Rocketeer - Assemble a Model Rocket Kit

Payment information Cancellation information Additional information Registration form Share

When:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Where:

Who: Model rocketry is generally suggested for ages 10 and up (but my son started at age 4). Participating children should be able to identify a nose cone, distinguish parts of the kit, make mostly straight cuts with a hobby knife in die-cut cardboard, sand the fins to make them smooth without altering their shape, align and glue the fins to the body tube using glue, cut paper using a scissors, paint with a paintbrush, and tell which end of a motor is the nozzle.
The Estes Viking is a Skill Level 1 kit, which means it's not appropriate for younger children. If younger siblings wish to attend, I can order them a Skill Level E2X Estes Firestreak. (E2X = Easy to Assemble).

How much:
Cost for Rocketeer Group Buy: $15.00
Cost for Sibling Firestreak Package: $20.00

Please register by: Saturday, September 20, 2014 - 1:30pm

Description

See also: Recreate your model rocket kit in OpenRocket at Maplewood Public Library (Maplewood), Mon, Oct 6, 1:30pm–3:30pm.

See also: Launch your model rocket at Tripoli Minnesota (North Branch), Sat, Oct 11, 10am–4pm.

DIY Skill: Rocketeer
 
 DIY Challenge 1: Assemble a Model Rocket Kit
 DIY Challenge 3: Launch a Model Rocket (Sat, Oct 11)
 Custom Challenge 3: Using an inclinometer to estimate apogee
 Custom Challenge 4: Recreate your rocket in OpenRocket software (Mon, Oct 6)

This workshop will take place in the Nellie Stone Johnson Meeting Room of Sumner Library. I expect this workshop to take 2 hours, but we have the room until 4pm. (The room must be clean and ready for the next group by that time.)

I can accommodate 10 to 12 kids. Parents are asked to stay and assist with this project.

We will be using the Estes Viking model rocket kit which allows for up to 48 different fin configurations. We will also be looking at the impact of fin design considerations on flight.

The Estes Viking is a Skill Level 1 kit, which means it's not appropriate for younger children. If younger siblings wish to attend, I can order them a Skill Level E2X Estes Firestreak. (E2X = Easy to Assemble).

We will do a group buy of the rockets and motors, which will reduce the cost by more than 50% off retail. $15 will include the model rocket kit, a cardstock inclinometer kit, and 4 rocket motors (with ignitors and plugs). (The cost for the younger sibling Firestreak is $20.) I will supply the scissors, pencils, rulers, sandpaper, glue, masking tape, clear tape, paintbrushes and paint, and a small supply of hobby knives. If you have your own hobby knife, please bring it. Otherwise, we'll share what I have.

Your child will learn ...

• components of a model rocket
• the basics of model rocket assembly
• the purpose of fins
• how to identify the different parts of a fin
• about different fin shapes
• about about different fin positions
• how to solve a fin problem through experimentation
• what those letters and numbers on a model rocket engine mean
• phases of a rocket's trajectory
• how to use an inclinometer to estimate altitude

I will have paint and paintbrushes at the library. Spray painting of the rocket is optional but will have to be done at home.

The launch of the model rocket is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Tripoli Minnesota High Power Rocketry Club launch in North Branch. The arrival time for the Tripoli launch is anytime between 10am and 2pm. My family's goal will be to be there by 10am. Technically, the launch can go as late as 6pm, but that is unusual. They are usually wrapped up by 4pm and often by 2pm. Tripoli launches many rockets of all sizes from small models to the obscenely large, and you don't want to miss any of them. There is no cost for children to launch, and biodegradable wadding is also provided. There are 12 launch pads available to kids — and if weather conditions permit, we may be able to "drag race" — launching all the rockets simultaneously. Launches are subject to weather conditions (primarily wind speed, cloud ceiling height, and precipitation). If cancelled due to weather, Tripoli first tries to reschedule for next day (Sun, Oct 12), and then for the next weekend (Sat, Oct 18).

Learn more:

• The Beginner's Guide to Rockets (online curriculum)
• RocketModeler (interactive program)
• OpenRocket (model rocket simulator)
• Model Rocket Design And Construction, by Timothy S. Van Milligan (book)
• Handbook of Model Rocketry, by G. Harry Stine & Bill Stine (book)

Event information Cancellation information Additional information Registration form 

Payment information

Payment must be received by: Sun, Sep 21, 2014 - 1:30pm

1. Please plan to send your payment the same day that you register.
    
   The organizer will expect to receive your payment within 3 days of your date of registration — or by the payment deadline above, whichever comes first.
    
2. Immediately after you register, you will be emailed payment instructions from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com.
    
   Make sure your email filters recognize this address as a legitimate sender. If you don't receive this email, please check your spam, junk or bulk mail folder. Contact the organizer if you are unable to find it; if you receive no response to your email, please call the organizer.
    
   You are not officially registered until the organizer receives your payment.
    
3. When the organizer records your payment, you will be emailed a payment receipt from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com.
    
   If you've sent your payment and haven't received a payment confirmation, please contact the organizer by email or phone.
    
4. If the organizer doesn't receive payment within 3 days of your date of registration or by the payment deadline, whichever comes first, the organizer may remove your family from the registration list.
    
   You will be notified with an email from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com should this unfortunate event occur.
    
   If you are unable to send payment immediately, please contact the organizer to make other arrangements. This protects the organizer from non-payment due to payment instructions blocked by overly aggressive spam protection.
    
5. If you need to cancel your registration, please do so via an email request to the organizer.
    
   Non-payment is not an acceptable way to cancel your registration. If you wish to cancel, please be respectful of the volunteer organizer's time and send an email request.
    
   If you fail to send a cancellation request by the cancellation deadline, you will remain responsible for reimbursing the organizer for the cost of your family's participation.
    
6. To help the organizer identify you in the registration database, please include your username and field trip number along with any requests. This information can be found in your payment instructions email message and on the registration form on this page.

Event information Payment information Additional information Registration form 

Cancellation information

Cancellation deadline: Sat, Sep 20, 2014 - 1:30pm

TO CANCEL BEFORE THE DEADLINE: 
(1) Please let the organizer know as soon as possible via email. 

TO CANCEL AFTER THE DEADLINE: 
(1) Let the organizer know as soon as possible via email. 
(2) No refunds can be made as the organizer has already paid for your tickets. 
(3) To avoid empty seats, please attempt to transfer your tickets to another family.
(3a) Any reimbursements should be handled privately between you and your substitute. 
(3b) Please let the organizer know about the substitution. 
 
TO CANCEL ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 
(1) It is not cool to just not show up. Please let the organizer know if you are unable to attend — via email, text message or voice mail. 
(2) To avoid empty seats, please attempt to find a last-minute substitute for your family. 

Event information Payment information Cancellation information Registration form 

Additional information

Please arrive by:

Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes early in order to have plenty of time to find parking, check in with the organizer, visit the bathrooms and otherwise be prepared for our program to start on time. Please plan to be early to avoid being late due to inadequate maps, confusing road signs, road construction, heavy traffic, parking difficulties, inclement weather or uncooperative children. 

Where to meet:

Please gather in the meeting room unless directed elsewhere by the staff. Please check in with the organizer when you arrive. 

Event information Payment information Cancellation information Additional information

Please login to register for this field trip.

If you have already registered for this field trip, please login to view your current registration status.