A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR UCMAS CHILDREN OF MAHARASHTRA AND GOA
TO VISIT NASA (USA) 

A few month back, the Drishti Academy, Mumbai, had organized an educational tour to NASA Camp for its UCMAS children. It was a project which chimed with Dr. R. M. Hadpad’s vision for this nation. The tour was arranged through a tie-up with the Guardian Holidays of Pune, a license holder for the NASA Camp. Accordingly, the children were sent to Huntsville, Alabama for NASA Camp on 13th of May, 2009, at very reasonable and affordable rates.

Anyway, the basic idea of such a project was to create a scientifically literate populace which, the company believes, is critical to our world-class status as a nation and it is also critical to our democratic freedom. Also the focus on science, math, and technology will inspire our students.

The first batch of three students of UCMAS viz. Ketki Sanjay Patil of Grand Level from Dombivli, Kewal Keshav Meshram of Level X from Chandrapur and Pooja Rajesh Ahuja of Level VIII from Mumbai had left for the Space Camp on the 13th of May, 2009. And they came back from their tour on the 27th of May 2009 with loads of fun and thrilling experiences. The NASA tour has helped open up the minds of our children to options that were not readily available to them in the past. Our children learned from the scientists that their own lives could be as meaningful and as satisfying as they choose, and one of those choices could be, as a scientific explorer.

Ketki Sanjay Patil:
The tour of NASA was just awesome. It was inspirational. I grabbed this opportunity because of the interest I had in space study and Rocketry. There my interaction with some of the astronauts in the Space Camp was unforgettable. This unique camp is designed to provide participants knowledge about the latest developments in space research through visits to NASA’s space centers, interaction with scientists and astronauts and more.
In the uniform during the training, I really felt ‘I am a space explorer now’. Generally one learns many things from this visit. It generally raises one’s level of self-confidence, concentration, stable mind and a sense of being physically fit. The tour improves student’s proficiency. So, every one of you shouldn’t let go the chance of visiting NASA if it comes by.

Kewal Keshav Meshram:
What an enriching experience the tour had been! It was a tour - ‘a dream came true’ for me. I have always been wondering what’s there in the sky, in the universe. The tour has but stirred up my natural fascination and curiosity about space.
The trip was well organized; it was an ineffable joy I felt when we reached the Space Center, a fantastic feeling all together. I also enjoyed the visit to the Statue of Liberty. One can learn many things from the astronauts. They explained how rockets are made; the team work and their self-confidence were just amazing. I thank UCMAS which endeavored to bring these incredible opportunities to our Indian children.

Pooja Rajesh Ahuja:
The trip was great. Fantastic. I was very happy, and I felt very special about me as I reached the NASA Camp. It had been my dream all along to visit NASA. The visit has made an impression on me, a great impact on my life. I was thrilled that science, math, and technology content areas came alive.
During the program, students are exposed to an environment where they learn a lot about decision-making, team spirit and many other aspects pertaining to personality development. Also I learned about astronauts’ eating habits, something about the gravity, and I got some insights into how they work. The uniforms in the training gave me a sort of great feeling.
Of course I had a mixed feeling, but not homesick, when I was away from home the first time. But then it started becoming very interesting for me anyway. I have returned from the NASA tour with indelible memories. I feel encouraged that I can do anything I put my minds to. And now I feel the ‘future is mine’.