The mission briefing
everything a junior space ranger needs to knowWhen
Saturday, August 22nd
2:00 – 4:30 in the afternoon
Drop-off or stay — both are great. There's coffee, shade, and a bench with the grown-ups' names on it.
Where
Alder Park, Pavilion 3
The one nearest the big climbing rocks — follow the green balloons from the north gate. Scooters welcome on the path.
Bring
Grass-stain clothes.
We mean it.
There's a fossil dig. Also bring a water bottle and your best dinosaur roar. Presents truly optional — Juniper voted for "more friends and more cake."
The flight plan
approximate. gloriously approximate.- 2:00 Touchdown Landing at Pavilion 3. Name tags, a space-helmet craft table, and juice pouches of astronaut fuel.
- 2:20 The Great Fossil Dig Real brushes, mystery bones, and a sandpit that Tom seeded at seven this morning. Paleontology licenses issued on completion.
- 3:00 Comet piñata It's shaped like a comet. It's full of candy. It doesn't stand a chance.
- 3:30 Volcano cake Chocolate, with a marshmallow lava flow. Nut-free, and decorated by the birthday girl herself. Seven candles, one enormous breath.
- 4:10 Moon-rock ceremony Every astronaut takes home a moon rock, hand-painted by Juniper over three very serious evenings.
- 4:30 Splashdown Pickup, hugs, and leftover cake for the road.
Small print for grown-ups: Little siblings are absolutely welcome — just count them in the kid tally below. If it rains, same pavilion, more puddles. Allergies? Put them in the RSVP note and Maya will read it twice.