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Camping Under the StarsJackson County Intermediate School District Makes Astronomy Accessible to Teachers and StudentsBy Brian Warkoczeski, May 2008
"More look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one."
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Students in Jackson County now have an easier time to view the
stars and distant galaxies thanks to the efforts of
Jackson County Intermediate School District (JCISD).
Last fall, JCISD welcomed the addition of a new
Celestron 14-inch reflector telescope and
CCD camera to Camp McGregor, which is also the location of
the District's Math and Science Center.
The computer-driven telescope offers a
world-class view of the sky and makes it easier
for students to identify celestial objects.
The equipment was acquired in part with federal funding obtained
by former U.S. Representative Nick Smith and
current U.S. Representative Joe Schwarz.
JCISD makes the Camp McGregor Observatory available
to schools in the district for groups interested in
day or night visits. Teachers can be trained
on the telescope's use, so that they can bring their classes
to the camp anytime to use the telescope and
teach their students about astronomy.
Last August, JCISD offered a camp for
middle and high school students from nearby counties,
where students could use the new telescope and
take field trips to the observatories at Albion College,
University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.
The summer camp was made possible by a grant from
the Michigan Space Consortium and funding by the National
Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA). Camp McGregor plans to
establish an annual summer camp, where students can stay and
do extended astronomy research.
Boosting Math & Science KnowledgeCamp McGregor is also the home of the
Jackson County Intermediate School District's Math and Science Center,
which provides leadership and assistance in mathematics and
science education.
The Math and Science Center serves 12 K-12 districts, three charter districts, and
several private schools. It is one of 33 centers in Michigan
that have been charged with assisting schools in areas related to math and science.
Each school year, the Center offers several student activities
and workshops. Some of the current
programs available include a DNA Electrophoresis Workshop,
a Dino Dig archaeological field study, and
5th Grade WaterFestival.
The Center also acts as a clearinghouse for best teaching practices
and assists in professional development. With the assistance
of teachers and administrators from numerous school districts,
the Center has organized math and science curriculum projects,
where participants work to ensure that school curriculums
meet benchmarks established by the State of Michigan.
Teachers can also get assistance with content development and
class lesson development.
To paraphrase the initial quote by H. Jackson Brown,
some admire the possibiliities, while others
take action to achieve greatness. Through its continuing
projects and top-notch facilities at Camp McGregor, JCISD is
bringing the stars into focus and making
math and science education a priority for Jackson-area
students and teachers.
More About JCISDThe Jackson County Intermediate School District is an educational service agency chartered
by the State of Michigan to work in collaboration with local public school districts and charter schools. Its mission is focused on improving student success in Jackson County.
JCISD is a Member of Merit Network and utilizes Merit's high-speed services.
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