1. Preparing Camps for the Total Solar Eclipse
NASA education and public engagement specialists have disseminated information and resources to prepare camps for the August 21 Solar Eclipse.
Christine Shupla (Lunar and Planetary Institute) conducted an eclipse training at the Southwest Camp Conference for approximately 40 camp leaders on Jan. 25, 2017.
Shupla collaborated with Carolyn Ng (GSFC/ ADNET) and Jeannie Allen (SSAI) to conduct an eclipse training and shared information at a booth for hundreds of camp leaders at the American Camp Association (ACA) national conference on Feb. 24,
Shupla, with input from Ng, published a blog about NASA’s eclipse resources and creating a pinhole projector for the ACA.
Shupla and Ng collaborated with the ACA to arrange for shipments of Google’s solar eclipse glasses to a limited number of camps.
Over 30 camp programs applied to receive sets of glasses, including YMCA programs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4H Camps, and others.
Camps described their eclipse events, which included sun safety curriculum, special events for children recovering from cancer, programs about the Sun, STEM merit badges for scouts, and more.
Response has been extremely enthusiastic:
“THANK YOU very much. We will use these for our Great Eclipse Campout and anticipate having over 2,000 Scouts and families attend.” Joe Priester, Boy Scouts of America
“We are very excited to be able to share this eclipse with our campers. I love thinking that this event is going to be something our campers will remember all their lives!” Mary Rogers, Sherwood Forest
No children are photographed in these images.
Photo taken. Credit: Christine Shupla, Lunar and Planetary Institute.
The ACA blog, “Preparing Your Campers for the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse,” included directions on making a pinhole projector.
Christine Shupla, Lunar and Planetary Institute,
Carolyn Ng, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / ADNET,
June 2, 2017