UofL planetarium will offer Space Engineering Boot Camp at Westport Middle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A group of 25 sixth graders at Westport Middle School will learn about space exploration in an academic boot camp that starts Jan. 26.

Time Warner Cable is providing a gift to the University of Louisville’s Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium to fund the program which will run from Jan. 26 through Feb. 19 at Westport Middle.

UofL planetarium educator Mark Duckwall and Westport Middle science teachers have created a curriculum designed to engage students with plenty of hands-on activities. The overall theme of the boot camp will be space travel and exploration.

“We want the students to get excited about science and to begin to understand what it takes to put humans into space,” said Duckwall. “For example, we will build and test model rockets, explore the impact of low gravity on humans and construct solar cars.”

Connect a Million Minds is a philanthropic initiative launched by Time Warner Cable to encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Westport Middle administrators will select students for the program.

For more details on the boot camp at Westport Middle, contact Duckwall at 502-852-0212 or 550-879-7400.