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[patrickm]

Not sure where to post this. Perhaps an Outreach section would be appropriate?

Just about the most astro fun I have had is when I've been sharing the night skies with kids. For me, it just can't be beaten.

I follow the awesome and entertaining Nicole Gugliucci on Twitter @noisyastronomer. She and other UVa grad students have created an outreach program called Dark Skies, Bright Kids!!. It is developed as an ongoing program for third graders to get them into science and astronomy.

I don't have the time to fully commit to something this ambitious right at the moment, but it does remind me of how much fun I have had when showing kids the stars, Moon, and planets. It does make me want to be more organized about my outreach.

There are elementary schools very near both my home and work. Once I am settled back in Chicago on a more permanent basis, I intend to contact both schools and see if they would be interested in having observation sessions at their locations. That seems like a good place to start and to begin establishing a relationship with them.

I also hope to have more neighborhood sessions at Horner Park like we did last fall that was so much fun.

Of course, we would have to call it LP Skies, Bright Kids!! or perhaps Bright Skies, Brighter Kids!!

Hope that this stirs some ideas in your own head and that some of you might be interested in joining for the fun.

Thoughts or suggestions?

Attachments:

[Paulie pchris00]

That's pretty cool. Yesterday I printed a few letters that I plan to take out tomorrow, targeting parks and libraries about hosting activities for Global Astronomy Month 2011 (April). I never thought about schools, but I think it would be tougher to get them to go along (for student safety). With really no credentials other than owning a couple of telescopes, I'd be surprised if I get even one organization to play along next month, but like you, I'd like to be more organized in my outreach. I'll still settle for sidewalk stuff, but what I really want to do is have a maybe a 45 minute talk, with PowerPoint, about what we're going to see. Getting somebody walking by to stop for two minutes to have a look through a telescope is cool, but it's tough to make a real connection when somebody is eager to be on their way again.

Also, I know dark skies are nice, but how many times have Chicago Astronomers shown that they aren't absolutely necessary to share the sky? I thought your neighborhood star party was one of the best star parties I was at last year. The kids wanted to see things they'd never seen before, and it didn't matter to them that better conditions or being way out in the boonies is better for observational astronomy. They just wanted to see SOMETHING.

Calumet Astronomical Society has a Youth Astronomy Camp every summer through the Lake County (IN) parks system, and claims to have programs available for schools, but I haven't been around long enough to know how successful those programs are, particularly the schools.

I know I haven't seen much of the universe yet, and maybe never will, but I feel like I have the talent to share astronomy with a wide audience, and haven't really found the right outlet to make it happen.

[patrickm]

Paulie,
I agree that most Chicagoans, young and old, will just be pleasantly surprised to see anything under our light dome.

I would think the fastest way to your outreach goal would be to join an ongoing program. If CalAS has programs already running, joining would be easier than reinventing the wheel.

As soon as I am back and it warms up a bit, I will definitely see about having another Sunken Gardens night. With a little more time and motivation, I'll approach the schools about just setting up at an announced time and see what happens.

I have realized that I don't have to have all, or even most, of the answers. A telescope and some answers is good more than good enough for the average citizen.

I hope we can work out something to keep sharing.

[Paulie pchris00]

Not having all the answers can be a good thing. One, you don't look like an obnoxious know-it-all; and two, it gives motivation for others to find out for themselves if they truly want the answer.

With CAS, I don't want to reinvent the wheel so much as push them to do more outreach. They have just one weekend for middle school age kids, and one weekend a month from March to November have open houses at the club observatory. I'd like to get some of the willing members out of their comfort zones, and reach people on their terms. Trying to have a conversation with somebody in the dark outside the observatory isn't the greatest way to make a connection, me thinks.

[patrickm]

Any of you good people have the energy to tackle this with me in the fall? Thinking about approaching Waters School by our house, but before I approach them, I would like some help if anybody anticipates having the time, energy, and commitment for such things in the fall.

Lesson plans are here:
www.astro.virginia.edu/dsbk/resources.php

[-=CROMAN=-]

Patrick, im sure I could swing a day or two. Let me know more details when you can

[patrickm]

Rich,
No details beyond desire right now. Wanted to acquire some help before approaching the schools. When the dust settles a little at work, I'll contact the school(s) & see if there is interest. Thanks!

Also, edible solar system!