It was rainy when the fourth grade left Tate's heading to Huntsville, A.L. for Space Camp. Twenty fourth graders, nine parents, and two teachers happily let the bus driver do the driving as they made their way to Huntsville. After arriving and being shown to their "habitats", we met our guide, Julie, for the camp. The rain ended and the fun began with some time to look around the Rocket Park and ride the space shot. Several of the 4th graders felt they needed to lower the height requirement to ride the Space Shot; however, everybody had fun even if they didn't get to have their stomachs churned by the ride. After dinner, a Strange Science show (featuring a few Tate's guest stars) and then Parachute building left everybody ready for bed in their deluxe habitats.
 
Breakfast the next morning was awesome. By spending time in the museum, Thursday was spent learning lots about rockets. However, there was still time to ride the G-force accelerator, Mars Rover simulator, conquer the climbing wall, and shop in the gift shop. We also got to watch the Fly Me to the Moon 3D movie and the Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon in the IMAX Theater. After dinner and a fun scavenger hunt in the museum, the real fun began with astronaut training. The multi-axis trainer and three degrees of freedom were both fun, but the multi-axis trainer seemed to give everybody the spin of their lives. At the end of the night, the boys' habitat was a little slower to meet lights out according to some witnesses.
 
The last day started very early for the girl habitat, according to my sources. Then we got to learn a lot about the Apollo space rocket and the lives of the astronauts, including walking under a 500 foot real Apollo V rocket! Then it was another awesome IMAX showing shuttle launches and shuttle missions. By the end of it, it was ready to be back on the bus and back to Tate's!!
 
Julie was a great Team Leader, and it was an awesome trip. Thanks to Mrs. Clark and Mrs. McRae!
 
-John and Charles Pace