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Arwen writes -
I heard a great piece on Explosives Camp on NPR - It's loosely affiliated with the University of Missouri--Paul Worsey, a mine engineering professor, started it to basically give teenagers an outlet for their desire to blow stuff up as well as get them interested in the profession of mine engineering, which is facing some pretty serious shortages once the current crop retires. It's worth listening to the piece--it's maybe 5 min. long. I really liked Worsey's attitude--he seemed to be having as much fun as the kids! "One of the good things about it is that we manage to attract the kids that might otherwise get into a little bit of trouble," Worsey said. "[We] give them a good outlet and an opportunity for a career."...NPR : At Camp, Teens Blow Stuff Up, As They're Told - Link.
According to the NPR article, the camp takes place in the Missouri Ozarks. Coincidently (or not), these very same Ozarks are home to the US Army's Combat Engineer training center at Fort Leonard Wood. Combat Engineers spend weeks practicing bridge building and subsequent demolition.
KERPLOW!!! The fun never ends.
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HA! This is so great. I'm a teenager in MO and I'm going to this camp this summer in about a week. I'm also taking the mechanical and electrical engineering courses. SWEET!
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HA! This is so great. I'm a teenager in MO and I'm going to this camp this summer in about a week. I'm also taking the mechanical and electrical engineering courses. SWEET!
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And just in case you haven't seen enough about Explosive Camp, take a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBAJ71YdNz8 .
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I wish they had something like this when I was a teenager. I would have had a lot of fun as well as learned a trade.
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It's not "loosely" affiliated with the University of Missouri, it's hosted by one of the four campuses (Rolla, now U of MO Science and Technology) of the University of Missouri system which includes campuses in Rolla, Kansas City, Columbia (the mothership), and St. Louis.
It's OFFICIALLY affiliated with the University of Missouri.
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That's me in the gray, standing on the far right. The rest of the campers are standing aside, grouped together, waiting to get soaked from the waterspout as it rains back down. Also, I'm the guy in the center of the NPR photo, with my head down holding some wire.
I went to the first session in 2007. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician from the Air Force was there to help out. He's A big guy, like 6'8".
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