Students go to space camp

A group of fifth- and sixth-grade students from Lounsberry Hollow Middle School went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., this winter. The students had been anticipating the trip since September, when planning began. It was organized by sixth-grade science teachers Shannon Jenkins and Janice Mitchell, and the students were also accompanied by parents Marc Dickenman and Don Wynne. The team left for Huntsville on Feb. 3 and spent three days at the camp. Costs were partially underwritten through a grant won by Mitchell from the SES Americom business in Vernon. Space Camp was jam-packed with activities including rocket-making, rock wall climbing, 3-D movies, riding the G-force vehicle and a space shot ride. The Vernon students also toured an onsite museum and learned about the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions as well as the different astronauts and how they live in space. The highlight of the trip, the youngsters report, was participating in a simulated mission. All members of the team were assigned a job, including the adults. A graduation ceremony celebrated the mission’s end, and the Lounsberry Hollow Team learned that they were voted the best mission of the 23 groups that were also participating in the Space Camp program.