The sky isn't falling, but space is definitely coming in close for some personal contact in Prince George on Nov. 8.
The H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, the foremost agency in the province for space sciences, is making a unique trip to B.C.'s northern capital where they are letting children and their families look deep into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The event is free, it's for all ages, and it is open for universal enjoyment from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception School.
According to H.R. MacMillan Space Centre staff, the evening will be a veritable constellation of family-friendly crafts, space demos, and games.
The Space Centre is also setting up the star of their outreach program: their portable planetarium. Event attendees can crawl inside this inflatable planetarium and go on a journey to the far corners of the universe where they can see planets, constellations and other celestial bodies that are only a blur from here on Earth.
Two key collaborations are happening with some of the space resources already on hand right in Prince George. The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre knew to call on Exploration Place for the many science tools and activities they will be bringing to the event. They also called upon the Prince George branch of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, which operates the big observatory on Tedford Road and has a set of portable telescopes and other astro-toys that will be at the event as well.
“We are excited to be supporting STEM awareness in the Prince George district,” said Trish Pattison, Outreach Programmer with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. “With the help of Chevron we are bringing our portable planetarium to schools during the month of November. Tuesday, November 8 is a chance for families to visit the planetarium and celebrate science, technology, engineering and math.”
According to Pattison, this event was a response to all the enthusiasm kids were showing at home when the space centre did these activities at their schools.
"Our community night is a unique way to give back to the community and share some of the great information we present in schools," she said. "We found as we spend weeks touring local elementary schools and high school that kids were going home so excited about space and science that parents wondered just what their children had done at school. Soon, parents were arriving at the end of the day asking if they too could pop into the dome and see the stars before we packed up. Multiple parents and younger siblings would be waiting at the end of our school day and we decided that a community night would be an opportunity to welcome everyone."
Now, that is available under the northern skies of Prince George, for one night only.
