We got back a few days ago from a 5-day Ensign trip with a school group of middle school aged kids. Caught lots of fish and had a great time. When we left St Louis, one of the boys who loves science wanted to take his large telescope. He was hoping to see a number of things. I was at first thinking it was just one more large item to carry along. However, we packed it in a large dry bag and hoped we'd have a good sky one night. Well, last Wednesday night the sky cleared just before sunset, and we had a beautiful sunset and a clear sky all night. His telescope made the sky viewing really amazing. We spent about 4 hours watching the sky that night. We saw at least 20 shooting stars. The boy had a great trip and this made it perfect for him.

Cool! It's always good to get away from the "city" lights!

Very cool, good on you for allowing him to take it.

Agree, you probably made a lifetime BW kid out of that one.

I've seen up to 6 shooting stars in one night up there - very cool experience.

What a super experience!! I have four step-children living in MO -- three in St. Louis. All are married and some have kids -- none of middle school age. If I may ask, which school do the kids attend?

Can you imagine the memories that made?? For the rest of his life as an astronomer he will remember "that" night as a bench mark from which to measure all other nights for outdoor observation.

Wow... well done.. well done.

To be honest, it that telescope was clunky and heavy, I would have been leery about letting him take it along, but obviously you made the right decision. Way to go!

Taught P. E. in the Parkway School District at Highcroft Ridge, thhen retired and took a full time job at The College School of Webster Groves. It's an independent private school that specializes in experiential education. We do lots of neat stuff with kids.

quote Dbldppr1250: "It's an independent private school that specializes in experiential education. We do lots of neat stuff with kids. "

cloning? :)

Dbldppr1250, good for you on being flexible and allowing this. How often do we (me) get wrapped up in saying, "no," for no good reason other than we haven't done that before. What a neat idea the kid had and what great lesson for all of us to weigh the other side.

I may even have a new item to drag in on my "not necessary" list...

You made a great choice and that kids trip better.

Nice Job! Someone took the time to teach us all about the wilderness. Someone on your trip may have a life long love of the BWCA because you took the time to take a group of kids to the woods.
You should be proud of that!!

I've often thought a telescope would be cool up there. I live in the country outside of a small farming community, and once away from the city lights one is awed be the enormity of space.

A good friend has brought a smaller telescope several times, and also a 20x spotting scope, which also works quite well. It opens up a whole new world. As someone else just said, we often nix a good idea because that is not how we have done it, and we may miss something good.

Everyone else said it perfectly. You helped etch a wonderful memory into the life of that young man. Thanks.