Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

The right stuff

Soldotna Community Schools hosted a model rocketry class with instructor Scott Aleckson at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.”

With the push of a button, Owen Walsh (in red) sends a model rocket into the sky, as instructor Scott Aleckson (right) and other students of his rocketry class watch in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

With the push of a button, Owen Walsh (in red) sends a model rocket into the sky, as instructor Scott Aleckson (right) and other students of his rocketry class watch in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) mounts a model rocket on its launch rod while instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) mounts a model rocket on its launch rod while instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) clips wires to ignition contacts while model rocketry instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) clips wires to ignition contacts while model rocketry instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

After catching a model rocket as it parachuted to Earth, Asa Lorentzen returns to the launch site during Scott Aleckson’s model rocketry class in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.”

After catching a model rocket as it parachuted to Earth, Asa Lorentzen returns to the launch site during Scott Aleckson’s model rocketry class in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.”

With the push of a button, Owen Walsh (in red) sends a model rocket into the sky, as instructor Scott Aleckson (right) and other students of his rocketry class watch in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

With the push of a button, Owen Walsh (in red) sends a model rocket into the sky, as instructor Scott Aleckson (right) and other students of his rocketry class watch in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) mounts a model rocket on its launch rod while instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) mounts a model rocket on its launch rod while instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) clips wires to ignition contacts while model rocketry instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Asa Lorentzen (left) clips wires to ignition contacts while model rocketry instructor Scott Aleckson observes in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

After catching a model rocket as it parachuted to Earth, Asa Lorentzen returns to the launch site during Scott Aleckson’s model rocketry class in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

After catching a model rocket as it parachuted to Earth, Asa Lorentzen returns to the launch site during Scott Aleckson’s model rocketry class in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and would like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

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