Education
Education is the main goal of the OCESS. It is the OCESS's mission to educate its members, its fellow students, and the community at large about space and space science. Spacesim is also an environment in which leadership, research, software development, carpentry, and electronics skills can be learned.
Within Spacesim
Since the OCESS is an educational organization, its major goal is to teach members and non-members alike about space sciences. However, much of the learning experience that OCESS members receive is actually not related to space. Just by participating in work sessions, members have an opportunity to learn the theories about and actually undertake various tasks. Electronics and woodworking are examples of things that Spacesim members pick up just by going to the work sessions. Leadership opportunities within the strict administration hierarchy of Spacesim are also offered to students who wouldn't otherwise have such opportunities.
Since Spacesim is a space-oriented organization, its members also have the opportunity to learn a lot about space sciences. The Mission, which occurs once every year and lasts five days, is a chance for OCESS members to learn about space travel and life in space. Aside from the mission, OCESS members have an opportunity to learn about astronomy by helping out in either the EEP or Planetarium programs.
Within Lisgar
Within Lisgar, Spacesim used to offer the Galileo Challenge to all Lisgar students. It was a science-based competition aimed at grades 9 and 10.
Within The Community
Within the community, OCESS offers numerous educational programs. First and foremost, the OCESS has EEP and Planetarium programs which it offers to schools and other institutions such as daycares and recreational centers. These programs teach people about space and space sciences, while generating much-needed revenue for Spacesim.
In addition to these programs, Spacesim formerly offered a Summer Camp. This summer camp was aimed at educating children about space sciences over the summer. Children participating in the Summer Camp had access to our Planetarium and EEP; as well as our space simulation software and facilities. At the end of the week they were able to participate in their own simulated Mission.
Although no EEPs have been advertised recently, members of the OCESS are working to reinstate them. For more information on this, see Samuel's Proposal to Rejuvenate EEPs.
