Boeing

Thirty elementary and high school teachers from around the world will enhance their knowledge of math, science and space at the Boeing Educators to Space Camp program, beginning today at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Through interactive classroom assignments, special tours and lectures, and hands-on team activities, the program provides educators with many of the resources they need to inspire and motivate their students about math, science and space. Past participants continue to praise the benefits this program has brought to their classrooms.

"I am so thankful to Boeing for giving me the chance to experience the space program. My kids are benefiting from my knowledge and experiences," stated Chuck Minear, a middle school teacher from Downey, Calif., who attended the 1998 program. "Recently I was awarded State Technology Teacher of the Year in Sacramento and I think it was in part to my increased excitement over teaching after going to space camp."

Teachers from 12 states and 4 foreign countries will spend July 19 - 25 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will participate in a week-long curriculum of lectures, classroom activities, astronaut training and simulated space missions. Then they will travel to Houston, Texas, to spend two days at Space Center Houston and Johnson Space Center to tour the facilities and learn more about the International Space Station.

"We're thrilled to give teachers this opportunity for hands-on exposure to the nation's - and the world's - work in space, so they can create exciting new programs for successive generations of students," said Michelle Bandoian, Boeing manager of community relations. "Since 1992, we've sponsored more than 180 teachers for this program, who, in turn, have inspired and educated more than 20,000 students about space and science."

The teachers come from U.S. locations in which The Boeing Company has facilities and from the partner countries of the International Space Station.