Advice

[DanM]

I'm going to Space Academy 6-day aviation track. I'm bringing my friend, who has been to the museum, but never space camp. I've never been to academy, or AC. How similar is the SA-AC to AC? And what advice should I take and tell my friend, besides bring duct tape?

[CastAway]

Well, I don't know if you know this, but behind the scenes we actually call the Aviation track the "hybrid" program, so you'll be doing half-and-half AC and SA even though it's called Space Academy. Don't know what else to mention.

[DanM]

I heard that you do all the space things and a little aviation things.

[CastAway]

Well, from what I heard from people who will be handling the track, it's quite literally half-and-half, with you having one counselor (day or night, they weren't sure) from spaceside and one from AC.

[DanM]

but is there e&e?

[SpaceCanada]

I doubt it, since the track is called 'aviation', not military training. You will likely spend your time in the sims and learning about principles of flight, aerodynamics, and that sort of thing. But, I cannot be for sure since I have never been in that programme, so you will have to go and report back to us.

[Boomerang]

To my knowledge there will be no E & E thats why i'm going to be taking the aviationm side of some of those teams later in the summer. I don't know everything you do but you will definately do sims and other stuff. Part of the day is spent at AC ussually the first half and the second half is space.

[Hotdog]

when i went in '94, i had Academy Level II Aerospace Track. we spent a good chunk of one day over at AC, learning flight maneuvers, lecture/video, and a good time in the aircraft sims.

[Boomerang]

There have been alot of changes since then but it is about half anf half for aviation track. You're day counselor will handle aviation side and your night counselor the space side atleasst thats what i was told.

[raplie]

I have graduated from Camp and Academy recently, so maybe my answers will help? (Some things might be inaccurate, but mostly, it's like this)

Camp vs Academy
Camp: The rooms are cold in Hab 2, and you are in a room with 40 some people.
Academy: The rooms are REALLY cold in Hab 1, but you get to make friends with the people in your room, who are not always your teammates.
To my knowledge, missions were pretty much the same.
Camp: The counselors keep an eye on you pretty much 24-7.
Academy: Although they don't let you run around crazy, they do let you go a bit further off on your own.
Camp: In my Space Camp experience, kids get a bit homesick, or are a bit less outgoing
Academy: Kids are a bit more mature (and also immature, depends how you look at it. Us teenagers, we're crazy) But kids are more outgoing.
Camp: I only remember swimming once
Academy: We swim twice? Even more times? Water survival training too, I believe...

Food, gift shop, most briefings, museum, stuff like that are the same for both programs! So if you loved Camp, I'm sure you'll adore Academy. I sure do!


I really don't know what you're looking for. Post more specific stuff and I'll be glad to answer any questions

Ooh, and if you do enjoy SA-AC, let me know, I have a friend who wants to go.

And if you like it, consider 8 Day. It's great. Since we can't go to 13 day yet (Just a couple more months for me!)

[DanM]

The rooms are REALLY cold in Hab 1, but you get to make friends with the people in your room, who are not always your teammates.

Will you at least have one teammate for a roommate?

[spacegirl129]

Will you at least have one teammate for a roommate?

Most likely. In my experience, most of the people in my room were teammates. However, one year, there was a girl in our room who wasn't in our team. She was the only person not in a room with her teammates.


But since you are going with a friend, if you requested each other, you'll have him.