Karen Curtis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In addition to the new exhibit, Mars Base Eagle, visitors may experience the new Rover Mission Escape Room.

Escape Room mission

MARS ROVER & COMMUNICATIONS

Objective: Exit Rover and Restore Communications

You are on the surface of Mars in your rover. You and your team have been sent to an equipment drop location at the very edge of Endurance Crater. The drop includes the equipment needed to power-up a new communications antenna. This antenna operates in all of Mars’s weather conditions – even dust storms. Without the antenna, communications with Earth will not be possible for over a year due to a satellite failure over this portion of the planet.

You try to unlock and open the door, but there is a malfunction. Before the dust storm hits in one hour, you will need to find the manual override key to exit the rover, access the equipment, and power-up the antenna. The coming dust storm is forecast to last 4 to 5 months, and without the antenna, you will not be able to see, to navigate back to base.

Will you and your friends be able to power-up the antenna and restore communications for Mars Base Eagle before the dust storm strikes? Or, will you be hopelessly lost in the storm, unable to return?

You have 60 minutes to complete the mission, so please have everyone in your group arrive early and plan to spend at least 1 hour and 15 minutes at Wings of Eagles.

The level of difficulty for this room is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Cost: $ 28 non-members, $ 25 for Wings of Eagles Discovery Center Members. Discount for groups of 8 people and over.

You must have a minimum of 2 players, maximum of 10. Larger groups of 8 to 10 have an advantage, but only if you work as a team.

If you do not book all openings, other players will be added to fill your group size

Dates available,  Currently booking now thru July 6

Tuesdays, Wed, Thurs 9 AM to 8 PM, and

Saturdays at 6 PM, 7:30 PM, & 9 PM

First call, first served. To book: Call 585-278-4456

Check out the Finger Lakes Region Itinerary:

http://www.historicalaviationtrail.com/index.php/itineraries

Doing some Spring cleaning? Downsizing your craft or fabric collection? Wings of Eagles will be opening a Makerspace in the Spring and is looking for donations of materials/items that can be used by makers in our Lego, Craft, Sewing, Technology and Robotics spaces. What exactly is a Makerspace? Simply, a makerspace is a place in which people can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge. Watch for news about our opening! Feel free to drop your donations at the museum during normal working hours. Have questions? Email Nicky Burt or Chris Ashdown.

Mark your calendar! #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving, is November 28th. Our goal is to show the world that Wings of Eagles supporters have heart. Your generosity allows us to preserve history and inspire today’s youth to be ready for tomorrow’s needs. Donate: http://www.wingsofeagles.com/support-us/

No matter how you join in, our goal is to hear from as many Wings of Eagles friends on #GivingTuesday as possible, proving just what we all are capable of doing when we all act together! Show the world that Wings of Eagles supporters have heart, and show our area’s youth how much you believe in them by giving back on #GivingTuesday in support of the educational programs and activities at Wings of Eagles. Your generosity allows us to preserve history and inspire today’s youth to be ready for tomorrow’s needs.

At the 3rd Annual Salute to Veterans event, Kelly Harkness and her father, David, were honored when each was given a Quilt of Valor, a hand-made quilt awarded to veterans for their military service. Dave Harkness has been a dedicated long-term volunteer at Wings of Eagles, and we thank him for his service. To learn more about the event, see the WETM news report. Visit the Salute! website for more information about their support and services. Interested in learning more about Quilts of Valor? The local chapter, Southern Tier Quilts of Valor, in Corning, NY, presented quilts to Dave and Kelly.

Big Flats – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded the Wings of Eagle Discovery Center (WEDC) $1,249,678 to help inspire the next generation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers as the agency progresses on its Journey to Mars.

The award will be used to create a Martian Base exhibit, associated NASA STEM curriculum, and an educator professional development pilot program linking the WEDC to local underserved classrooms through novel and existing NASA-STEM Mars-themed curriculum.  The target population is K-12 students from the Elmira City School District (ECSD) their teachers, families as well as the general public.

The Mars Base Eagle exhibit will establish a permanent museum installation from which STEM programming will be launched. The interactive display will feature real-word data and inquiry challenges to demonstrate real world STEM applications including NASA-Mars transport vehicle design concepts, Mars Base design concepts, microgravity and possible effects on the human body of traveling to Mars, transport vehicle designs, agricultural methods, and types of food crops being planned for a Mars Base.

The Wings of Eagles Discovery Center will partner with Greater Southern Tier BOCES, Elmira City School District, Cornell University, Ithaca College, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, NASA Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers to complete the project.

“I have long been a supporter of the Wings of Eagle Discovery Center, one of New York’s treasures. I am pleased that NASA has recognized the important work it does and funded their proposal.  Through increasing community partnerships and by expanding on the already stellar STEM education programs it offers to children across the region, this award will allow the center to soar to new heights. I look forward to their future successes as the Center grows its mission and expands its footprint in the Southern Tier and beyond.” – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer

“This NASA grant will bring exciting, new programs to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center so that students across the Southern Tier can learn about our space program and be inspired to take on STEM careers when they grow up,” said US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “We need to do everything we can to give our students, regardless of income level, opportunities to study STEM subjects, and this NASA grant will help us achieve this important goal. I was proud to support this funding, and I will continue to support similar educational programs in communities around the state.”

Said Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli, “Chemung County has had a long partnership with the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center and we are proud to be the hometown of Eileen Collins.  It is only fitting that this award from NASA will be used to provide students of her alma mater with the same opportunities that she had and allow them to advance their critical thinking skills through STEM education through a journey into Mars exploration.”

Said Mike Hall, President and CEO, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, “Along with our many partners we are excited by this tremendous opportunity to serve youth in our community! Special thanks to our federal elected representatives who made this grant possible!”