Ava Sabatini, left, and MaryAlice Anz sign in at the Mach I Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.Signal Mountain residents Ava Sabatini and MaryAlice Anz's math and science skills reached new heights this summer through an out-of-this-world camp experience at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Ava, almost 11 and a sixth-grader at Signal Mountain Middle/High School, said she received the gift of a weeklong camp at the center from her parents and was excited for the opportunity.
"I thought it would be fun, and my mom wanted to do it when she was little," said Ava, who was among 31 children - including Signal Mountain Christian School fifth-grader MaryAlice Anz - to attend her session of camp. "You get to do a lot of cool things."
Any child who wants to sign up is welcome to attend the Space & Rocket Center's summer camps, which Ava said are offered in three focus areas: space, robotics and aviation.
MaryAlice said her grandparents gave each of their grandchildren a week at space camp, and she chose the Mach I Aviation Challenge because it was recommended by a cousin who previously went.
Ava said her father, who is in the military, inspired her to also choose the Mach I Aviation Challenge. During camp, she learned survival skills, how to pack a bag properly, and other skills she described as "similar to boot camp." Simulation rides and IMAX movies also filled campers' days.
"We chose to sign Ava up because she really enjoys and excels in science," said Ava's mother, Lauren Sabatini. "So, we thought it would be a great learning experience for her."
Ava said the most interesting part of the experience was meeting an astronaut, who talked to the group about what being in space is like.
"When he got back to Earth, he couldn't walk for a while because he had to get used to gravity again," she recounted.
MaryAlice's favorite part of camp was using the flight simulator, which she said feels like flying a real plane and has all the same buttons and gadgets. She said she also liked looking at all the different model planes, as well as getting to meet other participants from all over the world, including China, Poland and Switzerland.
MaryAlice said she may want to use her newfound skills to be a pilot in the future. Ava said she is "a little bit interested" in a career relating to space or aviation, but her true passion involves a different sort of flight. Her dream job, she said, is to be a falconer.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com