Last Operational Shuttle
Shuttle Missions Continue
The last operational shuttle in the United States continues its mission; docking at schools, fly-ins, and taking part in parades. This 45-foot-long mobile learning center’s primary mission is to motivate children to learn by offering a series of hands-on work stations in the areas of space flight, aviation, engineering, and science. Two new work stations will soon be introduced; Nutrition and Exercise.
The Spirit of Education has visited nearly 250 schools and special events during the past six years and delivered its payload of science lessons and experiments to more than 20,000 children in Wisconsin and surrounding states.
Wausau 5th grade teacher Sharon Ryan, creator and founder of Dream Flight USA, continues to design the Spirit of Education’s science lessons for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Ryan’s efforts in creating the original, scaled-down version for the Wausau School District earned her a Presidential Award in 2000. Retired NASA Astronauts Mark Brown and Mark Lee are on the Advisory Board of the Dream Flight USA Foundation.
While the annual budget for NASA is in the billions of dollars, Dream Flight USA has been able to support itself, so far, on a budget of about $60,000 per year. But Dream Flight organizers would like to reach many more schools in the future by expanding the number of visits it makes and perhaps by adding more shuttles to the fleet in the future.
A limited number of Dream Flight corporate sponsorships are available to companies and foundations that support increased science instruction for young students. Tax-deductible donations may be made to the Dream Flight USA Foundation, P.O. Box 1931, Wausau, WI 54402-1931.
Visits to schools and events typically cost $750.00 per day plus mileage and other expenses. In many cases, when schools are not able to cover the costs of a mission, local businesses or service clubs at the destination step up and provide the funding. For more information about how to schedule a Spirit of Education mission to your community, contact dream@dreamflightusa.com, or call 715-845-6392.
