CoolScience day at UCCS 7 Nov 2009

[JimW]

Alan and I found something that fell thru the cracks.

CoolScience is hosting a science day at UCCS next Saturday (7 Nov 2009) and we've been put on the bill. Saw their "press release" and we're on it.

It's from 9am to 3pm. The CoolScience webpage will have further details in the next couple of days with regards to where things will be, loading/unloading, etc.

I am available and would like to know who else would like to help me out.

I plan to set up my scope and have also been working on some demonstration materials I've been gleening from the JPL Night Sky network.

This event is open to the public and they are expecting quite the turn out.

Marc Straub is the coordinator and mentioned to me that if the weather is nice we could even do something outside. I'll be bringing my solar scope just in case.

I also have a spare Galileo scope to be used for show-n-tell/demo purposes.

Also, Fox 21 will be there taping a segment for their evening news.

I know this is a somewhat short notice but if you can help it would be appreciated.

Thank you!

JimW

[cswisher]

I'll help Jim. I can do the "pocket universe" exercise from JPL's website. The one with cash register tape. It's perfect for an indoor thing.

[bbookout]

I have tickets for the AFA vs Army game. With regret I cannot be there. . .

[JimW]

Bah...everyone knows AF is gonna wipe the field with those pansy Army guys.

So...you should just give away those tickets and come and have some real fun.

Well...enjoy the game!!

JimW

[JimW]

WOW!!

We were one of about 35 activity stations for the Cool Science Fair at UCCS.

We were in the cafeteria with Challenger Learning Center and their portable planetarium (that was a big hit there) and Estes Rockets along with COSROCS. The COSROCS were doing rocket car races on the overlook.

Cindi, Floyd, Vicky and I were doing our best to keep up with all the kids (and adults) that came through.

Cool Science had provisioned for 800 (probably expecting a bit less than that) and had over 1200 people sign up. WOW. Downside was that we had pretty much run out of activity items and give-aways around 1:30. The event from from 9am to 3pm.

I printed up 125 make-your-own planispheres which were pretty popular. Cindi run doing the Pocket Universe activity which also was popular. Vicky handled the myriad of solar materials (posters, cards, magnets and DVDs) as well as bookmarks and some other assorted stuff while giving some facts about the sun to the kids.

Floyd brought the CSAS homemade scope as well as his other wooden Dob scope. He had also brought his portable DVD player and was showing The Universe episodes.

I had my SCT setup with my Canon 40D attached. We hung up one of the solar posters to a wall mounted television on the far side of the cafeteria and used that to be the focus of my scope. "Hey look, we can see a star!"

I had made the How Telescopes Work/Aperture visual aids from the notes on the NightSky network and we (Floyd and I) used that quite often. Floyd told me it was a really good visual aide.

We also had our club brochures there and quite a few were handed out. Met with quite a few teachers from the area that are very interested in having the club augment their astronomy related classes...so I see more requests coming in.

I was a bit amazed by the number of people I talked to yesterday that had no idea that we even had an astronomy club in town. Most were happy that we did and said they would like to join...so we'll see how many follow through on that.

Also, fielded lots of questions regarding either buying their first scope or help in using their current dust-covered scope. For the ones in the market I informed them about Erikk's shoppe and hope they make it down that way soon. I also mentioned that the club will be doing a telescope workshop at the Bear Creek Nature Center in January (need to look up the date on that). Also mentioned to those folks that they could join the club and that we have members that would help them out with their equipment.

Did I mention my goal was to be bigger than DAS ? Hey, everyone's gotta have goals!

Big thanx to Cindi, Vicky and Floyd!!

[JimW]

I received this from Marc Straub, Prez of Cool Science:

========================================

Hi Jim,


Thanks again for coming out to UCCS last weekend, and stopping by Sunday
to help us celebrate. I'm going to put up a page on our website with
stats and photos as soon as we get it all together, but our best guess
is that we had about 1000 kids and over 2000 people total- for a day of
science! It was easily our biggest and best Cool Science event ever,
and it wouldn't have been such a tremendous success without your
participation. I know it was pretty hectic- especially in the cafeteria
where you were- but I hope you had fun and got a chance to check out
some of the other activities. We're already looking forward to how we
can make it even better next year. Good luck with all of your stuff,
and if there's anything we can do to help you- more stargazing events at
the zoo or anything else- just let me know.


marc



Marc Straub, President
Cool Science
P.O. Box 50015
Colorado Springs, CO 80949
Ph: 719-964-1042
marc@coolscience.org
www.coolscience.org