Trip Date: Friday, November 18th - Sunday, November 20th
Ms. Earnhart is taking a group of students to the McDonald Observatory in
Fort Davis, Texas. This is a great opportunity for students to get up close and
personal with some of the most prominent telescopes and research centers in astronomy today. Students will also get the chance to stargaze in the evening in one of the darkest spots left in the country, far away from the light pollution of Austin. This is a small trip, and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis according to when the application form is submitted. This field trip is educational, but is not a mandatory activity for the astronomy course! This trip is open to all Astronomical Society members as well as current & former astronomy students.
The group will travel from LASA on the afternoon of Friday, November 18th and return back to the school on Sunday the 20th around early evening. We will be camping Friday and Saturday overnight in the bunkhouses of Prude Ranch in Fort Davis – students must bring their own sleeping bag and pillow. Be advised: it can get very cold at night in the mountains – pack a warm jacket and long pants for Friday and Saturday night stargazing and your warmest bedding for sleeping!
Coming back on Sunday, there will be TWO drop off locations: LASA High school student parking lot, and for folks who live far SW, the HEB across from Oak Hill Plaza (7010 Texas 71, 78735), since we’ll be driving past it anyway on our way back. Students are encouraged to call their parents as we enter Austin to allow for prompt pick-up at both locations! Students MUST have someone present to pick them up, as they will not be dropped off at the HEB or left at LASA alone.
The cost of this trip is $130. This cost includes the gas for parent/volunteer transportation, two overnight stays at Prude Ranch, two breakfasts and one dinner at the ranch, one lunch at the observatory, and admission to all events at the observatory. If this is an issue and is cost-prohibitive of your budget, some scholarships may be available. For scholarship information, contact Ms. Earnhart directly.
Sign and return the accompanying forms to Ms. Earnhart along with a $130 payment, checks made out to “LASA Astronomy Club”. Applications are due by Friday, September 30th .
Participants must also fill out the General Participant Form (button at the top of the page)
However, filling out the form does not guarantee participation! You can only secure a spot on the trip at the time of payment.
Tentative Trip Itinerary (subject to change)
Friday, November 18th, 2016
Noon (during LASA lunch) – Students and adults have gathered in the back of the school at the drop off/ turnaround in front of the portables at LASA and will depart for Fort Davis. This is during LASA’s lunch, so students will only be missing their last two classes on Friday.
**Students are responsible for notifying teachers and taking care of missed work**
We will be transported via parent/volunteer caravan of cars.
Please plan to eat lunch at school, and pack a bag of travel snacks as desired. We will be stopping for bathroom breaks and gas as needed, but not for a long lunch break.
*Dinner en route to Prude Ranch at driver’s discretion (pay out of pocket)
8:00 pm – Approx. arrival time at Prude Ranch. Check in & assign bunks.
8:30pm – Stargazing session at Prude Ranch
Saturday, November 19th, 2016
8:15 am – Breakfast at Prude Ranch
10:00 am – Drive to McDonald Observatory. Special VIP tour of the telescopes.
2:15 pm -- Pre-ordered lunch at Stardate Café at the observatory, checking out the gift shop
3:30 pm (ish) – Back to Prude Ranch for hiking, exploring, naping, catching up on homework, etc. Possible trips into Ft. Davis for sight seeing/shopping/etc. at driver’s discretion.
6:00 pm – Dinner at Prude Ranch
7:00 – 11:00pm – Twilight Program and Stargazing at McDonald Observatory
Sunday, April 10th, 2016
8:15 am – Breakfast at Prude Ranch, then pack up and head back to Austin
*Lunch en route back to Austin at driver’s discretion (pay out of pocket)
6:00 pm – approximate arrival time back in Austin
Fort Davis, Texas. This is a great opportunity for students to get up close and
personal with some of the most prominent telescopes and research centers in astronomy today. Students will also get the chance to stargaze in the evening in one of the darkest spots left in the country, far away from the light pollution of Austin. This is a small trip, and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis according to when the application form is submitted. This field trip is educational, but is not a mandatory activity for the astronomy course! This trip is open to all Astronomical Society members as well as current & former astronomy students.
The group will travel from LASA on the afternoon of Friday, November 18th and return back to the school on Sunday the 20th around early evening. We will be camping Friday and Saturday overnight in the bunkhouses of Prude Ranch in Fort Davis – students must bring their own sleeping bag and pillow. Be advised: it can get very cold at night in the mountains – pack a warm jacket and long pants for Friday and Saturday night stargazing and your warmest bedding for sleeping!
Coming back on Sunday, there will be TWO drop off locations: LASA High school student parking lot, and for folks who live far SW, the HEB across from Oak Hill Plaza (7010 Texas 71, 78735), since we’ll be driving past it anyway on our way back. Students are encouraged to call their parents as we enter Austin to allow for prompt pick-up at both locations! Students MUST have someone present to pick them up, as they will not be dropped off at the HEB or left at LASA alone.
The cost of this trip is $130. This cost includes the gas for parent/volunteer transportation, two overnight stays at Prude Ranch, two breakfasts and one dinner at the ranch, one lunch at the observatory, and admission to all events at the observatory. If this is an issue and is cost-prohibitive of your budget, some scholarships may be available. For scholarship information, contact Ms. Earnhart directly.
Sign and return the accompanying forms to Ms. Earnhart along with a $130 payment, checks made out to “LASA Astronomy Club”. Applications are due by Friday, September 30th .
Participants must also fill out the General Participant Form (button at the top of the page)
However, filling out the form does not guarantee participation! You can only secure a spot on the trip at the time of payment.
Tentative Trip Itinerary (subject to change)
Friday, November 18th, 2016
Noon (during LASA lunch) – Students and adults have gathered in the back of the school at the drop off/ turnaround in front of the portables at LASA and will depart for Fort Davis. This is during LASA’s lunch, so students will only be missing their last two classes on Friday.
**Students are responsible for notifying teachers and taking care of missed work**
We will be transported via parent/volunteer caravan of cars.
Please plan to eat lunch at school, and pack a bag of travel snacks as desired. We will be stopping for bathroom breaks and gas as needed, but not for a long lunch break.
*Dinner en route to Prude Ranch at driver’s discretion (pay out of pocket)
8:00 pm – Approx. arrival time at Prude Ranch. Check in & assign bunks.
8:30pm – Stargazing session at Prude Ranch
Saturday, November 19th, 2016
8:15 am – Breakfast at Prude Ranch
10:00 am – Drive to McDonald Observatory. Special VIP tour of the telescopes.
2:15 pm -- Pre-ordered lunch at Stardate Café at the observatory, checking out the gift shop
3:30 pm (ish) – Back to Prude Ranch for hiking, exploring, naping, catching up on homework, etc. Possible trips into Ft. Davis for sight seeing/shopping/etc. at driver’s discretion.
6:00 pm – Dinner at Prude Ranch
7:00 – 11:00pm – Twilight Program and Stargazing at McDonald Observatory
Sunday, April 10th, 2016
8:15 am – Breakfast at Prude Ranch, then pack up and head back to Austin
*Lunch en route back to Austin at driver’s discretion (pay out of pocket)
6:00 pm – approximate arrival time back in Austin
Hey Parents, want to volunteer to drive us out there?
Ms. Earnhart loves road trips, but she can't drive ALL the students out to Ft. Davis on her own! If you'd like to volunteer to participate in our caravan of parent vehicles (especially if your vehicle carries a lot of passengers!), please fill out the following form. Parent chaperons don't pay the fee, and will be reimbursed for gas. Also, you'll need to sign this Volunteer Driver Agreement at some point before the trip. You'll also need to fill out the General Participant Form (button at the top of this page) once Ms. Earnhart has confirmed your participation. If you have specific questions or concerns about the trip, please contact Ms. Earnhart.