Anyone in the club feel like taking one for the team and running for Mayor? Joe Hinton for Mayor? We'd all vote for ya! 😀

I really like what both Estes and Apogee has done recently with promoting education through rocketry. I wonder if we could approach the public schools with promoting a build competition between schools? I ran the District Pinewood derby for years at the boulder county fairgrounds, we could do the same thing for rocketry. We might just see if we can get the science and math teachers jazzed up for one of the districts and get them to agree to a friendly competition. At that point you have potentially a city wide event which intrigues both politicians and school officials.

Education of fire marshals and authorities seem to be a large obstacle for everyone. I know NAR does some work in this area, but I don't know to what extent. Also I would like to get the insurance questions in a more easier to understand form whether you are launching with scouts, nar members, school kids, etc. The NAR insurance is very specific and will not cover a non-members rocket even if it is launched by a member. So holding for example a launch with a bunch of Cub Scouts is not covered by NAR unless each kid has their NAR membership. I would imagine we are covered by the Scout outing insurance, but I am checking on it. Bottom line for any event, I guess we should have the participants sign NAR's hold harmless agreement or something similar. Yes, everyone has become sue happy.

This is what I had expected and why I was getting so frustrated.

Sadly, if they had allowed us to use their soccer field for the little kids, my wife and I would have joined that church.

Oh well, even if granted permission, there was no way that I would charge little kids "rent" just to launch their model rockets.

This is a problem that will require my dedication in the next few months.

BTW, the kids can always launch from my front yard, which is located only about two blocks away from that soccer field. With my home test launches, some do land on the roof or the bushes, but they are easy to recover. I was trying to find a location that did not have any trees to snag their first rockets.

Anyway, it was worth the effort;
Shunt1

.....
Reply from the Church about their soccer field:
.....

Steve,

I regret to say that our policy is to not rent out our facilities, including our field, to folks outside our church. I was hopeful that we might be able to work something out but it's just not possible.

If I come across a place that I think might have a field similar to ours I will let you know.

Have a great weekend.
Julie Redlin
Church Secretary

Front Range Baptist Church
625 E. Harmony Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970.223.5757

www.FrontRangeBaptist.org

The church did what I had expected and denied us permission to use their soccer field.

I am sick and tired of people trying to make a profit off of these kids, or even allowing them to learn.

So, I am going to do something about this!

1) I have already purchased 12 model rockets for the kids.

2) My front yard is large enough to launch the rockets if we limit the motors to a B or C.

3) I have one rocket launcher available, and if you have one also, then we can make dual launches.

4) Other than my office, all of the downstairs rooms in my home are empty. I have enough tables and if we can scrounge up enough chairs, there is more than enough room to teach 12 kids on how to build a model rocket.

5) This is private property and I have already granted my permission!

6) I was serious about making this a "girls only" rocketry class. If the boys get jealous enough, then we can hold a second class for them the following month.

If we give something away free, then people do not pay attention, so each student must pay something to make it important to them.

Parents should attend the classes, but the kids should purchase their rocket motors out of their own money.

I propose that each kid should purchase the rocket motors themselves and we provide everything else. If they fail to build a decent rocket, then they will have wasted their own money on a useless motor.

We can purchase the motors at a bulk discount, so even that will not cost the kids much.

Bear, we will make this happen!

I'm in. I have a 8 port launcher and 8 port pad that needs some test time. We can drag 8 at a time.

I will bring some backup estes launchers just in case, but I have already fried about 50 2A fuses in testing today so I feel pretty good it will work.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to put up a display regarding my rocketry program at the school I work at. We had a benefit auction.

FYI, here is the main text of the trifold display with photos of the kids building, launching, etc.

Mountain Phoenix Rocketry provides opportunities for life lessons that build character and help students mature into their own potential. Children learn by building and launching their own rockets. From following the written instructions to precise gluing, children learn to take their time and pay careful attention! Great self-control and patience must be exercised in order to build and successfully launch a rocket.
While desiring our children to experience success and happiness at every opportunity, society has seemingly forgotten the importance of learning through failure. When children choose to rush their work, natural consequences are the best teacher. Seeing their rocket blast off from the launch pad only to immediately corkscrew into the ground may be difficult to bear, but it teaches them a great lesson about failure. When their rocket fins weren’t properly aligned, and all that remains of the rocket is a twisted heap, there is no one to place responsibility on but themselves! In a world full of “everyone gets a trophy”, when do children learn how to fail gracefully? Failures in life happen! Children need to learn how to handle it, how to accept responsibility for their own actions and try again.
Younger children who are not yet in rocketry class get to see the older ones launching their rockets and look forward with anticipation to being old enough to participate. This high interest subject brings academic skills to life! Children experience the math and science behind the rockets. Newton’s laws of physics are a must for understanding the basics of rocketry.
The excitement of building their own rockets can bring focus to children we didn’t think could focus! The safety requirements, especially on launch day, are tremendous and bring out the responsible side of children who may not always show such maturity. Older children helping younger ones and more experienced rocketeers helping new ones create life long memories and help children develop their leadership skills.
Developing self-confidence, finding compassion when a friend’s rocket crashes, and cheering when a buddy’s rocket successfully blasts off helps create the caring individual we want our children to become.

That is Awesome and well written! It is exactly what I also belive the opportunities in Rocketry bring.

I am focusing more on getting groups ready for launching. My website is up and I am slowly writing the content, but you can get an idea from the directory structure where I am headed. I also have pictures of the new Launcher out on the page. I introduced it at NARCON 2012 last weekend and had an overwhelming response.

Heres the site www.oslersorbits.com

Kevin,

The May 4th Mt. Phoenix School launch is ready to go! I have the Robby Ferifino Park reserved through the city of Arvada. It is the only park that is designated within the city limits for rocket launching up to D motors. There is no other place, unless you want to get into private land options.

I will have tons of parents who take lots of pictures, maybe you can use some of them on your website! From the looks of it, you are headed in the direction that I would want to; for myself, a possible summer job would be to go into summer camps for a couple of days to build rockets and then launch the same week. You are putting together the information "where, how, etc.,) that allows parents no to freak out with thinking that were are going to blow up the neighborhoods.
One of the issues with these kinds of activities is insurance, since apparently NAR isn't covering anyone but myself now at these types of launches.

For our upcoming launch on Friday the 4th, we are having some contests and prizes. We could use a couple of judges with "authority" such as members from NCR. Anyone interested? Perhaps a table display of HPR will bring some of my students to MHM as well.

Cool deal on the May 4th Launch, I took the day off work.

BEAR/Shunt, Are we still launching next weekend? If so, send me a PM with the location.

I was thinking about summer camps also. The last 3 scout summer camps I did decided to launch baking soda rockets instead of Model rockets. At NARCON, Tom Ha presented a cheap rocket design that in mass quantities came out to only .18 cents a rocket. They basically let the kids carve nosecones out of those green flower arranging blocks, bought the small estes tube and cut Popsicle sticks for fins. They used like 1/4 A's in them that they bought in bulk.

I have been looking in to the insurance. NAR will not cover any launches run by or connected to a business. I would bet that even if I sponsored a launch with the company, it would count. If a rocket is flown, no matter who actually launches it, the rocket owner must be a NAR member for it to be covered. So you would only be covered for your rockets. I suggest that we have the kids fill out the NAR hold harmless agreement. I can bring a bunch of copies to the launch if you want.

I am trying to find a insurance company in the next week to cover my business and liability for the launchers I am selling. I imagine it will cost a fortune, but I will see what kind of insurance I could get for business run launches.

I have cancelled the next weekend event. I have not publicized it to children and I have not promoted it. I did possibly come up with about a 40 acre potential launch site yesterday and I have a realtor who has the listing checking with the owner of the parcel next to the Fort Collins Police Department. Too late for next weekend but it could be a potential launch site for something in the future. Instead I think I am going to go to a tactical rifle class taught by a former Navy SEAL. Now I need to come up with 500 rounds of .223 at a good price quickly.

Earlier, some of us agreed to help out with an upcoming outreach event. Now is our first opportunity of an actual event!

On May 19th, we will set up a display table at the Cheyenne Library for "Cheyenne Club and Hobbies Day." They are providing tables and chairs, as well as electricity.

I have a laptop, projector, and screen available if we want a slide show or something. I don't have much in the way of material.

Set up begins at 10 with the actual "Day" running from noon till 4pm. They are asking us for two door prizes to be given away during that time.

They are also inviting us to provide an "interactive" activity. Any ideas? I think it was mentioned of having some quick kits to build and invite them to launch it the following weekend at MHM.

I am planning on taking some of my L1 birds along with Estes from my class. Maybe you guys could bring some bigger stuff.

Does NCR have a banner of some sort?

Anyone want to design a Flyer inviting them out to Mile High Mayhem?

so, who is able to come and have some fun?

Hey Dave, I sent a note to Ed and he is digging for the videos. I will load up as many piutes as I can on my laptop and it can sit there and play videos and pictures. I will bring 2 or 3 large rockets.

We could also advertise the Proton-M. We coud blow up a few of the pictures, explain abut the project and advertise MHM that way. Maybe the team wil be done by that weekend and Steve can haul the rocket up! ha ha. It would get everyones attention for sure! 🙂

Our school is launching this Friday. We called today the Fire Marshall of Arvada to get the final Green Light.
His response was that legally Jefferson County is in a "no burn" situation and that included model rocketry. However, he mentioned the safety procedures that the fire department witnessed at our last two launches and has made an "exception" for our school! Last year I invited him to bring a fire truck and crew out for a community awareness opportunity. They did come and the firemen were judges, pad supervisors, and all around super fans. This year, the Marshall asked us if we wanted to have a truck visit because his crews were asking to go! Obviously, we said "of course".
I am mentioning this because of the difficulty we have been having in securing launch sites for these kind of group launches.(particularly in Ft. Collins) . If it is of any help at all, it makes sense to me to approach the Fire Marshalls with hard copies of Outreach launches (like this one) and how Arvada is indicating their trust in our responsible management of the launch area.

We are limited to D and smaller motors.

Thanks to Houndogger for helping out with this launch by bringing his launch system for our use. Any NCR members are welcomed to join the fun. We will be at Robby Ferrufino Park - 74th Avenue and Carr Drive, Arvada, CO with launching beginning around 10:30am.

Dave,
Does your fire marshal possibly know the Ft. Collins fire marshal or would he be willing to write a letter of reference that we could use with other fire marshals? That could certainly help open the doors.

That's kind of what I was wondering about. I suppose that fire marshalls have "Fire Marshall" conventions.

I am planning on asking the fire crew who shows up Friday about that very topic.
Any official information nationwide regarding model rockets and fire dangers (in city parks where the lawn is watered regularly) might be an advantage to present to the uneducated.

Anything you can do to help pave the way for others will be greatly appreciated. I am wondering if your fire marshal could call the Fort Collins Fire Marshal, discuss his experiences, and see if the local fire marshal would be willing to talk with me. I know that is a lot to ask, so just a thought.