The "YAC-kers"

2008 Winter Star Party - YAC Group Photo

Back Row (L to R): Steve Biondo, Claire Offermann, Alyssa Marmora, Liz Feller, James Ellis, James Fisher, William McAdams, Joey Fisher, Christian Carpenter, Mitchell Newman, Ron Poller, Mary-Ann Feller, Isabel Cantrell.

Front Row (L to R): David Feller, Dillon Nagot, Emily Cantrell, Leah Collier, Daniel Carpenter, Miranda Nagot, Charlotte McAdams, Tony Saker.

The Young Astronomers Camp (YAC) at the Winter Star Party is a gathering of children ages five to 15 whose parent(s) is/are attending the WSP.  Pre-school age children are also welcome if a parent is willing to attend camp with them.  Our goal is to share our enthusiasm for astronomy and science by providing age-appropriate, hands-on activities that open children’s minds to the fun and wonder of science learning.  Our emphasis is on real learning, guided observation, experimentation, scientific method, and FUN is present in everything we do!

The YAC has two chickees set aside for our use at the WSP.  The YAC-kers meet at the chickees every morning from 10:30 to 12:30 for our daytime activities, talks, workshops, and explorations.  We meet again in the evening from dusk to about 9:30 for telescope work and viewing.  In addition to whatever equipment they may have brought to the WSP, the children have the opportunity to observe through the YAC’s own 6- and 8-inch dobsonian telescopes, acquired through generous donations.

The YAC  staff is made up of  dedicated volunteers from around the country.  Some are licensed teachers, some not; all are involved in outreach during the year.  We know that many of our students are missing a week of school to attend the Winter Star Party with their parents, however, we are confident that we are providing the students with unique scientific experiences that cannot be gained in a classroom.  We are grateful for the opportunity to share our collective passion for science and hopefully help to instill that love of learning in the children.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our Coordinator, Mary-Ann Feller at MALFeller@aol.com

Who are we?  We are the YAC-kers!  YAC!  YAC!  YAC!  YAC!  YAC!

To See more of the YAC-kers in Action, visit their photo album link below.......

2008 WSP - YAC Photo Album

 

 

YAC Donors for 2008

The YAC-kers would like to thank the following people for their generous donations of equipment for the WSP-YAC permanent use:

ITEM      -           DONATED BY

Galileo 6" dobsonian telescope - Charlie Perillo

8" dobsonian telescope - Dan Smith

Bright Telescopic Objects Telrad Book - Bob Summerfield & Astronomy To Go

Starry Night Program and DVD movie - Mike Morea

Arcturus SuperWide 20mm eyepiece - Jeff Norwood & Camera Concepts & Telescope Solutions

Rigel QuickFinder - Chase McNiss & New Hampshire Astronomical Society

MoonLite Focuser - Steve Biondo

 

Door Prize Donations & Gifts to WSP - YACkers  2008

 

ITEM  DONATED BY - WON BY

Meade model 2130 Telescope - Meade Telescopes - Leah Collier

Meade Polaris Telescope - Mike Reynolds & North-East Florida Astronomical Society - Joey Fisher

Meade Infinity Telescope - Mike Reynolds & North-East Florida Astronomical Society - Mitchell Newman

StarBlast Astro Telescope - Orion Telescopes & Binoculars - Christian Carpenter

A Constellation Album (book) -  Sky & Telescope - Joey Fisher

Radiometers - Edmunds Scientifics - Christian Carpenter, Daniel Carpenter, David Feller, James Fisher, Emily Heavner, Alyssa Marmora, Dillon Nagot, Mitch Newman, Melissa VanRyn

Wonders of the Planets (book) - the Feller Family - Miranda Nagot

AstroMedia Newton Reflecting Telescope Kit - Alan Traino & Rockland Astronomy Club - Alyssa Marmora

StarScape F/X Posters - the Nagot Family & StarScape F/X - Daniel Carpenter, Emily Cantrell, Mitch Newman, Tony Saker, Melissa VanRyn, (also gifted one poster to each YAC staff volunteer)

Solar System Window Clings - Ron Poller - Emily Cantrell

Star & Planet Locators (planispheres) & illustrated instruction booklets Edmunds Scientifics - All YACkers

Packets of Space Sand (Mars Sand) - Edmunds Scientifics - All YACkers

Nebula Temporary Tattoos - Astronomy To Go - All YACkers

“Cosmic Tour” - “Planets Stars & Galaxies” - “Moon” (publications) - Astronomy Magazine - All YACkers

Sky & Telescope February 2008 Issue - Sky & Telescope - All YACkers

Reprint Permission for “Solar System Shakeup!” article - Scholastic’s Super Science Magazine - All YACkers