Space Camp stories

The Rotary Club of Waikanae’s recent guest speaker was Callum Greig, who had just returned from NASA Space Camp in Alabama, United States.

The extended Greig whanau also attended to hear Callum speak.

Callum, a year 13 student at Paraparaumu College applied for the twoweek camp with a view to being an astronaut or an engineer in the space industry.

He was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Waikanae to the Annual Rotary Summer Science Forum in Auckland and this experience on his application was instrumental in getting him a position on the camp.

Callum was one of five Kiwis on the course and his team, made up of students from all over the world, won the overall prize for engineering excellence at the camp.

At Space Camp he met many likeminded people and the relationships and bonds created will become lifelong ones.

“Space Camp is a significant step to me realising my career ambitions to be an astronaut or work in the space industry.” Callum said.

When asked if he would go on a manned mission to Mars if offered, without hesitation he said “yes” though his mother said “no”.

President Steve Botica thanked Callum for allowing Rotary to be a part of his life.

“The feedback given by Callum and others who are supported by Rotary when they come along and speak about the experiences, and how much they’ve learnt and grown through those experiences, give us as Rotarians the fuel to keep on doing what we are doing supporting youth in our communities.”