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Austin Children's Museum | ||
The Austin Children's Museum is a participatory museum geared toward family activities and education.
AARG's activities with the ACM have included a Family Science workshop in the spring, and a set of three rocketry summer camps in 2001.
The purpose of the family science workshop is to get the parents and kids building together. The build went great, but we were met with weeks of rainouts afterwards, making it difficult to schedule the flight time. Its just one of the hazards of rocketry in the spring.
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| Jim Parker explains directions | Rocketeers at work | Reviewing a job well done |
AARG helped the kids get started building, and assisted with the launching. The participants ranged from 6 to 12 years old. The younger students built rockets with plastic fin cans, while the older students built more complex rockets with balsa fins and a payload capsule.
At launch time, the students divided into three groups: one to prep, one to fly, and one to watch. Once the groups get going, they rotate when the fliers have launched all their rockets. For groups of 5 to 10 rocketeers, this system works well.
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| Students get a rocketry overview | Younger kids build with fin cans | Kids work at tables with one helper |
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| Older kids build Payloaders | Even parents join in | Getting ready to fly |
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| The recovery team waits with radio | Prep team gets ready to fly | Range check-out |
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| A welcome bit of shade | A team ready to fly | . |