Mission to Mars Event Tomorrow…Are You Coming?

It’s almost here!

If you haven’t made plans to attend either of our Mission to Mars events on October 11, 2014, you’ll be missing out on an amazing opportunity to learn more about our space program, and all of the work and exploration we’ve been doing on the planet of Mars.

We’ve talked about how beneficial these types of programs are for kids, and to show you, we invite you to bring the entire family out for our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day. This part of our event kicks off at 10:00am this Saturday morning. All kids are invited to come wearing the best costumes, because we’ll be having a costume contest. There are also many other activities for kids to enjoy. They can get their faces painted, they’ll be able to meet a few Martians (and maybe even ask all those burning questions about Mars they’ve been dying to ask), and we’ll also have a scavenger hunt in the museum. This is definitely an event unlike any other, and your kids will have a blast.

They won’t even realize they’re learning!

After you have lunch at Sweet-n-Saucy, here in our Wings Cafe, you’ll want to finish up the fun and head home to prepare for the evening’s Gala (adults only). Joe Cavallaro and his Dixieland Jazz Band will be providing the music for the event, and there will be beer and wine tasting from local vendors. Sweet-n-Saucy has cooked up a delicious meal for the evening, and Shoshanna Cole from Cornell University will be on hand to discuss our last 10 Years on Mars.

This is such an important event for the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, but it’s also important for the kids in our region. We love being able to provide them with STEM educational programs, and your support will help to keep those programs going.

We hope you’ll join us for an incredible weekend as we do our part to explore Mars and support STEM youth education in the Big Flats, Corning, Elmira and Horseheads area.

To make your reservations for our Gala, please click here. We’ll see you tomorrow!

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Maybe There’s No Life on Mars Right Now…

Everyone loves a good comedian, and Louis C.K. is one of the hottest ones going right now. Yesterday, he went on a Twitter rant about Mars, and there’s actually quite a bit of truth in what he was saying. Actually, that’s what makes comedy funny, right? Still, let’s take a closer look at what he had to say in reference to what we know about the red planet today.

“It really feels like Mars used to be a here that got globally warmed by some very us-y people-things.”

“What was left turned into here and our moon…and later we’ll use our moon to go back.”

While scientists don’t really know very much about Mars prior to 1970, they do know that there’s evidence that Mars once had water. In 1996, NASA geologist David McKay took a closer look at a Martian meteorite that landed on Earth. Along with his researchers, McKay discovered what looked to be fossilized microbes. Could it be a sign that Mars once had some form of life? That debate is ongoing, and right now scientists believe we don’t have enough evidence to support the theory. Still…

NASA’s Curiosity is still roaming the planet of Mars, looking for any tell-tale signs of ancient life on the surface.

What about the “us-y people things” Louis referred to? Could it be possible that life on earth actually originated from Mars? That’s a pretty far-reaching theory, but it’s not one that isn’t in the backs of the minds of certain scientists. In fact, a biochemist by the name of Steven Brenner has stated that an element named molybdenum wasn’t present in its life-constructing form when life first appeared on Earth, billions of years ago. However, it was present on Mars. He said, “It’s only when molybdenum becomes highly oxidized that it is able to influence how early life formed,” he said in a statement at the time. “This form of molybdenum couldn’t have been available on Earth at the time life first began, because 3 billion years ago, the surface of the Earth had very little oxygen, but Mars did.”

Louis C.K.’s rant was worth a chuckle for sure, and he touched on some things that have a real basis in modern-day science. But what’s the truth behind it all?

If you’re curious, you’ll want to join us this Saturday October 11, 2014. We’re going to dive deep into what we know about Mars at our Mission to Mars Gala in the evening. In the morning, we’ll host an event for kids that will include lots of fun events, and spark their curiosity about what our Mars rover is doing on the red planet right now!

Click here to make your reservations for our Gala, and make sure you bring the family out for Mission to Mars in the morning. This is going to be a great weekend at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Make sure you don’t miss out!

 

 

 

Is Your Child Struggling in School? We’d Like to Help…

 

When the school year started, you had high hopes for your son or daughter. Surely, after a summer spent relaxing and having fun, your child would be more than ready to hit the books come September. Right?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. Kids can easily get frustrated in school, especially when they’re not given the hands-on tools they need to become interested in what they’re learning. The good news is that Sweet-n-Saucy, in partnership with the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Big Flats, NY wants to help. We’d like to invite you and your family to join us this coming Saturday for a Mission to Mars.

The festivities will kick off on Saturday morning at 10am right here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. We have plenty of fun activities planned for your kids, including a scavenger hunt, our flight simulator and a costume contest. Around noon, feel free to take a break and visit Sweet-n-Saucy in our Wings Cafe for lunch. After you’ve had your fill, you can get right back to the fun.

In the evening, we’re hosting a Mission to Mars Gala (adults only) featuring some terrific live music, beer and wine tasting and a delicious meal. The proceeds from this fantastic weekend will help to support STEM youth educational programs for the kids in our region.

These STEM programs are hands-on activities that really get kids involved in science, technology, engineering and math. Once kids become involved in STEM programs, they often form a love for these subjects, and many of them go on to pursue a career in one of these fields.

Perhaps your child is struggling in school right now, but that doesn’t have to continue for the entire school year. STEM youth education programs are a great way to hit the “reset” button as far as how your child feels about school. It all starts with a Mission to Mars on Saturday, October 11, 2014.

Won’t you join us?

The Benefits of STEM Youth Education Programs

Perhaps you’ve been seeing all of our posts on Twitter and Facebook about our upcoming Mission to Mars event, and you can’t help but wonder, just how important are STEM youth educational programs?  just how important are STEM youth educational programs? We thought we’d take a few minutes to just explain the types of programs that are offered at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, and why they’re so beneficial for kids.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These programs offer hands-on educational opportunities to kids that really engage them in what they’re learning about. The Wings of Eagles offers several Robotics programs that kids enjoy.

Why is STEM Beneficial?

STEM programs do a world of good for kids in a variety of ways. Thanks to the fact that kids have so much access  to television and mobile devices, many of them have lost interest in the wonderful world of science and math. STEM programs take their fascination with technology to an entirely different level by demonstrating for them how everything they love really works. It also gives them tools for practical application. Our Mission to Mars program is going to provide lots of great information about the Mars rover, Curiosity, which we know is going to ignite some curiosity within their minds as well.

Studies have shown that kids who participate in STEM programs actually do much better in science and math than kids who never have the opportunity. In that way, STEM programs are really an important investment in our country’s future. It’s also been proven that kids who participate in these types of programs have a better chance of graduating from high school and going on to pursue higher education and a career in a related field. We’re training up our next scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and astronauts.

We hope you’ll join us on October 11, 2014 as we bring the mystery of Mars to life for our area’s children during our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day event. In the evening at 6pm, we’ll be hosting a Mission to Mars Gala (adults only) where you’ll get the opportunity to hear from a Cornell Research Scientist and expert regarding the important work NASA is doing on Mars.

Please click here to make your reservations for our Gala. We’ll see you on the 11th!

Is There a Future Eileen Collins Living in Under Your Roof?

If you’re an Elmira native, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the name Eileen Collins. Eileen was born and bred right here in Elmira, NY, and when the space shuttle Columbia blasted off on July 23, 1999, she became NASA’a first female shuttle commander. She has truly been a pioneer for the space program. It was always her dream to become a pilot, however, her beginnings were humble.

Eileen went to Corning Community College, where she earned an associates degree in science. She then went on to Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Math and Economics in 1978. Once she was finished with college, she enrolled in the pilot training course at the Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Her class was one of the first ones at the base to have women as students. Once she completed the pilot training course, she stayed at Vance and became an instructor for the next three years.

Eileen continued her education eventually, earning a Master’s Degree in operations research from Stanford, and another Master’s Degree in Space Systems Management from Webster’s University in St. Louis.

By the time Eileen was chosen by NASA she had logged more than 419 hours in space in various types of missions. Her achievements are honorable, and they’re something every Twin Tiers native should be proud of.

Your kids have the opportunity to get involved in learning about the space program right here at home, while they’re still young. You can help them in one of two ways:

1. Sweet-n-Saucy is proud to be a part of the Mission to Mars program at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, right here in Big Flats, NY. Our Family Fun Day kicks off at 10am on October 11, 2014, and it includes plenty of activities for your kids. They’ll love every minute of the Scavenger Hunt, meeting real, live Martians, and lots more. When they get hungry, you can break for lunch in our Wings of Eagles Cafe, and then it’s right back to the action. It’s only $10 for the whole family.

2. Later on the same day, at 6pm, we’ll be hosting our Mission to Mars Gala, featuring beer and wine tasting from local vendors, a delicious meal prepared by Sweet-n-Saucy, music from Joe Cavallaro and a presentation by Mars Research Scientist, Shoshanna Cole from Cornell University.

The proceeds from this event will help fund STEM education programs for our region’s youth. By attending, you’re helping to continue our exploration in space, which starts by sparking the interest of our kids.

We hope you’ll join us for this important and exciting event!

Breaking News: Mars Rover has Begun Studying Mount Sharp

The Martian rover Curiosity was launched in November of 2011, and its mission was to study the planet of Mars. Since its arrival on the red planet, it’s helped scientists learn a great deal about the Martian atmosphere, and this information has been invaluable.

On September 24, 2014, Curiosity finally began drilling into the base of Mount Sharp, which is what researchers have been waiting for. It drilled a 2.6 inch hole into the crust and began gathering samples of the powdered rock, which were then analyzed. Eventually, Curiosity will move up the mountain, which is almost three and a half miles high. The rover will drill and analyze the rock along the way, providing us with even more clues about how the mountain was formed.

The data that has been collected from Mars has already painted an incredible picture illustrating what the planet was like years and years ago. Scientists believe that the planet was once warm and wet, and could have sustained life in the form of microorganisms. There is so much we know, and yet there is so much more we desire to know.

That’s where you come in.

Sweet-n-Saucy in Big Flats, NY is proud to be a part of the events hosted by the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, and we have an important one coming up that you won’t want to miss. On October 11, 2014, they will be hosting Mission to Mars, which features fun activities for the kids during the day and a lovely Gala event in the evening. The proceeds from ticket sales will go to help fund additional STEM youth education programs right here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center.

NASA’s work on Mars is so important, and we want you to be a part of it. We hope you’ll join us on October 11 for both of these amazing events! For more information, please contact us! To register, please click here.

We’ll see you on October 11!

 

**Photo courtesy of Fox News**

One Class Has a Unique Take on the Mars Driver’s License

Can you imagine what it would be like to drive a car on the planet Mars? With 38% less gravity than we have on Earth, it’s sure to be a challenge.

One teacher in the State of Washington had an idea to commission her students to come up with a Mars Driver’s License, and they rose to challenge. You can read all about it by clicking here, but we’ll give you the details.

First, the class talked about what life would be like on Mars, and how one would go about driving a vehicle on such treacherous terrain. They studied the current driver’s license for the State of Washington, and they took the various components from that license in order to design their own Mars license.

Of course, they had to take the project even further by contacting Mike Lowry, Washington’s governor. They wanted to know if he would be willing to sign their license, and his answer was an emphatic “Yes!” The class was thrilled, and the project grew even more. They ended up having a school-wide assembly where they performed a reenactment of what it would really be like to drive on Mars.

Once the license was completed, the students were so proud of the work they had done. Some high-ranking state officials had taken notice of their project, and to top it off, their driver’s license became the only piece of student artwork to have a prominent place in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum.

This is an excellent example of what kids can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to dream big. On October 11, 2014, you will have an opportunity to do your part to promote STEM youth educational programs here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Whether you bring your family out to our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day, or you return in the evening to attend our Gala, not only will you have a wonderful time, but you will become an important part of furthering the educational opportunities presented to our youth.

We hope you will join us! Please click here to register today!

Kids Want to Know: What is Life Really Like on Mars?

Kids often wonder what life would really be like on another planet. Mars is our next door neighbor, so it really can’t be all that different, can it?

Actually, if you were to travel to Mars by car (kind of like how you travel to your grandparents’ house) it would take nine months! That’s a long car ride! Also, the gravitational pull on Mars is much different than it is here on Earth – about 38% different. That means you would be much lighter on Mars.

Still, Mars does seem like a fun place to visit. After all, you’d have to wear a spacesuit because you can’t breathe the air on Mars. It’s made up of mostly carbon dioxide, which is the gas you breathe out here on Earth. A spacesuit with oxygen would be necessary for you to even be on Mars for any period of time because you would also need to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there’s any way for life as we know it to exist on Mars. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep learning about it, and it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t keep exploring it. Scientists have learned a great deal of information about not only Mars, but also about the entire solar system just by having robots explore the rocky terrain of the red planet.

If you’d like to learn more about Mars, you’ll want to ask your parents to bring you to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center on October 11, 2014. There are going to be plenty of activities for you to do, including flying in a flight simulator, a scavenger hunt, and meeting real Martians. If space is something you’d like to learn more about, this is a great time to do it. You can get so many of your questions answered, and you can find out more information about possibly exploring the solar system yourself one day.

We’ll see you in October!

3 Reasons to Attend the Mission to Mars Gala Event on October 11, 2014

In case you haven’t heard, the Wings of Eagles Discover Center in Big Flats, NY is hosting a Gala event on October 11, 2014, and we’re so excited about it! The theme of our full day of fun is Mission to Mars, and the evening is sure to spectacular.

Perhaps you’ve been considering attending the Gala, but you’re just not sure. In that case, we thought we’d come up with three good reasons why you should definitely plan to attend.

Reason #1: You deserve a night out without the kids!

Our Family Fun Day is centered on the kids and encouraging them to learn more about Mars and the space program, but the evening Gala is just for you, the grownups! How often do you get a chance to get out for an evening of fun? This is an excellent opportunity to do just that, and you’ll be supporting STEM educational programs for the Wings of Eagles Discover Center as well. Speaking of that…

Reason #2: You’ll participate in an important fundraising event!

The proceeds from ticket sales for our Gala event will go to help fund STEM based youth educational programs right here at the Wings of Eagles. It’s important to preserve our nation’s history, and especially when it comes to space travel and discovery. We want to ignite a passion for adventure and science within our youth, and that’s what our educational programs are all about. Your support is essential in ensuring that they have an opportunity to keep learning and growing in their love for everything that lies beyond our planet.

Reason #3: The meal, provided by Sweet-n-Saucy is sure to be wonderful!

Have you visited the website and taken a peek at the menu Sweet-n-Saucy has in mind for the event? If not, we suggest you do that right now by clicking here. It will be delicious from beginning to end, which is nothing short of what you would expect from Sweet-n-Saucy.

Of course, there are many more reasons you should attend, such as the beer and wine tasting from local vendors and the music, which will be provided by Joe Cavallaro and his Dixieland Jazz Band. We’ll receive some valuable information from Mars Research Scientist, Shoshanna Cole from Cornell University as well.

If you haven’t made your reservations yet, there’s still time! Contact us to get registered, and plan on attending the Mission to Mars Gala on October 11, 2014. You won’t want to miss it!

3 Things Most Families Do on a Saturday Instead of Visiting Mars

What do most families do on Saturdays? While every family is different, you can pretty much guarantee that you probably have these three things to get accomplished:

Grocery Shopping – There’s nothing like spending a Saturday looking for food for your family for the remainder of the week, right? It’s time-consuming, but it has to be done.

Laundry – Ah, the never-ending pile of laundry. It can really take over a Saturday if you let it. Again, it’s time-consuming, but it has to be done.

Cleaning the House – Saturday is probably the day you find everything your kids lost during the week, right? Even though you’d rather be doing just about anything else, sometimes you just have to clean so you can maintain your sanity during the rest of the week.

Wouldn’t it be great to do something different on a Saturday? We have the best idea!

On October 11, 2014, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center is having an awesome event for kids during the day. It’s called Mission to Mars, and it features plenty of great activities for your kids. They can meet some real Martians, take part in a costume contest, get their faces painted, and even try out the flight simulator. This all takes place from 10-2. When it comes time to stop and grab a bite to eat, you can head right over to Sweet-N-Saucy for a delicious lunch, which is perfect because you won’t be far from the fun.

In the evening, the adults can come back for our Gala event at 6pm. We’ll learn about 10 Years on Mars, with a fascinating presentation of how far space exploration has come in the last decade. The menu has been planned, and you’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner while you take part in beer and wine tasting with some of the area’s best music from Joe Cavallaro and his Dixieland Band.

Have you made your reservations yet? If not, click here to make them right now!

Why spend another boring Saturday at home? Sprinkle in some fun and join us on October 11, 2014!