The Veteran's History Museum of the Carolinas: Now Open

Looking to drop the kiddos off at a summer camp this year but you're not sure which one is safe, educational and fun? The Pisgah Astronomical Research Center (PARI) is one of the best spots for your kids this summer. Did you know that Meraki Escape is only 12 miles away from PARI?  We're the perfect retreat for parents while the kids are at camp. 

Let's learn more about PARI and what their summer camps offer for kids, along with some details for booking a stay at Meraki Escape.

What is PARI?

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute is located in Western North Carolina in 200 acres of the Pisgah National Forest. An area known for scenic, outdoor beauty, the Pisgah Forest offers a tranquil escape for your kids during any time of the year.

Chosen by NASA for its remote location, PARI was founded in 1998 as a nonprofit organization committed to offering hands-on educational, research, and business opportunities for enthusiasts and professionals in STEM areas.

Studies have shown how important it is for children to begin studying these fields from an early age. Doing so helps children develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, creativity and collaboration, and could pave the way for a future career. Not to mention, STEM camps keep your child's brain active when they're not in school and is a fun opportunity to make some new, like-minded friends.

Exhibits

WWI (1914-1918)

WWI had and continues to have a significant and incalculable impact on our Nation and the world. Originating in Europe and considered the first modern war, World War I was one of the largest and deadliest wars up to that point in history. The WWI exhibit showcases weaponry, uniforms, equipment, and artifacts taken from that period. The gallery is highlighted by a reproduction of a WWI trench complete with an authentically unfirmed Doughboy from the 42nd Division.

WWII (1939-1945)

The largest and deadliest war in the history of mankind, WWII will never be forgotten. This exhibits aims to show visitors artifacts, weaponry and uniforms from this time period and is divided into two section: The European Theater of Operations (ETO) and the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO).

This new word struck fear into the heart of Europe and led to WWII a war that became the largest and deadliest armed conflict in the history of humankind.

Korean & Vietnam

War on Terror

Special Exhibit

On Wednesday, March 1, at 11 a.m., the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas re-opened its doors with a warm welcome for everyone. Founder/curator Emmett Casciato often says, “A visiting veteran will see one of our artifacts and begin telling a story. The veteran’s adult children will say ‘He’s never told that story before!’”

"Each of the galleries features a professionally-produced six to seven minute video entitled “Through Their Eyes.” They tell the story of Americans at war. Learn why and how each war began, see images of what it was like for service members and discover up-close the artifacts, uniforms and stories of local veterans who served.

You may be surprised to find a Russian truck-launched rocket in the museum now. We believe this one was retrieved in Iraq or Afghanistan by Navy Seals.

The WWI gallery boasts a rare Maxim machine gun. No worries about misplacing this artifact — it’s so heavy that it took six men to man it. That included transporting and operating the gun, the stand, the ammo and even water for cooling. It’s a must-see.

If you haven’t yet seen the 1943 Willys Jeep exhibit, it’s now at its best. Additional equipment and artifacts from WWII have been added to this “visitors’ favorite” scene. It’s titled, “Somewhere in Europe . . . Letters from Home,” and depicts an Army Post Office with soldiers arriving hoping for a letter from a loved one. The 1942 Harley-Davidson nearby provided transportation for MPs. You’ll notice the authentic leather saddlebags and the “suicide stick.” To find out what this means, come on in and ask.

The museum is located at 21 E. Main Street in Brevard (beside the courthouse). Admission is free. After March 1, open hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a customized tour for your group, please call (828) 884-2141."

Presented by Transylvania Times. For the full article go to:

https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/news/veterans-history-museum-reopens-march-1/article_e7aa17a6-b385-11ed-b1b7-ff53f0852d73.html

Summer STEM Camps

Now to the best part-the summer camps! PARI offers different types of summer camps focused on a wide variety of STEM topics. There are also PARI scholarships and payment plans available for children who need a little extra support.

Above & Beyond: Research-Based

PARI's signature camping experience, Above & Beyond is their most popular summer camp. It is designed to immerse kids into the world of space science and research, while also teaching critical thinking skills and building their confidence. The program was originally developed by Duke University and has been fine-tuned for over two years.

Some questions this programs aims to answer are:

• How do we find water or breathable atmosphere, or how can they be made?
• How do we measure radiation from a star or classify exoplanets?
• Can a cave or lava tube on Mars provide adequate shelter for humans?

For specific details including pricing, dates and curriculum, check out PARI's Above & Beyond page.

3D Planets: Engineering Challenge Based

When PARI got its first 3D printer over a decade ago, the institute's educators wanted to find a way to combine it with the education of space and science. With lots of hard work and fine-tuning, the Mission Control: 3D Planets camp was born. 3D Planets is designed to immerse students in 3D Modeling, Planetary Geography, Three Dimensional Spatial Reasoning and Communication.

Some questions this programs aims to answer are:

• How does NASA collect data and how do they use it?
• Are there other planets with volcanos, rivers, glaciers and rifts?
• What is the surface of the moon like? What about Mars?
• How are systems like longitude and latitude applied to other bodies in our solar system?
• How do we find water or breathable atmosphere, or can they be made?

For specific details including pricing, dates and curriculum, check out PARI's Mission Control: 3D Planets Camp page. 

PARI Summer Camp: Stay at Meraki Escape

While some summer camps last the entire summer (June-August), PARI's camps are usually 1-2 weeks in the summer. Just long enough for a quick getaway because the kids shouldn't have all the fun, right?

Meraki Escape is just 12 minutes from PARI and offers luxury cabins for a romantic escape, relaxing couple's retreat or a solo vacation. Our cabins are for adults only and offer spa services, romantic packages, tailored experiences-and they're pet-friendly!

For those looking to explore Pisgah National Forest and do some waterfall chasing, our property is the perfect homebase. We also have waterfalls on our property and private spaces, which provide a scenic spot for some yoga or a picnic without venturing too far. Whatever getaway you choose to have, Meraki Escape offers the best cabins in Pisgah National Forest.