years in the children’s education and space science outreach sector, she has captivated Nashville and beyond with her work. Her first Tedx Talk was in 2014, “AWE (Art, Wonder and Experiential) Inspired Science” her second Tedx Talk “How to Inhabit Your Very Own Planet, #PlanetYou,” was just released. Ivey is the new president of Explore Mars, Inc., an active NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, on the Board of Governors for the National Space Society. She has received 12 regional Emmys and five Gracie Allen Awards for Janet’s Planet. Ivey will love and encourage you to stand in your inherent science magnificence.

Dr. Lori Bradner, has 30 years of classroom experience as a middle and high school teacher, and global education and outreach experience. Bradner has her PhD in Science Curriculum from Columbia University and is a NASA Certified Teacher Professional Development Facilitator. Bradner is the International Director of Education at Think Global Flight and Teacher of the Year in Florida three times over. To make things even more fun, she is a former Ringling Brothers clown. Bradner will wow, excite and motivate you to the stars and beyond.

Together Ivey and Bradner will give youths an out of this world week of science, technology, engineering, art and math. It will be full STEAM ahead. Invited guests via Skype will join Ivey and Bradner during the week, from an astronaut, to a Mars rover scientist, to a lunar architect, to a propulsion expert from Space X. This will be a week of stars, space and science. The local astronomy group will host a star party during the week of the camp. (Specifics about Star Party to be determined. Weather will play a role in the exact night of the camp.)

All educators are invited to volunteer and in return will receive PD credit hours, authenticated by Bradner’s NASA accreditation. The Opera House is looking for four to six volunteers, but welcome more than that. They will have a Dropbox folder full of all the activities and lessons they will execute during the camp, and the educators can take the camp back to their classrooms. Call 803-276-6264 to volunteer.

So suit up your little astronaut for a mission to the moon and train like an astronaut about to launch to Mars. Janet’s Planet STEAM Astronaut Camp is the ultimate educational experience that illuminates real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

Activities will include everything from designing martian habitats to launching rockets, from engineering a spacecraft from recycled materials to creating a model of a lunar lander. Come get your hands on science and launch your STEAM dreams during this week long camp, July 22-26. Register for camp at NewberryOperaHouse.com. For more information, call the Box Office 803-276-6264.

Astronaut Camp will run from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. July 22-26. Each day will include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities, physical activities, “Astronaut Training” journaling and lunch.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_IMG_1281.jpgAstronaut Camp will run from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. July 22-26. Each day will include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities, physical activities, “Astronaut Training” journaling and lunch. Courtesy of the Newberry County Opera House

Staff Report