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Re: 2018

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:50 am
by majtom7
p51 wrote:I am with you in that I'd rather spend time on the sims, and I bet for groups like Team Phoenix, that'd be the big draw.
My understanding is that Team Phoenix did essentially the same schedule as the 2017 week long camp, i.e., 1 hour shuttle, 1 hour Orion, 12 hour Mars EDM.
p51 wrote:Still, if they ever listed a SC session that was all about the sims, I'd love to do that!
I would be interested in something like that, too, depending on the number, length, and mix of missions, i.e., shuttle vs. Orion. I once tried to cost something like a Manned Space Camp out. USSRC wanted to discuss what kind of camp I wanted to put together while I just wanted the ala carte menu with prices. The chicken or the egg, I guess, so I just dropped it.

Re: 2018

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:55 pm
by Steve
I wished we could get a team together who were willing to do a Corporate Camp in 2019! We could create the camp ourselves & set dates also!! Thoughts: October or Mid November 2019 Any interest?

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 7:12 am
by gt0163c
Steve wrote:I wished we could get a team together who were willing to do a Corporate Camp in 2019! We could create the camp ourselves & set dates also!! Thoughts: October or Mid November 2019 Any interest?
I'd be interested. The earlier in the fall the better for me.

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:15 am
by Conan
I am always interested, and I can usually get vacation in September or October without much of a problem. But ever time we have tried to get a group together in the past, it hasn't happened. Here's hoping this time is the charm.

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:25 pm
by majtom7
Just playing Devil's Advocate here: Who is willing to front the $24K or more for a corporate camp, trusting that you will get repaid promptly without anyone dropping out? And if someone does drop out, that everyone else will pay more to cover the additional cost without anyone else dropping out? I suppose one could collect ahead of time before booking with USSRC but then the shoe is on the other foot: do you trust the one person enough that they will actually pay USSRC and not head off to Hawaii or some other exotic and expensive locale? I suppose one could draw up a contract yet who is able to get one enforced anywhere in the world? and even if you could, are you willing to go that far to enforce it?

Fronting a corporate camp is not for the faint of heart.

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 5:55 pm
by p51
My wife has offered to let me pick out a trip for us next year for my 50th birthday. Not a chance could I pick SC for that as she would be along and although I think she'd like most of it (especially the problem-solving), the silly parts of space ghosts and the "hit the ground running without a lot of training" aspect doesn't appeal to her nature at all.
So that said, I can't see me going next year. But then again, I said the same thing about this year in regard to the long European trip we did this May...
majtom7 wrote:Just playing Devil's Advocate here: Who is willing to front the $24K or more for a corporate camp, trusting that you will get repaid promptly without anyone dropping out?
Fronting a corporate camp is not for the faint of heart.
I've often thought of these issues. That's the primary thing keeping me from setting up my dream corporate program (sim-focused). My wife would kill me once she realizes how much money is passing through and that I'd be responsible for most/all of it...
But people do it. Take Team Phoenix for example, they make it happen (though not recently). How do they pull it off from any frequency and without someone being sued afterward?

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 6:08 pm
by Steve
Yes I understand concerns. To investigate does not cost nothing. Please share this idea with others who are hard core campers & you would think willing to go. As everyone knows costs depends how many in team or teams. Ideas on what you would like in a camp. I think all is past rocket building. 8O

Re: 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 9:27 pm
by Hotdog
majtom7 wrote:Just playing Devil's Advocate here: Who is willing to front the $24K or more for a corporate camp, trusting that you will get repaid promptly without anyone dropping out? And if someone does drop out, that everyone else will pay more to cover the additional cost without anyone else dropping out? I suppose one could collect ahead of time before booking with USSRC but then the shoe is on the other foot: do you trust the one person enough that they will actually pay USSRC and not head off to Hawaii or some other exotic and expensive locale? I suppose one could draw up a contract yet who is able to get one enforced anywhere in the world? and even if you could, are you willing to go that far to enforce it?

Fronting a corporate camp is not for the faint of heart.
If I had to organize one of these costly Camps, I would set up a private GoFundMe account way ahead of time to collect the money. I'd set the goal at whatever SC says the estimated cost is, adjusted to cover the portion that GoFundMe keeps for themselves. People who drop out would not be given refunds. The only way money gets refunded is if the minimum number of people needed for the camp do not sign up and the goal is not met. Thoughts?

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 2:02 am
by SpaceCanada
I had a comment identical to majtom7 but HabForum is doing funny things only phone and wouldn't let me post it. It's a HUGE commitment for someone to lead a private group and handle not just the money, but all the correspondence with camp, health and travel forms, creating the programme, and being the single point of contact for everyone (before and during camp!), since camp will only deal with one person for the whole team.

Then, assembling a team that jives together so everyone can enjoy themselves is another challenge. If everyone wants to be pilot or commander for every mission, how will you deal with that? I've had an entire day of camp ruined because adults couldn't get over their desire/demand to be PLT or CDR.

It's not easy for the person who organises Team Phoenix, and the past two camps were especially tough. It's not an easy feat, and camp isn't always easy to deal with, either.

For those that wonder: sim time is expensive and complex robotics missions take a huge chunk of time. It's tough to balance everything.

I don't know the finer points of GoFundMe, but the theory sounds plausible, assuming no hiccups along the way.

I think it would be great for another adult team to form and get a unique experience. Just know what you're getting into beforehand, and what is required to do so. It's brilliant when it works.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 9:11 am
by Conan
The GoFundMe option sounds like it could work. But the dates would have to be set in advance. That is another issue. Getting dates that will work with enough people.
As for team balance, I for one, always prefer being a Mission Specialist, so I would never be fighting to be Pilot or Commander. But I know that there are others who prefer that spot. I have done Pilot once, just to see what it was like. I have also done Payload Specialist, when my nephew chose that in the Parent/Child. I would hope that all of my team mates would be OK in whatever position they are assigned to. I have always found enjoyable aspects, even when the position wasn't my first choice and the only time I won the top award was as Payload Specialist with my nephew. Which would have been my last choice. I have found that the personalities are more important than the positions that my teammates wanted. One unpleasant personality can make a bad experience for the whole team. The good thing is that I have rarely had that in any of my teams. I can think of only 2 out of 13 camps that had a really unpleasant personality that annoyed the team as a whole. More often I have found new friends that really meshed together and that have kept in touch for years afterward. And that was true even on a team with an unpleasant member.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 11:59 am
by majtom7
SpaceCanada wrote:I had a comment identical to majtom7 but HabForum is doing funny things only phone and wouldn't let me post it.
Braids, you, too? I've written posts, hit preview, had to sign back in, and start all over. I now copy before hitting preview so I can just paste and submit. (and yes, it just happened again...and again when I went to edit this)

You did touch on several other points that crossed my mind. and with that, I'll shut up LOL

P.S. I suspect that coordinating a corporate camp is similar to my travel soccer coaching experience except on steroids. LOL

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:29 pm
by Hotdog
SpaceCanada wrote: If everyone wants to be pilot or commander for every mission, how will you deal with that? I've had an entire day of camp ruined because adults couldn't get over their desire/demand to be PLT or CDR.
After getting everyone's money, the team organizer could send out an email with a "mission position preference form". Here, each trainee lists the positions that he/she would like in order of preference. The first people who send back the form get their preferred mission positions. Once everyone has sent in their forms, the team organizer posts the mission assignments for Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc missions and the listing is final. This way, everyone knows what their positions will be weeks or months before arriving at Camp. No fighting or arguing :D

Another way to do it would be to assign the positions based on who turned in their money first. This might speed up the process of getting people who are on the fence about going to pay up and buy in faster so they can get the position they want.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:56 pm
by majtom7
Hotdog wrote:The first people who send back the form get their preferred mission positions.

Another way to do it would be to assign the positions based on who turned in their money first.
LOL As much as I like first come, first served, I have enough work experience with it regarding holiday scheduling to know that it is a one time solution at best. Personalities come into play sooner or later with any assignment scheme, be it the team deciding or the counselors.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 5:54 pm
by blachwk
Has anyone noticed on the SC website, there is now an "Advanced Space Academy Elite" available? They have it listed for 15-18 year olds and is only available for Advanced Space Academy Graduates. I would love to know if there will be such a camp offered for Adults (over 18+).

I would be curious of what this offers vs the Advanced Space Academy program. This schedule may be helpful in forming a 'custom corporate camp' like what is being mentioned earlier in this thread. (As well as another thread discussion a while ago).

Perhaps a 'hab1' Corporate camp could happen sometime in 2020 (spring or fall / off season). I would be interested. It may sound crazy to think about that with 2019 right around the corner, however this would allow people to save money and plan accordingly for such a corporate event. Yes, it would be a year out, however I know that some employers require many months of advance notification for vacation / planned time off. Also some employees have to accrue their time off (in which time off, sick time, and holidays all come from the same bucket). This would also allow the people interested in providing a master 'want list' of activities, time to discuss with SC, time to plan with family (and work), and a financial payoff plan to be setup. I know when working with some vendors and technicians, they have already locked in their time off through July 2019 to plan their schedules and project work loads.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 8:34 pm
by majtom7
blachwk wrote:Has anyone noticed on the SC website, there is now an "Advanced Space Academy Elite" available? They have it listed for 15-18 year olds and is only available for Advanced Space Academy Graduates. I would love to know if there will be such a camp offered for Adults (over 18+).
I would definitely like to see such an adult option with a correspondingly more intense and difficult agenda. However, back in the day, attendance at a previous camp was not required for Advanced Space Academy so therefore you essentially had an extended weekend camp.

(and yes, I had to login again and "rewrite" this post when I hit submit)

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 10:44 pm
by SpaceCanada
Ugh, my reply was deleted again (twice). The short version: There used to be alumni camps for youth and adults, much like the elite programme. They built on skills, had longer and more detailed missions, and some unique lectures. They made a great template for more complex corporate or adult camps, for sure.

With the low attendance at the last few adult weeklong camps, I wouldn't expect to see an adult alumni camp come available any time soon.

Re: 2018

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 11:09 pm
by blachwk
SpaceCanada wrote:Ugh, my reply was deleted again (twice). The short version: There used to be alumni camps for youth and adults, much like the elite programme. They built on skills, had longer and more detailed missions, and some unique lectures. They made a great template for more complex corporate or adult camps, for sure.

With the low attendance at the last few adult weeklong camps, I wouldn't expect to see an adult alumni camp come available any time soon.
I wonder if SC advertised alumni camps better how the turn out would be. I do hope with the 'new' registration system and online sources these days (website and social media) promoting such events would make the turnout more successful. I have found out about events from posts on this forum or after the fact from other alumni. In the past I know at times when trying to look up dates for camp they do not always pull up correct or show all of the adult related expeditions. (Or you have to know about a specific date and time and have to physically call about them vs using the website). I can not tell you how many times since Black Friday I have had to call to resolve issues with my registration and account so can not imagine how many times people have missed booking an alumni or advanced camp due to technical or searching issues.

Re: 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 8:21 am
by Steve
Lots of Great Input. I am going to see to Director of Space Camp & share if we could get a week long camp . Appreciate your great input!

Re: 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 3:27 pm
by majtom7
SpaceCanada wrote:With the low attendance at the last few adult weeklong camps, I wouldn't expect to see an adult alumni camp come available any time soon.

I agree. My feeling is that attendance is low due to the changes made to keep prices down, i.e., fewer and shorter missions plus shorter "weeklong" camps. (BTW, that's my interpretation of why sim time is down and camps are shorter.) It also maybe low because the generation raised on space is aging. There's other things to occupy us and our money. However, I feel that if you keep things more challenging, you'll get the serious repeat customer. That is a double edged sword, like any good sword. Higher prices mean fewer people, especially if previous camp attendance is a requirement which shrinks your potential market further. BTW, I see that the ASA Elite is $2,149. How many would pay that for an 8 day, 7 night camp, i.e., what the "weeklong" camps used to be? I would, depending on the activities.

My feeling is that adult camps are the redheaded stepchild. Sandy Magnus should be in the Hall of Fame as the first camper in space yet she attended as an adult. The story that USSRC wants to tell is how it inspire kids in STEM.

P.S. HURRAH!!! Was able to post without being tossed out and losing what I wrote... One small step for man ;)
P.P.S. Spoke too soon :( got tossed out repeatedly while editing

Re: 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 5:16 pm
by spacemanpic
Just thought I'd chime in... (big hello to Lin, PK, MajorTom, and P51!!)

If the group was to do a week long session, Giggles and I would (Potentially) be on board.

We both love Mission Control (Flight Director and EVA are my current favorites), so you wouldn't need to worry about us fighting for a CDR/PLT slot...(Don't get me wrong, we both have the skills...Giggles led our last Mars mission and there was much comedy and minimal casualties (what's a little radiation poisoning among friends)?

The money is the hardest part...though I'd trust P51 with the money. After all we gave him money for The Best Mission Patch ever!! and he came through. Mission Patch Money is a sacred trust after all...

As for dates, October has always worked better for getting time off work.

My two cents if you guys decide to do this. We'd love to be on the team!

- Justin (Scoop)