Boeing Explorer Rocket Group

Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station Tour & Campout, 10/15 - 10/16, 1999

The Boeing Explorer Rocket Group conducted its second overnight activity at the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station on October 15-16, 1999, led by Discover-E volunteers from Boeing/Rocketdyne.

We met at Canoga Park High School on Friday, 10/15, and travelled by car to meet our bus and tour guide, Pat Hollenbaugh, at the base.

Click on any thumbnail picture for a larger image

Brett, Donna & Raju loading gear into the Berwager's van.

Fernando & Oscar C. are ready to go!

Ms. Chalkidou is making sure each car has parent permission forms and medical forms for each student passenger. For an even LARGER image click here.

Oscar C., Fernando, Diana & Claudia are loading gear into Bob Tarn's trailer. For an even LARGER image click here.

Group photo of the whole bunch before climbing aboard the bus for the base tour. For an even LARGER image click here.

We were not permitted to take cameras on the base tour, so we don't have any great pictures to show, but we do have great memories of the day!

The first stop was at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. Lt. Swope and Chief Dave Kearney showed us a video that described the EOD's mission, equipment used to render safe U.S. and foreign military explosive ordnance (including nuclear, chemical, and conventional), and a live demonstration of destruction of a suspected explosive device using a 50-caliber water cannon that can shoot a column of water through a metal container! And a bonus for us: in the EOD unit's yard is a real Scud Missile and Mobile Launcher that was seized by U.S. Customs recently; we got a very close-up look at the missile and launcher, Rob Mawer climbed into the driver's seat, and several students were observed making detailed notes (presumably for use in their upcoming rocket-building projects).

The second stop was at the base air traffic control tower and radar room. This facility controls air traffic at Pt. Mugu and a large sector of airspace for LAX. While groups were waiting to pass through the tower, we got to see two FBI agents take off in their helicopter to go on a surveilance mission.

The third stop was at the Naval Satellite Operations Center. This center is responsible for tracking 21 Navy satellites, using communications facilities on Laguna Peak (near Pt. Mugu), in Main, and in Guam. Chief Turner gave us a tour of the center, Commander Mathern told us about careers in the Navy, and Mr. Zori showed us a video simulation of satellite orbits and gave us an education on practical matters of finding, communicating with, and controlling satellites in orbit around Earth.

After eating lunch in the galley, Pat Hollenbaugh had to say goodbye, and Teri became our tour guide. With Teri, we proceeded to our fourth stop of the tour, which was the base weather station. Jenny and Randy, Assistant Forecasters, explained their responsibilities of observing, recording, and reporting weather conditions around the clock, and Forecaster Steve Borders showed us how he uses these observations and data from weather satellites to predict weather conditions for Naval aviators.

We got back to the camping area at about 2 PM, where we enjoyed some free time, set up camp, and conducted a few organized games before dinner.

Watching the surf pound the rocks. In the background is Mugu Rock. Visible: Diana, Brett, Robert, Laura Berwager, Charles (seated) & Ernie Acosta. For an even LARGER image click here.

Setting up tents: (clockwise) Alex, Melvin, Oscar G. & Asdrubal

Claudia and Chris get instruction on tent setup from Jim Hoggatt

Alex (right) gives Jonathan a hand at setting up his tent

Diana, Lillian Berwager & Maria

Foreground: Brett, Donna, Laura Berwager & Jennifer

Ms. Chalkidou & Susan Beatty

Playing Hacky Sack

While making sure the swimming area was safe, Ms. Chalkidou found a used hypodermic syringe washed up on the beach. We reported it to the base security, who disposed of it safely.

Swimming

Warming up after a swim…and getting buried in the sand

Jonathan showing off the great civil engineering project of the afternoon -- a huge sand castle! For an even LARGER image click here.

The great sand castle. For an even LARGER image click here.

Frisbee football

Team volleyball: Diana, Jennifer, Raju, Juan, Chris & Nancy on one team; Alex and Claudia shown on the opposite side. For an even LARGER image click here.

Dinner in the galley. A great meal for $2.45 (lunch or dinner). Breakfast was only $1.25!

After dinner, the group had a wonderful time bowling, saw "Armageddon" at the base theater, then had a great campfire and s'mores back at camp. We must have been pretty exhausted, because only a few of us felt the 7.0 earthquake that night!

Joel McManus lines one up and Jonathan is hurling one down the alley. For an even LARGER image click here.

Chris looks to Raju for emotional support

Jonathan, Ernie Acosta & Bob Tarn

Laura Berwager looking pleased with her throw

Melvin looking pleased with his throw

Travis is definitely pleased with his throw!

Jonathan gets a strike!!

Jennifer gets a "high ten" from Raju...

...then misses the spare

After breakfast on Saturday morning we packed up our gear, spent an hour practicing our presentation skills, cleaned up the campsite (scouts always leave a camp cleaner than they find it!), and headed for lunch at the In-And-Out Burger in Newbury Park on our way back to Canoga Park High School.

Jonathan & Sol packing up their tent

Asdrubal, Melvin & Oscar G. pack up

Mini Communispond class at the campground: Asdrubal tells us about himself as John Overton keeps the flipchart from blowing off the easel

Oscar C. delights the audience with good gesturing

Lunch at In-And-Out Hamburger in Newbury Park: Ms. Chalkidou, Joel McManus, Jonathan, Joe Berroteran & John Overton

Fernando, Claudia, Juan, Brett, Nancy, Maria, Oscar C. & Diana enjoying lunch