Grissom Weekend at Spring Mill State Park

GUS GRISSOM WEEKEND

Virgil I. Grissom, aka Gus, grew up in Mitchell, Indiana. Later, he became one of the first few Americans to fly into space! This weekend, we honor him at Spring Mill State Park. Join us for a weekend of great astronomy/NASA related programs, hikes, and rocket launches in celebration of our hometown and national hero, Gus Grissom.

All activities and programs are at Grissom Memorial unless otherwise stated in the description.

SATURDAY, JULY 17
8am-4pm: Gus Grissom Memorial Open
9am: Astrology Bingo! Join the Naturalist for a game of Bingo! Learn some important parts of our solar system and some astrology facts. Meet at the Grissom Memorial. 25 minutes.
9am-12pm: Cosmic Cuisine. Learn about food in space. Sample food eaten by astronauts
9am-12pm: Grissom Memorial Scavenger Hunt—Earn a NASA/space sticker
9am-3pm: Hidden Artifacts Revealed – see Gus artifacts that are rarely viewed by the public
9am-4pm: Lawrence County Tourism Booth with give-a-ways
9:30am: Moon Phases -Join Naturalist Morgan to discover the Moons phases and make your own slider that shows the phases. Meet at the Grissom Memorial. 15 minutes.
10am: Gus Grissom Hike – Meet volunteer Anthony at the Grissom Memorial for an easy hike on Trail 6 to learn about Gus Grissom and his connection with Spring Mill State Park. .25 mile easy hike, 30 minutes
10am-2pm: Hoosier Hills Ham Club will be operating a special event amateur radio station, W9GUS, from outside of Gus Grissom Memorial
11am: Real Rocket Launches at Sycamore Shelter by the National Association of Rocketry – Count Down Cardinals, from Bloomington, Indiana
12pm–2pm: Make your own astronaut patch!: Join Naturalist Emilie and learn about the patches that astronauts earn, Gus Grissom’s patches, and make your own!
1pm-1:30pm: Speaker: Ray E. Boomhower, author of Gus Grissom: The Lost Astronaut
1:30pm: Rocket Racing with Naturalist Chris
1:30pm-3pm: Ray Boomhower Book Signing
2pm: Guided Tour of Memorial
2:30pm: Solar Bandz: Join Naturalist Emilie for a solar system edition game of Headbandz!
3pm: Guided Tour of Memorial
5pm: Real Rocket Launches at Sycamore Shelter by the National Association of Rocketry – Count Down Cardinals, from Bloomington, Indiana
9:30pm-10:30pm: Star Gazing on the lawn at Sycamore Shelter – Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join the naturalist on the lawn near Sycamore Shelter to experience the beauty of the night sky. Glow sticks given out to children.

SUNDAY, JULY 18
8am-4pm: Gus Grissom Memorial Open
9am: Astrology Bingo! Join the Naturalist for a game of Bingo! Learn some important parts of our solar system and some astrology facts. Meet at the Grissom Memorial. 25 minutes.
9:30am: Moon Phases -Join Naturalist Morgan to discover the Moons phases and make your own slider that shows the phases. Meet at the Grissom Memorial. 15 minutes.
9am-11am: Steve Grissom at artifact table
9am-12pm: Cosmic Cuisine. Learn about food in space. Sample food eaten by astronauts
9am-12pm: Grissom Memorial Scavenger Hunt—Earn a NASA/space sticker
9am-3pm: Hidden Artifacts Revealed – see Gus artifacts that are rarely viewed by the public
10am: Gus Grissom Hike – Meet volunteer Anthony at the Grissom Memorial for an easy hike on Trail 6 to learn about Gus Grissom and his connection with Spring Mill State Park. .25 mile easy hike, 30 minutes
11am: Rocket Launches at Sycamore Shelter by the National Association of Rocketry – Count Down Cardinals, from Bloomington, Indiana
12pm–2pm: Make your own astronaut patch!: Join Naturalist Emilie and learn about the patches that astronauts earn, Gus Grissom’s patches, and make your own!
1pm: Guided Tour of Memorial
2pm: Guided Tour of Memorial
2:30pm: Solar Bandz: Join Naturalist Emilie for a solar system edition game of Headbandz!
3pm: Guided Tour of Memorial

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GRISSOM WEEKEND FLYER: Grissom weekend 2021 flyer

PARK ENTRY FEE MAY APPLY
$7 FOR INDIANA RESIDENTS  |  $9 OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS

Want to learn more about Gus and other Lawrence County Astronauts?

Check out this blog: Astronauts in Lawrence County
On Saturday, take a free tour of Gus’s Boyhood Home from 11 am – 3 pm.
Check out the Grissom Monument, a limestone rocket dedicated to Gus.