Tradition: Intrepid Museum Space Festival

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One of my favorite traditions that my daughter and I have, is attending the Intrepid Museum’s Space and Science Festival (previously referred to as Space Fest) which occurs around the same time as her birthday every year. With each year, she is more capable of understanding and her interest continues to grow, trying out each activity presented by NASA or various STEM related sponsors.

For weeks, my daughter has been counting down the days to this year’s Space and Science Festival. A few days beforehand, she declared that she was going to wear her Halloween costume, which was of her favorite astronaut, Astronaut Suni Williams. The mom in me, worrying about it being too hot for her, tried to talk her out of it a few times, but her determination for things like this are unparalleled. And so, I spent the day with accompanying the pint-sized astronaut.

She climbed through the Growler Submarine, played with robots, tried on astronaut training gear, learned about creating energy, communicating with lasers, and touched a moon rock. We signed a banner that will be at Orion’s first launch. (I’m on board!) It was a flurry of activity, running from exhibit to exhibit, collecting knowledge, posters, handouts, stickers, and pins along the way. She met and spoke with astronauts including Astronaut Ellen Baker, the first woman astronaut that she has met so far. (Astronaut Baker even asked to take a photo of my daughter to send to Suni!)

The day’s activities led up to a talk with Astronaut Mike Massimino, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the STS135 NASASocial, and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, honoring the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 11. It was such an honor listening to the firsthand account of the lunar landing and stepping out upon the moon for the first time. My daughter, who had been running on adrenaline from dawn, had finally hit the wall of exhaustion and closed her eyes for a few moments during his captivating talk. The president of the Intrepid, Susan Marenoff, had been sitting in front of us, and was taken by my little napping astronaut. Once the talk had concluded, she had my daughter up on stage to meet Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. I don’t think I could ever adequately express my gratitude for that kind gesture, but I know that the photo I snapped is one that will be treasured in our family for generations. On the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 11, my daughter met Buzz Aldrin. On the 45th Anniversary, we honored the past and celebrated the future in which she will take part.

We were already huge fans of the Intrepid Museum, and how they honor “History, Science, and Service,” but this impressive institution has given my daughter another incredible memory to add to her story. The story of her life is one that I think about constantly.

There is so much unrest, and discord in the world right now. Sometimes I feel like my hands are tied, wanting so desperately to bring peace and love to those who need it most. And then I remember that, as a parent, I have a hand in how the future will be governed. The messages, ideology and passions that I expose my daughter to will shape how she views the world and her place in it. This is my opportunity to send off at least one compassionate and proactive heart into the future.

Our media and society is still evolving in regard to the messages that we are teaching our youth about compassion, success, identity, and what roles men and women fill in the world. It is my responsibility to not only tell my daughter that she can do anything that she puts her mind to, but I also have to engage her with those that exemplify the message, in order for it to be truly received. This is my call to the parents of boys to do the same. It’s not only about empowering young girls to see themselves as scientists, mathematicians, engineers, politicians, military leaders, CEOs, artists, musicians, etc., it is about making sure that no child is viewing life through a filter of faulty predefined gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic limitations.

Look for opportunities to engage your children in things that spark their curiosity and drive them to discover new things. Teach them about sacrifice and service, and introduce them to role models of all walks of life. Visiting the Intrepid Museum is just one way that I do this with my own daughter, but each and every day you will have countless opportunities to decide what message you want your child to receive. They are small for such a short window of time, but the impressions that we leave upon them now, will impress upon the hearts of the adults that we send off into the future.

Choose the message that you arm them with wisely, for that message may one day change the world. You never know, it may be your child that steps foot onto a new world.

*A special thanks to Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex and to NASA. This post is not sponsored by either organization. I’m just one proud mom, sharing my experience with some pretty incredible resources that are available!