The Central Maine Astronomical Society has an opportunity to host a star party at Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, Maine. Mechuwana describes itself as “the Methodist Church worshiping God in nature,” so true to its mission, it hosts a science camp. Our budding astronomers would be eleven young children, mostly in fifth grade, but ranging as young as third and as old as seventh. Shirley Jackson, Dean of Science at Mechuwana, assures us that, from Mechuwana’s ball field, there is a clear view of most of the sky. This is right at the time of the new moon and Mechuwana has admirably dark skies (green, maybe edging yellow, on the Bortle Scale), so this is a fine place to be set up for a little star cruising after the children go to bed.
The idea for a star party came as a last minute inspiration. “Night walks” are a regular feature of the science camp, and a great privilege for children so young. They hope for an hour of astronomy, from 9:00pm to 10:00pm, on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night of the week of July 8. We would need to decide quickly whether we could host a party, but knowing CMAS’s historical outpouring when offered the chance to introduce children to astronomy, it only makes sense to inquire who may have weeknights free early next week. Please state your availability on this Doodle poll:
http://doodle.com/bhi2wegaddbrp85i
We would, of course, bring our own telescopes, although the camp has two of its own. One is inexpensive and maybe not so good, but may become operable if we could stiffen its wiggly mount. The other, from its description, may be a Meade ETX-90, a good scope indeed if we could teach them how to use it.
Mechuwana has a distinguished history in Maine youth camping, well worth reading about on its Web site:
Mechuwana is located between Annabessacook Lake and Long Pond at:
