Young people from a Cheshire village enjoyed an out-of-this-world experience recently, when a NASA representative joined them live via video link from America for a special evening of space exploration.
A group of 31 Cubs and Scouts, aged 7-14, from Bunbury & District Scout Group took part in the call with Dr Dhyan Emmanuel, operations manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
The 75-minute session gave the Scouts and Cubs a fascinating insight into life in space, rocket technology and future missions to the Moon and Mars – all from the comfort of their own Scout hut in Bunbury.
The children were encouraged to ask questions, handle space-themed props and also sample freeze-dried sweets as they learned about the challenges of eating in space.
Their questions ranged from the scientific to the wonderfully unexpected – including ‘how fast do rockets travel,’ ‘Can you play football in space,’ and the inevitable ‘how do astronauts poop in space?’ – a question that had everyone laughing, including their NASA guest!
‘Beyond the ordinary’
The remarkable opportunity was the result of nearly a year’s planning by Scout section team leader Mac Wrench who drew on contacts developed during his years working at an American summer camp through Camp America.
Having previously experienced NASA educational calls himself, he was determined to bring a similar opportunity to young people in rural Cheshire.
Arranging the session involved coordinating across time zones, navigating NASA’s busy schedule and working with representatives to develop a programme tailored specifically to the group.
“We strive to give young people opportunities that go beyond the ordinary,” he said.
“Seeing their excitement as they spoke directly with NASA made every effort worthwhile.
“I wanted to show them that the extraordinary isn’t beyond their reach, that they should dream big, and that curiosity and ambition can take them further than they ever imagined.”
Scout George was among those who enjoyed the experience.
“It was a really great experience that I’m not sure I would have anywhere else.”
The evening also made an impression on Cub Frederick, who added: “It was amazing, and I learnt a lot of facts about the next trip to the Moon and the trip to Mars.”
The experience also supported the children’s ongoing work towards their space activity badges, bringing science and engineering to life.
Dedicated volunteers
For Bunbury Scout Group, the NASA experience is just one example of how Scouting encourages young people to explore new interests, develop confidence, learn practical skills and discover opportunities beyond their everyday experiences.
It was made possible by dedicated volunteers, with leaders saying it demonstrates that even a small rural Scout group can open up a world of possibilities.
Who knows? Perhaps a future astronaut, scientist or space engineer has just been inspired in a Cheshire village!
Anyone interested in joining Bunbury Scouts or find out more about volunteering can contact bunburyscouting@gmail.com for details.
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