The week-long stay at Space Camp is part of the activities of the Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship, which was won by Zuzanna Kassner, Aleksandra Skrocka, Benjamin Kopiec, and Tobiasz Dabrowski, and teacher Anna Bukiewicz-Szul. The team is already back in Poland, and their stories are extraordinary! The Endeavour Scholarship program not only provided the camp itself but also offered opportunities to learn about American culture, exchange experiences with participants from distant countries, and meet astronauts.

During the camp, the four scholarship recipients participated in two multi-hour space analog missions in extremely detailed models of the International Space Station, shuttles, mission control center, and landers. They even performed spacewalks in spacesuits for EVA. They trained for weightlessness by diving in a pool and underwent various fitness and manual training sessions, such as climbing, flight simulators, experiencing overload, and rocket construction. The program also included lessons on the history of spaceflights.

The participants had activities from early morning until late in the evening but still found time to form fantastic friendships with peers from five countries: United Arab Emirates, United States, Australia, Chile, and Singapore.

At the closing ceremony, which was also available remotely for parents, diplomas and certificates were presented by three astronauts: Charlie Duke (the youngest man to step on the Moon), Woody Spring, and Mike Bloomfield. After the ceremony, the scholarship recipients had a special meeting with Charlie Duke, who talked about the Apollo 16 mission. The final attraction provided by the Endeavour Scholarship Foundation was attending a baseball game at Trash Pandas Stadium in Huntsville, where Charlie Duke, assisted by the scholarship recipients, threw the first pitch!

At the same time Polish teacher participated in a camp for teachers. The program was similar, e.g. instead of scuba diving, the mentors underwent water evacuation training. Teachers also had meetings with individuals such as Homer Hickam, the author of the biographical novel Rocket Boys, and retired NASA engineers who worked on the Apollo missions and shuttles.

The Endeavour Scholarship is a unique and extraordinary opportunity for talented Polish youth to participate not only in Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville but also in remarkable meetings with legends of the space sector.

Will there be more such opportunities for Poles? That depends on the sponsors. If Polish entities are willing to support this initiative, more groups of young people and teachers will be able to gain unique experiences and inspiration, which will undoubtedly strengthen the space sector in our country.