Challenger Spotlight

2018 Summer Camp Registration is Open

You can now register students for our Challenger Summer Camps!

This year, Challenger is offering space-focused and STEM-focused summer camps to students who will be entering 1st-8th grade in the upcoming 2018/2019 school year.  Our camps are written and taught by Colorado educators and they are designed to be both fun and developmentally appropriate for young learners.

Further details and camp registration are available on our Challenger Colorado website.

Entering Grades 1st - 2nd (in the 2018/19 school year)

Junior Space Explorers
Discover planets, moons, sun, stars and constellations... come be a Junior Space Explorer! 

Entering Grades 3rd - 5th

Astronaut Academy 
Future astronauts will use Spheros, and LEGO WeDo 2.0's and Edison robots to develop programming skills and engineering skills to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond! 

Entering Grades 4th - 6th

Rocket Science
Learn about the parts and structure of a rocket.  Learn about launch angles altitude, stability and more while building and launching multiple Estes Rockets.

Operation: Space
Become a space engineer!  Can you design an airbag landing system for an egg? Can you take a core sample from a potato asteroid?  Campers will prepare and "fly" a simulated Challenger Space Mission.

Entering Grades 6th - 8th

Destination Mars
Discover what it will take to plan and launch future missions to Mars.  Design, and and program future Mars rovers using LEGO EV3 robotic kits.  The will culminates with a simulated Voyage to Mars mission.
Calendar of Events for Teachers
March 6 & 7 - Simple Machines LEGO Design Challenge 

Who: 2nd & 3rd Grade students
Location: Library 21C (Briargate), Colorado Springs
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cost: Free -  Registration is closed
 
Teams of students will compete to build a mystery design using their Simple Machines LEGO kits.  Due to the large number of teams participating the competition will be divided into two nights.  Participants will be informed which night to attend. Registration for this event is now closed.
 
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March 19 - 2018 / 2019 Challenger Program Registration Opens for Districts 11 & 20
 
School Districts 11 and 20 can begin registering for Challenger Programs in the 2018-2019 school year. If you have any questions concerning scheduling missions, or signing up for training please contact our Registrar Marty Grantz: 

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April 2 - Registration Opens for STEM Bootcamp
 
STEM Bootcamp is Challenger Colorado's premier professional development conference for educators.  Tickets sell out quickly.

2018 Bootcamp Details:
 
When:  July 17 - 19, 2018
Where: Bear Creek Elementary School (District 38)
Who:    120 available slots for K-12th grade educators
Cost:    $60
PD Credit: 24 contact hours

Contact Ron Bush if you have further questions: 
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April 9 - 2018/2019 Challenger Program Registration Opens for all Schools and Organizations
 
All school districts, organizations, and groups can begin registering for Challenger Programs in the 2018-2019 school year. If you have any questions concerning scheduling missions, or signing up for training please contact our Registrar Marty Grantz: 

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July 17-19 - STEM Bootcamp
 
STEM Bootcamp is Challenger Colorado's premier professional development conference for educators.  Tickets sell out quickly.

Where: Bear Creek Elementary School (District 38)
Who:    120 available slots for K-12th grade educators
Cost:    $60
PD Credit: 24 contact hours

Contact Ron Bush if you have further questions: 
Our Night Sky
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
These three planets are visible in the  south eastern sky, rising after midnight, and visible until sunrise.
 
March 2
Full Moon.

March 20
Spring Equinox.  It is the first day of Spring, and the duration of day and night will be equal.

March 31
Full Moon.  Blue Moon.
It will be the 2nd full moon within one calendar month, with makes this the 2nd Blue Moon of 2018.

See the International Space Station!

This website will calculate when and where you need to look to see the ISS in your city.
Teacher Web Resource
NASA Wavelength

NASA has updated and reorganized the educator section of their website.  It is now called "NASA Wavelength".  It is a definite improvement from their former website and provides lessons and resources for PreK - High School students.

Space News
China's Space Station will Return to Earth

Tiangong-1 was the first space lab built by China. It launched in 2011, to help China master the technologies needed to construct a full space station. Tiangong-1 will likely re-enter Earth's atmosphere within the next 8 weeks.  
 
Upcoming Global Launches

March 15

Kazakhstan

A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the 54S crew up to the International Space Station.

 

March 16

French Guiana

An Ariane 5 ECA rocket will launch two communications satellites providing military communication services for Japan, and TV, and Ka-band services for Africa, Latin America, and Europe.,

 

March 18

California

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 10 satellites for the Iridium mobile communications fleet.

 

March 22

Kazakhstan

A Russian Proton rocket will launch a communications satellite providing internet, TV, and radio services to Russia.

 

March TBD

India

India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle will launch the Indian Chandrayaan 2 rover to orbit and land on the Moon.

 

March TBD

India

India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle will launch a communications satellite providing Ka-band, Ku-band and optical services.

 

March TBD

Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the TESS satellite which will detect and study planets orbiting other stars.

 

March TBD
Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a communications satellite for Bangladesh providing TV services to Bangladesh.
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The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado | 719-598-9755
| [email protected] | http://www.challengercolorado.org/
10215 Lexington Drive,  Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

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