Programs & Star Parties

for Education and Entertainment

Paul conducts public and private amateur astronomy slide programs and star parties for children and adults in schools, camps, parks and other settings. Below are some of Paul's slide programs, and other topics can be developed upon request.

** Paul's 2008 Schedule **

** See MAPS & DIRECTIONS to star party areas. **

"Journey to Outer Space"
"Life Cycle of a Star"
"Our Expanding Universe"
"Learning About Our Solar System"
"Solar System Model"
"Seeing the Southern Sky"
"Meteors, Comets and Impacts"
"Constellations Primer"
"Constellations of the Season"
"Learning the Night Sky by Regions"
"Time: Cycles of Nature and Humans"
"Constellations with a Little Imagination"
"A Cosmic Concert"

Presenting at the 2007 Texas Star Party

Star parties can emphasize naked-eye green-laser-pointer sky tours (identifying major constellations and bright stars), or viewing solar system and deep-sky objects through Paul's telescope, or a combination of both -- depending upon your preferences and sky conditions.

Fee policy: Paul's fee for private astronomy programs and star parties is $100 in the Central Texas area (higher for out-of-area events requiring travel.) There is usually no fee for schools and other non-profit groups/organizations.

LaVega students viewing 2006 transit of Mercury

For booking, contact Paul at:
918 N. 30th St., Waco, TX 76707-2502
(254) 753-6920 (voice and fax)
(254) 723-6346 (cell)
paulderrickwaco@aol.com

2008 Events:

Jan. 2: Gatesville Intermed. School (program) [Gatesville, TX]

Jan. 11: G.L. Wiley Middle School, Waco (viewing, observatory tour) [TRS]

Jan. 17: Cub Scouts (program/viewing) [Troy, TX]

Jan. 26: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Jan. 29: Cedar Ridge Elem. (program/viewing) [Waco]

Feb. 12: Carver Academy (viewing, program) [Waco]

Feb. 23: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Mar. 25: West Ave. Elem. (two program) [Waco]

Mar. 26: LaVega High physics class (star party) [Waco]

Mar. 29: CLOUDED OUT/Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Apr. 21: Heritage Hill Comm. Cntr. (program) [Fredericksburg, TX]

Apr. 23-26: Nature Quest (programs/sky tours/viewing) [Concan, TX]

Apr. 26: CLOUDED OUT/Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Apr. 30: Lake Shore Baptist Church (program) [Waco]

May 6: McGregor Elementary (class session)[McGregor, TX]

May 8: McGregor Elementary (star party)[McGregor, TX]

May 24: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

May 30: Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Jun. 4,5: Davis Mts. State Park Amphitheater (program/sky tour/viewing) [Ft. Davis, TX]

Jun. 4: Texas Star Party (2 afternoon programs)[Ft. Davis, TX]

Jun. 21: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Jun. 28: Reynolds Creek Amphitheater (program, sky tour)[Speegleville I Park]

Jul. 16: Fossil Rim (program/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Jul. 21-24: Unitarian Summer Institute (4-session workshop/telescope viewing) [Lake Murray, OK]

Jul. 26: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Aug. 1: CANCELED/Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Aug. 23: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Sep. 5: Waco Montessori School (two class sessions)[Waco]

Sep. 19-20: Fall Nature Quest (programs/sky tours/viewing) [Concan, TX]

Sep. 20: CANCELED/Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Sep. 29: Cub Scouts (program) [Waco]

Oct. 6,7,8: St. Paul's Elementary (classes, TRS tour)[Waco]

Oct. 11: Moody HS Science Club (program/viewing) [Moody, TX]

Oct. 18: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Oct. 21,22,23: LaVega Intermed. School (classes, viewing session) [Bellmead, TX]

Oct. 24: Air Stream Rally (program/sky tour/viewing) [Lake Whitney State Park, TX]

Oct. 25: St. Paul's Elem (sky tour/viewing) [CTAS Turner Research Station]

Oct. 29: School Group (sky tour/viewing) [Old Fort Parker, Mexia, TX]

Nov. 5: Lorena Middle School (class program)[Lorena, TX]

Nov. 6,13: Baylor Univ Alum Assn (Mayan Archeoastronomy w/ Dr. John Fox)[Waco]

Nov. 7: Speegleville Elementary School (program, star party) [Speegleville]

(tent) Nov. 19: Davis Mts. State Park Interpretive Center (program/sky tour/viewing) [Ft. Davis, TX]

Nov. 21: CANCELED/Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Nov. 22: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

Dec. 20: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program/sky tour/viewing) [Waco Wetlands]

2007 Events:

Feb. 10: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Feb. 20: Hillcrest Elem. (program) [Waco Wetlands]

Mar. 10: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Mar. 19: Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Mar. 23: Texas Astronomical Society (program) [Dallas, TX]

Mar. 27: Cedar Ridge Elem. (program and viewing) [Waco]

May 2: St. Paul's Episcopal Church youth (program, viewing)[Waco]

May 4: Mountainview Elem. (program) [Waco Wetlands]

May 5: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

May 7: McGregor Elementary (program)[McGregor, TX]

May 17: Davis Mts. State Park Interpretive Center (program) [Ft. Davis, TX]

May 19: Texas Star Party (afternoon program)[Ft. Davis, TX]

May 21: McGregor Elementary (star party)[McGregor, TX]

Jun. 2: Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Jun. 9: Turner Research Station (CTAS dedication star party) [Clifton]

Jun. 12: Camp Fire -- Camp Val Verde (program/sky tour) [Waco]

Jun. 16: Reynolds Creek Amphitheater (program, sky tour)[Speegleville I Park]

Jun. 19: Camp Fire -- Camp Val Verde (program/sky tour) [Waco]

Jun. 25: Camp Fire -- Camp Val Verde (program/sky tour) [Waco]

Jul. 7: CANCELED-HIGH WATER/Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Jul. 13: CANCELED-HIGH WATER/Reynolds Creek Amphitheater (program, sky tour)[Speegleville I Park]

Jul. 15, 10:45 a.m.: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waco (Cosmic Concert program) [4209 N. 27th, Waco]

Jul. 19: Noah's Ark Day Care (program)[Central Christian Church, Waco]

Jul. 23-26: Unitarian Summer Institute (workshop series, telescope viewing) [Lake Murray, OK]

Aug 4: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Aug. 11: CTAS Star-B-Q (sky tour) [Turner Research Station]

Aug. 20: Texas Outdoor Women Network (program, viewing) [Cameron Pk Clubhouse, Waco]

Sep. 8: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Sep. 13: Waco Montessori School (two class sessions)[Waco]

Oct. 6: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Oct. 8,9,10: St. Paul's Elementary (classes, TRS tour)[Waco]

Oct. 20: Isaiah's Place (program/sky tour) [Whitney, TX]

Nov. 7,8,9: LaVega Intermediate School (classes, viewing session) [Bellmead, TX]

Nov. 30: Fossil Rim (program/sky tour/viewing) [Glen Rose, TX]

Dec. 1: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

Dec. 4: G.L. Wiley Middle School (program) [Waco]

Dec. 29: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour/program) [Waco Wetlands]

2006 Events:

Jan. 21: Cub Scouts (program) [Hewitt]

Jan. 23: Cedar Ridge Elem. Astronomy Club (program)[Waco]

Feb. 11: Temple Recreation Dept (viewing) [Mother Neff State Park]

Mar. 18: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program) [Waco Wetlands]

Mar. 20,21,22,23: Learning the Night Sky (4-session course) [Waco]

Mar. 23: McLennan Co. Home Learners (class presentation)[Waco]

Apr. 12: Meridan Public Library (program) [Meridian, TX]

Apr. 15: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour) [Waco Wetlands]

Apr. 22: Pollard Ranch (private star party) [Menard Co., TX]

Apr. 25 & 27: Davis Mts. State Park Amphitheater (programs) [Ft. Davis, TX]

Apr. 24 & 26: Texas Star Party (sky tours)[Ft. Davis, TX]

May 12: Speegleville Elementary (program, viewing) [Speegleville, TX]

May 15: Cedar Ridge Elem. Astronomy Club (program)[Waco]

May 16: McGregor Elementary (program, sky tour)[McGregor, TX]

May 19: Morgan Elementary (program)[Morgan, TX]

May 20: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour) [Waco Wetlands]

May 27: Texas Stars & Guitars Fest (sky tour) [Lake Whitney State Park]

Jun. 8: Cub Scout Day Camp (program) [Waco]

Jun. 17: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour) [Waco Wetlands]

Jul. 15: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour) [Waco Wetlands]

Aug. 12: Reynolds Creek Amphitheater (program, sky tour)[Speegleville I Park]

Aug. 26: Lake Whitney Summer Star Party (sky tour) [Lake Whitney State Park]

Sep. 8: Waco Montessori School (two class sessions)

Sep. 16: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (program) [Waco Wetlands]

Sep. 19: Ft. Worth Astronomy Club (program) [Ft Worth]

Sep. 23: Boy Scouts Campout (sky tour, viewing) [Valley Mills]

Oct. 8: Unitarian Fellowship (children's class) [Waco]

Oct. 9,10: Learning the Night Sky (course) [Waco]

Oct. 14: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour) [Waco Wetlands]

Oct. 18: Sr. Kawanis Club (program) [Waco]

Oct. 24: Texas Tech Univ--Junction Outdoor School (program) [Junction, TX]

Oct. 26: U-Bar-U Retreat Center (program/star party) [Kerrville, TX]

Oct. 29: Unitarian Fellowship (children's class) [Waco]

Nov. 1: McLennan Co. Home Learners (class presentation) [Waco]

Nov. 7,9: LaVega Intermediate School (classes) [Bellmead, TX]

Nov. 8: LaVega Intermediate School (Mercury transit viewing) [Bellmead, TX]

Nov. 9: McLennan Co. Home Learners (class presentation)[Waco]

Nov. 9: Bunce Private Party (star party) [Waco]

Nov. 11: Ft. Parker Weekend (star party) [Mexia]

Nov. 12: Texas Tech Univ--Junction Outdoor School (sky tour) [Junction, TX]

Dec. 9: Waco Wetlands Public Star Party (sky tour, program) [Waco Wetlands]

Dec. 12: Cub Scouts (program) [Waco]

2005 Events:

Jan. 3,4,5,6: Learning the Night Sky of Winter (4-session course) [Waco]

Jan. 24: Cedar Ridge Elementary Astronomy Club (slide program)[Waco]

Feb. 21,22, 28, Mar.1: Learning the Night Sky (4-session course) [Bosque Conservatory, Clifton]

Feb. 28, Mar. 2, 30 : Rapoport Academy (class sessions) [Waco]

Mar. 7: McGregor Elementary School (indoor class, outdoor viewing) [McGregor]

Mar. 23: LaVega Intermediate School (outdoor viewing) [Bellmead]

May 3, 5: Davis Mts. State Park Amphitheater (program) [Ft. Davis, TX]

May 4, 6: Texas Star Party (sky tours)[Ft. Davis, TX]

May 12: Sam Houston Elementary (indoor class, outdoor viewing) [Huntsville, TX]

May 16: St. Louis Jr. High School (program) [Waco]

May 21: Girl Scouts @ Lake Brownwood State Park (program) [Brownwood, TX]

May 23: Cedar Ridge Elementary Astronomy Club (viewing) [Waco]

Jun. 4: Texas Stars & Guitars Fest (sky tour) [Lake Whitney State Park]

Jun. 8: Rotary Club (program) [McGregor, TX]

Jun. 21: 4-H Club @ Meridian State Park (program) [Meridian, TX]

Jul. 12: AARP Chapter (program) [Clifton, TX]

Jul. 19: Ft. Worth Astronomy Club (program) [Ft Worth Museum]

Jul. 25-28: Unitarian Summer Institute (workshop series) [Lake Texoma, OK]

Jul 30: CTAS Turner Research Station (sky tour)

Aug. 6: Reynolds Creek Amphitheater, 8:30 pm (slide program, sky tour)[Speegleville I Park]

Aug 9: Stilwell Retirement Center (program) [Waco]

Aug. 18 & 19: Davis Mountains State Park Amphitheater, 8:30 pm (slide program, night sky viewing [Ft. Davis]

Aug. 22,23,24,25: Learning the Night Sky of Summer (4-session course) [Waco]

Aug. 27: Lake Whitney Summer Star Party (sky tour at dark) [Lake Whitney State Park]

Sep. 30: Waco Montessori School (two class sessions)

Oct. 20: Midway High School (9th grade English class, Mars program, viewing)[Waco]

Nov. 12: Hasting Book Store (program, book signing, viewing) [Brownwood]

Nov. 14,16,17,18: LaVega Intermediate School (classes and viewing session) [Bellmead]

Nov. 14,15,21,22: Learning the Night Sky of Fall (4-session course) [Waco]

Nov. 19: private star party [Camp Val Verde]
Nov. 29, Dec. 1: McGregor Elem School (6th grade class sessions) [McGregor]

2004 Events:

Jan. 7,8,13,19,21: Learning the Night Sky of Winter (5-session course)

Mar. 5: Camp Fire group, Camp Val Verde (slide program)

Mar. 12: Home Schoolers, Whitney, TX (slide program)

Mar. 27: Salado Institute, Belton Overlook Park (star party)

Mar. 30, Apr. 7, 13: Lake Waco Elem. School (class sessions)

Apr. 5,6,13,14,15: Learning the Night Sky of Spring (5-session course)

Apr. 8: Sulphur Springs Middle School, Sulphur Springs, TX (7 class sessions)

Apr. 23: Central Texas College Mayborn Planetarium, Killeen (star party)

May 16-22: Texas Star Party, Ft. Davis (nightly sky tours)

June 10: Camp John Marc, Meridian (sky lab planetarium programs)

June 12: CTAS Star Party, Turner Research Center (sky tour)

June 22: Camp John Marc, Meridian (sky lab planetarium programs)

July 8: Camp John Marc, Meridian (sky lab planetarium programs)

July 13: Camp John Marc, Meridian (evening sky tour)

July 21: Camp John Marc, Meridian (sky lab planetarium programs)

Jul. 26-29: Unitarian Summer Institute, Lake Texoma, OK (workshop series)

Aug. 2,3,4,5: Learning the Night Sky of Summer (4-session course)

Aug. 3: Camp John Marc, Meridian (sky lab planetarium programs)

Aug. 7: Reynolds Creek Amphitheater @ Speegleville I Park (slide program, sky tour)

Aug. 14: Lake Whitney Star Party (slide program, sky tour)

Aug. 25: Lake Waco Montessori School (class presentation)

Sep. 1: Waco Montessori School (2 class presentations)

Oct. 4,5,11,12: Learning the Night Sky of Fall (4-session course)

Nov. 8: Waco High School physics class (sky tour)

Nov. 10,11: McLennan Co. Home Schoolers (class presentation, sky tour)

Nov. 12: Lake Waco Montessori School (class presentation)

Nov. 15,17,19: LaVega Intermediate School (class presentations)

Nov. 30: Cedar Ridge Elementary Astronomy Club (slide program)

Dec. 15: Meridian Public Library, Meridian, TX (slide program)

2003 Events:

Jan. 16, 20, 21, 22, 23: Stars & Constellations of Winter

Jan. 21: Retired Federal Employees, Clifton (slide program)

Jan.31-Feb.2: U-Bar-U Astronomy Workshop, Kerrville (slide program, sky tours)
Feb. 17, 18, 19: Lake Waco Montessori Elementary (educational presentations)
Feb. 18: Central Texas Audubon Society (slide program, telescope viewing)
Feb. 20: Brazos Higher Education (slide program)
Mar. 20, 24, 25, 26, 27: Stars & Constellations of Spring

Mar. 28: Girl Scouts at Camp Val Verde (sky tour)

Mar. 29: Lake Whitney Spring Star Party (sky tour)

May 1: Texas Star Party (afternoon program, evening sky tour)

Jul. 14, 15, 16, 17, 28: Stars & Constellations of Summer

Jul. 16: Bosque Memorial Museum (children's program), Clifton
Jul. 28-31: Unitarian Summer Institute, Lake Texoma, OK (class)

Aug. 1: Earl Harrison House Master Gardners (youth program), Camp Val Verde
Aug. 23: Lake Whitney Summer Star Party (sky tour)

Sep. 15,22,29 & Oct. 6: Bosque Conservatory, Clifton, TX (Intro course in amateur astronomy taught by members of Central Texas Astronomical Society, including me)
Sep. 18: Gem of the Hills Community Center, Blanco, TX (slide program, sky tour)

Sep. 22: Waco Rotary Club (slide program)
Sep. 23: Home School Group (slide program/activities)
Sep. 26: Home School Group (sky tour)
Oct. 2: Brazos Higher Education (slide program)
Oct. 27,28,29: LaVega Intermediate School (classes, sky tour)
Oct. 30: Waco Montessori School (class presentations)
Nov. 19: Waco High School physics class (star party)

Contact Paul at:
918 N. 30th St., Waco, TX 76707-2502
(254) 753-6920 (voice and fax)
paulderrickwaco@aol.com

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