Reaching for the stars: Oregon student ready to launch his own space camp

OREGON – It’s not every person who decides at age 12 what they want to do for the rest of their life, but Jacob Davis isn’t like most people.

The Oregon High School sophomore knows what he wants to do and he’s aiming high.

During a visit to his grandparents a few years ago, Davis spent the day at the Kennedy Space Center, touring buildings and launch pads and training as a mission commander during a space simulation.

The trip left a profound impression on Davis.

“It ignited a spark to become an astronaut,” he said. “I wanted to ride in the spaceships and go to space.”

Now, he wants to ignite that same kind of spark in kids who were as young as he was when he got a taste of space.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any NASA space centers in northern Illinois, and that makes it a harder for budding young astronauts who can’t travel to Florida, like Davis did.

Eager to share his experience and passion for space, Davis took matters into his own hands; he created his own space camp, and an open-minded school district helped make it possible.

He found a vessel for his vision in the Oregon High School’s Open Program – a year-long non-traditional learning opportunity that aims to empower sophomores to take control of their own learning, its content and its pacing, and provide a supportive, collaborative environment that values community service.

As part of that program, Davis is launching a 2-day space camp from April 20-21 at Oregon High School and Byron Forest Preserve’s Weiskopf Observatory. The camp is open to fifth- through seventh-graders

“I feel like when I perform this camp for kids at that age, they too will experience the spark, or at least gain a significant understanding of the stuff I love,” Davis said.

In the first half of the Open Program, students are taught the basics of being self-sufficient in their own learning and are tasked to learn a new skill in 2 months – for Davis, that skill was Morse code.

The second half of the year, students are tasked to complete five math chapters, 34 English credits, and creating a community-oriented project.

The Open Program project is essential in providing the materials and resources students need to turn their ideas into a reality.

“I wouldn’t be able to do this without the resources that the program has. The planning, discussion, materials and brainstorming to get this project off the ground took a lot,” Davis said.

It also doesn’t hurt that Davis has someone special in his corner to help him out: his mom, Justine Davis, who also happens to be the music teacher at Oregon Elementary School.

“My mom has helped me a lot, especially with the insight on how to handle students,” he said “She said she’s glad that I’m doing a project like this because of the field she works in with the same age group.”

The camp will encompass different aspects of what it’s like to be an astronaut, from creating space badges to learning about astronomy and building rockets.

After high school, Davis has his eyes set on Purdue University, where he plans to earn a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering, and maybe even a master’s degree.

Davis recognizes that education comes first before space flight, but he knows the tools at his disposal through the Open Program will help open those space doors.

“Being an astronaut has been at the forefront of my education,” he said. “I want to do everything that will help me achieve my goal.”

He said he knows that he won’t get to space without an education first – mastering science, in particular – but still, he can’t help but gaze at the sky and be starstruck, dreaming of the day he can slip the surly bonds of Earth.

“I’m happy as long as I get to space, whether it’s Mars, the moon or the international space station.”

MORE INFORMATION

Space Camp is open to students in grade five through seven in the Oregon School District, and takes place 4 to 8 p.m. April 20 in the gym at Oregon High School, 210 S. Tenth St., and 2:30 to 8 p.m. April 21 at Byron Forest Preserve's Weiskopf Observatory, 7993 N. River Road.

The cost to attend is $14 and participants must pack their own dinner and drink.

Schedule

Day one – Ground rules, icebreaker, split into groups, build rockets, learn about components of rockets.

Day two – Learn about astronomy, constellations, group activities, visit observatory telescope, and launch rockets.

Contact

Jacob is looking for volunteers to help at the space camp. If you want to help, or have any questions, email jacodavis@students.ocusd.net.