Cameron King brings his hard working attitude and natural leadership quality to the JASON Monster Storms Argonaut Team. Shelley Metze, a former teacher, explains, “Whenever I needed something done, not only did I know Cameron would do it, but also I knew he would be the one to convince others to join in and help.”
In terms of scientific interests, Cameron has been “hooked” on chemistry since he was 10 years old and received his first chemistry kit for Christmas. “I love chemistry because you can be creative—you can either make your own creations or follow certain directions and then discover what you have created.” Among his first creations were rock candy and coal gardens. Cameron has become so skilled at chemistry that he even assists his mother in performing chemistry and geology labs with her third-grade class. Looking forward, Cameron is contemplating a career in either marine biology or sports medicine.
As an 8th-grade student at Cardington Lincoln Junior High School in Cardington, OH, Cameron takes part in numerous activities: Royal Rangers, Science Club, the 4-H Dynamite Clovers Club, Student Council, basketball (where he is team captain), tae kwan do, football, golf, and band (trombone). Cameron has previously studied and followed two JASON Project expeditions: Disappearing Wetlands and Mysteries of Earth and Mars, where he particularly liked the study of robots. He is enjoying being a Monster Storms Argonaut and has already become somewhat famous for his unique method of taking off his wet suit at Argonaut Boot Camp.
In his own words:
Inflating the balloon for launch |
On launching a weather balloon at Wallops Flight Facility
One cool thing I got to do was launch a weather balloon so they could collect data on the weather in the upper-atmosphere. They used instruments to collect data on humidity, air pressure, temperature, wind direction, and more. The information was sent via wire antenna to a computer where it is monitored. It was filled with helium and was 8 feet tall starting out. Tim Miller, a NASA contractor, showed us the balloon and told us that as the balloon went higher, it would expand to a size larger than a normal house!
Overall the launch was fun and exciting, because it was the only time I got to touch a real weather balloon. I still can’t believe I got to really launch a weather balloon, and it was the best launch I have ever done. The JASON Project let me do things I have never done before or will never get to do again.
Good friends, Neil and Cameron |
A favorite Boot Camp memory:
On Thursday we went on a sonar boat on Lake Michigan to look for shipwrecks on the lake floor. Thursday was the best day, because I got to drive our boat. I drove the boat from our canal to the lake, and I parked the boat. Parking the boat was very difficult and harder than I thought. It was fun, because when I parked, it scared a few of the Argonauts. In the end, they cheered me on, and I ended up successfully parking the boat.