On Feb. 7, 102 eighth graders from Polo Park Middle School went on a trip to the Kennedy Space Center, where the students explored the many exhibits at the facility.
“We wanted all our eighth graders to have a great experience and a great memory of middle school,” said James Ring, one of the coordinators of the trip. “It is the best time I’ve had in my 16 years of teaching.”
The students observed different space shuttles and went through a simulation that let them experience what a space shuttle taking off felt like. They also learned about the various missions that took place in the space center itself.
A bus tour showed the students where the rockets launch from and gave them a chance to see the command center that helped launch an actual Apollo mission.
There were many other fun activities to do on the trip, such as a slide that took patrons from the second story to the first in the Atlantis building. Students even enjoyed the opportunity to shop for souvenirs.
“It was fun to hang out with friends,” student Reid Snider said. “My favorite part was the Atlantis and Saturn V buildings.”
The students left the school at 6:30 a.m. and returned back at 8 p.m. The trip cost $70, which covered the bus and entry fees. Students also received a shirt to wear on the trip.
