Frederick County Public Schools Earth and Space Science Laboratory Co-Directors: Mark Bowman and Jeff Grills 200 Madison Street, Frederick, MD 21701 240-236-2694 [ Home ]

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HOP ABOARD THE SPACESHIP EARTH FUND

With rapid enrollment growth in Frederick County's public schools, however, the Earth & Space Science Lab has been stretched to the limit. Space is tight. Students work elbow-to-elbow. Classes are often double-scheduled to accommodate everyone.

Help Keep the Spaceship Earth Fund Flying!
The Earth and Space Science Laboratory has been housed at Lincoln Elementary School, and has served the students of our county, for the past 44 years. A new, stand-alone facility has been approved! It will be built on the Lincoln campus. Construction is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2006 with a completion date of Fall, 2007. State and county funding will provide the basic construction expansion of the lab and some new equipment.

That's where the Spaceship Earth Fund continues to provide friends of the Earth & Space Science Lab a stellar opportunity to assure that the "stand alone" lab is truly state-of-the-art. Your tax-deductible contribution will be used to build on the basics with cutting-edge equipment and innovative design that will facilitate 21st century style teaching.

At this time hundreds of individuals, schools, and local businesses have contributed to the Spaceship Earth Fund.

There are five giving categories for the Spaceship Earth Fund. All contributors will be recognized on the permanent donor wall that will be displayed at the new facility. The Frederick County Community Foundation is holding these tax-deductible contributions.

Five categories for a tax-deductible contribution are:

Planeteer (contributions up to $99)

Reef Builder ($100 or more)

Volcanic Visionary ($200 or more)

Winds of Change Benefactor ($1,000 or more)

Stellar Patrons ($10,000 or more)

There are “naming” possibilities for donations of $1,000 or more. All other contributions will be used to purchase the special enhancements not funded through the normal budget process. Please contact us for additional information. (240-236-2694)

If you would like to make a donation to the Spaceship Earth fund, please mail your contribution to:

The Community Foundation of Frederick County
312 East Church St.

Frederick, MD 21701

Make the check payable to:

The Community Foundation

and write “Spaceship Earth” on the memo line.

Our Vision for the Future

Projects Still Available

Stream Table 1 - Geology Classroom - This self-contained unit illustrates the processes of stream formation, soil erosion, sediment build-up, and can be used with geological and environmental activities. It will be used in the geology classroom by visiting 5th grade groups. ($1,500.00)

Stream Table 2 - Oceanography Classroom - This self-contained unit illustrates the processes of stream formation, soil erosion, sediment build-up, and can be used with geological and environmental activities. It will be used in the oceanography classroom by visiting 3rd grade groups. ($1,500.00)

Hubble Space Telescope Model - This authentic hand-made model is a 1/24th scale model and is made of the highest quality material and show superior detail. It will be a permanent display and will be used with 4th grade classes that visit the ESSL when learning about distant galaxies and nebulas in deep space. ($4,000)

Allosaurus Skull - $2,500

The sponsor of this life-sized replica of this early carnivore will provide a fossil replica that will be housed in the geology lab.

Buy A Stone Campaign - Click here

Narwhale Tusk - $350

The sponsor of this life-sized replica will have their purchase displayed in the oceanography lab.

Please contact Mark Bowman or Jeff Grills if you would like more information.

240-236-2694 or Jeffrey.grills@fcps.org or Mark.bowman@fcps.org

Naming Projects Previously Claimed

Air Track - purchased by the Lautenbergers

The sponsor of this piece of equipment will help provide additional methods for teaching the concept of rocketry.

Glacial Model - purchased by Yellow Springs Elementary

The sponsor of this model will help provide an important piece of equipment for geological instruction.

Marine Plastimounts - purchased by Centerville Elementary School PTA

The sponsor of these models will provide a detailed visual understanding of various ocean animals including: squid, clam, fish, jellyfish, octopus, sharks, etc. They will be used in the oceanography lab.

Signature Project - (This project has been sponsored by Marvin and Lisa Ausherman.)

The sponsor of this project will allow a new planetarium projector, console, and dome to be purchased for the new facility.

Solar Energy Component – (This has been sponsored by BP Solar)

The sponsorship of this facet will allow a substantial solar array that would cover the rooftops of the two classrooms. Electricity will be tied to the public grid.

Classroom 1 – (The Alcoa Foundation has contributed a grant with the possibility of

future grant money to be awarded.)

The sponsorship of this classroom will help fund the science equipment for the displays and learning stations, an automated projection screen, a projection device, and a flat screen television.

Classroom II - (This has been sponsored by SAIC, Frederick)

The sponsorship of this classroom will help fund the science equipment for the displays and learning stations, an automated projection screen, a projection device, and a flat screen television.

Geological Wall - (This has been sponsored by Farmers and Mechanics Bank)

The sponsorship of this room will help fund the interior geological design using a variety of Frederick County rocks, an interior and exterior planter, and additional materials that will be used to develop learning stations and displays.

Geology Lab - (This display has been sponsored by Frederick Business Partners.)

The sponsorship of this room will help fund the entrance design using Frederick County rocks and additional science equipment for a variety of learning stations and displays.

Physical Oceanography Lab - (This has been sponsored by Bob and Suzanne Marsteller

and family.)

The sponsorship of this room will help fund the entrance design, a wave machine, an ocean current model and a tidal model. An upgrade of the display cabinets with glass shelving and electric lighting will be added as well.

The Horseshoe Crab Raceway Track - (This has been sponsored by Cambrex)

Future plans include a permanent cast concrete tank with stone trim and a filtration system. This would be a permanent hands-on learning station emphasizing the biology and medical use of this animal.

The Freshwater Stream and Pond - (This has been sponsored by Bess and Frank

Gladhill)

The sponsor of this display will purchase a permanent cast concrete tank that will simulate a running water (stream) flowing into larger basin. (pond) Turtles, freshwater mussels, snails, and native fish to the Frederick area will be held in this area.

The Invertebrate Tidal Pool - (This has been sponsored by Twin Ridge Elementary

School)

Future plans include a permanent cast concrete tank with stone trim and a filtration system. This would be a permanent hands-on learning station emphasizing sea anemones, sea urchins, sea stars, crustaceans and other ocean animals.

The Pathway of Constellations – (This has been sponsored by Kemptown Elementary,

Valley Elementary, and Oakdale Elementary Schools)

This sponsorship would help fund the entrance and exit hallway to the planetarium theatre. (presently known as the “Glow-Hallway/Eighth Wonder of the World”) Constellation patterns on the wall and ceiling would give the feeling of walking through space. Various illuminated pictures of galaxies and nebulas might also be a theme of this walkway.

Authentic Apollo Space Suit - (This has been sponsored by Middletown Elementary School)

The sponsor of this item will allow for an authentic replica of an Apollo Space Suit used on the moon to be displayed in a large display, stand alone cabinet.

The Terrapin Tank - (This has been sponsored by Morgan-Keller, Inc.)

Future plans include a permanent cast concrete tank with stone trim and a filtration system. This would be a permanent learning station emphasizing the biology and environmental difficulties facing this animal. Go Terps!

The Stingray Tank - (This has been sponsored by Deer Crossing Elementary)

This will be the largest tank. (over 200 gallons) It will house Atlantic Stingrays and emphasize this beautiful cartilaginous fish.

The Rockfish Tank - (This has been sponsored by the Frederick New-Post)

This tank will be one of the largest tanks in the new facility and be designed to house this popular Chesapeake Bay fish.

Rocket Models - (This has been sponsored by BB&T Bank)

The sponsor, or sponsors, of these authentic rocket models will

provide an accurate representation of the 5 basic rockets that have

been used over the course of the past 40 years for the manned space

program. a. Mercury Redstone

b. Mercury Atlas

c. Gemini Titan

d. Apollo

e. Space Shuttle

The Shark Tank - (This has been sponsored by Great Southern Enterprises)

This large tank will house a variety of small sharks. Sorry, no man-eaters.

The Crayfish Lab - (This display has been sponsored by Orchard Grove Elementary.)

The sponsorship of this permanent display will purchase a work station for students to discover this local crustacean – and even get a chance to have their fingers pinched!

The Trout Tank - (This tank has been sponsored by Charlie and Kathryn Nicodemus)

The sponsorship of this tank will purchase a permanent tank that will house area trout from Frederick’s freshwater streams. The filtration and refrigeration unit will be housed in the freshwater aquarium wall. No fishing allowed!

Watershed Kiosk – (This display has been sponsored by Safeway Foundation.)

This stand-alone interactive computerized station, equipped with a touch screen, will highlight the watersheds of the world. There will be a special emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Reef Tank #1 - (This has been sponsored by State Farm Foundation)

This unusual tank will be designed to simulate an ocean reef.

Reef Tank #2 - (This has been sponsored by Routzahn’s and Son’s)

This unusual tank will be designed to simulate an ocean reef.

Microscope Island - (This has been sponsored by a grant from the Community

Foundation of Frederick County.)

This sleek laboratory table includes up to 10 microscopes, a granite counter top, and a large storage area.

Blue Crab Tank - (This has been sponsored by Ballenger Creek Elementary)

This tank will house this Chesapeake treasure and be a part of the Chesapeake aquarium wall.

Six Aqua Wall Aquariums - (Five have been sponsored by Yellow Springs Elementary,

The Laurie Adamiak Memorial, Carol Hines and Family, The Joseph Baker Fund,

and Thurmont Elementary)

These tanks will house a variety of ocean, Chesapeake Bay, and fresh water animals.

Ten Display Cabinets - (South Frederick Elementary, F&M Bank, Dr. John George,

Josey Remsberg, Sandy Spring Bank, Sycamore Associates, Inc., and MAMSI,)

The sponsors of these display cabinets will allow for museum quality materials and labels throughout the facility.

Three Fresh Water Aquariums - (These have been sponsored by Antietam Travel, the

Bob May Memorial, and Wayne and Karen Six)

These tanks will house a variety of fresh water organisms including turtles, crayfish, and local fish.

Gemstone Globe – (This has been sponsored by the Interact Club of Frederick.)

Each country and body of water is shown using a various mineral from the earth.

Fault, Fracture Model – (This has been sponsored by Josephine Remsburg)

The sponsor of this model will help provide an important piece of equipment for geological instruction.

Please contact Mark Bowman or Jeff Grills if you would like more information.

240-236-2694 or Jeffrey.grills@fcps.org or Mark.bowman@fcps.org