Spaced Invaders

This week I finally had my own groups of munchkins to lead! I had two groups of fifth graders to guide through building landers for our Mars probes (which look a lot like water balloons), baking cookies in a solar oven and climbing the rock wall. I have a tie for craziest-kid moment of the week: Moment #1 involved trying to launch rockets with north Hollywood kids while it was trying to snow and there were deer on the launch field. Moment #2 was in the pool watching fourteen kiddos try (and fail) to put masks and snorkels on. We had upside-down masks, masks that didn't get pulled down to cover the nostrils, upside-down snorkels...you name a way to goof up and we probably covered it. Lessons learned? Three flakes of slush is a blizzard if you're from L.A., deer are even more exciting than squirrels, and never underestimate the power of a swimming pool to make even a reasonable child go completely nuts. (And thanks Mom, for laughing at me when I called to lament the poolside chaos.)

It's easy to forgive their craziness in light of their jaw-dropping awe during our night programs. They were SOOO excited to look through the telescopes to find nebulae and galaxies, and to find new constellations and stars. One group even saw a meteor. It's hard being away from friends and family, but those moments with kids squealing "Did you see that?! It was so COOL!!" definitely make my days.

I had Thursday off in between my groups, so I managed to get out on two little adventures. In the morning, I went off the mountain into "civilization," also known as Hemet. While picking up some essentials, I decided to try the much-fabled In-n-Out. I know this is probably blasphemy in burger circles, but I don't get the fuss. It was good, but not great. I liked the spread, and the fries were good...but it doesn't really compare to summer BBQ burgers with Tillamook cheddar, pepper bacon, heirloom tomatoes and garlic-dijon aioli. Great...now I'm hungry, and you all now know what a food snob I can be.

Once I got back from the "big city," I went for a short hike up the May Valley trail. It was a beautiful day for the hike, and I found a great spot to kick back, relax, sing Beatles songs and snap some pictures.

Tahquitz Peak (l) and Lily Rock (r) from the trail looking north

Garner Vally looking southeast

My only company the whole afternoon was a couple of redtail hawks and a few crows who were riding the thermals over the hill behind my vantage point.

This chick just jumped out from behind a rock and ruined my shot. Some people....

I'm off to dinner with Michelle, Thor and Gus this evening. According to Michelle, it will be a "Thor-Fusion" dish. All I know is I had to pick up mangoes, tomatillos, and Braeburn apples for it while I was in town.

Have a wonderful week!

Seein' Stars

I had so much fun last night I just couldn't wait to post these pictures! I learned a lot last night while taking pictures of the stars, not the least of which is that I have a lot to learn about taking pictures of stars! Still, I don't think these are half-bad for my first try. Enjoy!

The Pleiades is a star cluster, and one of my favorite objects in the night sky. It's the shiny, fuzzy blob in the center of the picture. The bright star in the upper left of the shot is Algol, the ghoul star. It represents Medusa's head in the constellation Perseus.


This shot packs a lot of stellar punch! We've got Orion in the top right corner, the star Sirius (of Canis Major) just below him by the tree, and Canis Minor in the bottom left.

Here's another image with lots going on. Cassiopeia is in the center (shaped like a lopsided M). Just above her are two fuzzy spots-the Double Cluster of Perseus. Continuing up, we have part of Perseus, too!

Planets move fast! This is Venus in the Western sky over a one-minute exposure. The blur is due to its movement (Earth's too), and has nothing to do with me doing the happy dance.

My first batch of kiddos will be arriving soon, so I'm off to launch rockets to infinity and beyond. :)

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Happy Saturday morning from scenic, soggy Idyllwild! It's been pouring buckets here since the wee small hours of the morning. Those of you who were beginning to begrudge my fair weather reports can rest assured that Portland-esque clouds and rain have caught up with me at last.

I apologize in advance for the lack of pictures in this post...as you'll soon figure out, things have been a little nuts around here!

This week kicked off with our staff bonding trip to Fiesta Village (in Portland we'd call it Bullwinkle's) for putt-putt, laser tag, and skee ball. I upheld the proud family tradition of dominating skee ball (390,000 points!), but my laser tag technique could use some finesse (it's hard to sneak up on people to zap them when you're giggling....or so I'm told).

On Tuesday, the entire staff completed our belay training on the ropes course, and the new folks were able to climb the last two elements: the Catwalk and the Power Pole. The Catwalk is a log suspended horizontally between two trees and you try to keep your balance as you cross it. The Power Pole is essentially a 30' telephone pole that you climb up and then try to balance on. Once you're standing on the top, you jump off and try to hit or kick a tether ball....this is possibly the craziest thing I've done here.

Tuesday also marked the introduction of the AstroCamp staff to a Stitch'n'Bitch. We had crafts and entertainment of all varieties going on: knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, origami, Mad Libs, and we even had a group weaving rugs out of retired belay ropes!

Our first group of kiddos arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and life has been a whirlwind of funny questions, excited shrieking, exploding balloons, and critter hats since. On Wednesday evening, I got to participate in one group's Kids vs. Adults Dodgeball Championship of the Universe. The 4th graders killed us, but two of my fellow instructors pulled off what is possibly the funniest thing I've seen at camp: one would throw a ball really high, like a pop fly. As the kids were looking up and reaching for it, the other would tag them in the tummy with another ball. The kids were always so shocked...but they fell for it about three times!!

This week, I'm looking forward to my first astrophotography session with some of the seasoned instructors (assuming the rain stops...cameras and scopes + rain = sad panda), as well as stepping into solo teaching!

Have a marvelous week, everyone!!

Ernie Max Trail and More

I've survived training! I'm so excited that the first batch of kiddos will be arriving on Wednesday. I can now build "satellites" in the pool, ignite hydrogen balloons, host a laser light show dance party, lead a night hike sans flashlight, tie a double figure-eight knot, and safely belay a climber on the ropes course. Oh, and I've crossed paths with a coyote in the moonlight (I don't know who was more nervous...).

One of this week's highlights was our hike on the Ernie Maxwell Trail overlooking Fern Valley. We had great views of the valley as well as Lily Rock and Suicide Rock. Here we are on the trail...
Lily Rock...I don't know the story behind this name. Maybe because it's lily-white? It's a beautiful granite outcrop whatever the case.


Suicide Rock...evidently there is a Romeo & Juliet story that gives the rock it's name. It has nothing to do with frazzled AstroCamp instructors. :)

Around camp, we have a lot of trees that look like Swiss cheese thanks to the Acorn Woodpeckers who like to store acorns (duh) in the holes....at least until the squirrels come by and steal them.

We've had beautiful (if slightly unusual) weather the whole time I've been here. We've eaten lunch outside every day, and nearly every day we've been entertained by a pair of Red Tail Hawks wheeling in the sky. Here's one of them resting at the top of a tree...

I think that's about everything for now. I'm sure I'll have more stories once the kiddos arrive!

Stars and lasers and ziplines, oh my!

Well, I've officially survived the first three days of training here at AstroCamp! We've launched water rockets, done some stargazing, played with lasers, and done the zipline and skycoaster from the ropes course. For the curious among you, a zipline is more or less like zooming along the cable between two telephone poles, and the skycoaster is a giant swing supported by three trees. Fun and terrifying all at the same time!

When we're not in the labs or at the ropes course, we're outside. We've taken a couple of short hikes, and the scenery is amazing. Anyone remember the opening of Bonanza? From one vantage point, we were able to see Gardner Valley, which is featured in those opening credits. Gorgeous! I didn't have my camera...naturally. The good news is I will have more opportunities, right?

Other than that, not much to report. The weather has been unseasonably gorgeous, the food is awesome, and everyone is really cool.