5,4,3,2,1 – Shoot to Saturn launches at Patna Primary

Coming hot on the heels of the very successful Mission to the Moon and Journey to Jupiter initiatives - Shoot to Saturn aims to encourage everyone attending Early Childhood Centres and primary schools to make short journeys active ones.

34 facilities across East Ayrshire have signed up to three challenges and will help collect thousands of Cosmic Crystals that were lost when the Clean Green crew returned from their last space mission to Saturn.

• Challenge #1:Explore space between Earth and the Alpha Space Station - 30 September to 13 December 2024
• Challenge #2:Explore space between the Alpha Space Station and the Beta Space Station - 13 January to 4 April 2025
• Challenge #3:Explore space between the Beta Space Station and Saturn - 28 April to 6 June 2025

Each participating ECC and school will select a route to travel through space in search of Cosmic Crystals and to complete the route children, young people and their families need to make active travel journeys and earn S-Miles to complete the journey within the allotted time scale.

Every active journey will earn an S-Mile for their class and 'active' can be walking, scooting or cycling. A walking circuit will be available in outdoor areas for children and young people who travel to school by taxi or bus, and anyone who wants to gather bonus S-Miles for their class.

Bonus S-Miles can also be earned by parents, siblings and staff, and group or class walks, outings and Daily Mile time will also be eligible for bonus S-Miles. Active travel journeys out with school times can also help earn Bonus S-Miles.

On launch day, Patna Primary made sure the invited guests were warmly welcomed by school captains -Macie, Laikynn, Cara and Emma from P7, Climate lead teachers Carly Nicol and Lisa Teasdale and Head Teacher Claire McPhail. It was then over to the Eco Committee who gave a wonderful presentation on Shoot to Saturn. Entertainment was provided by P1 and the ECC children, who sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and P7 who sang the school song - 'Rocket fast, sky high'; which was perfect for the launch!

Councillor Graham Barton, Spokesperson for Planning, Property and Environment was joined by Councillor Jim McMahon and Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council. Cllr Barton said: "Shoot to Saturn is the latest active travel initiative to launch in our Early Childhood Centres and primary schools. All children, young people and teaching staff can earn S-Miles by walking, scooting or parking and striding to school, and parents, carers and siblings can also join in earning bonus S-Miles too.

"Mission Control will keep a tally of every S-Mile earned and will add them to the Shoot to Saturn S-Mile-ometer, with the aim of travelling to Saturn to recover all the lost Cosmic Crystals.

"It was great meeting the children and young people from Patna Primary who gave a very professional presentation, explaining the initiative and answering any questions that we had. We couldn't have been made to feel more welcome.

"Shoot to Saturn is such a fun and inventive initiative. By continuing the storytelling, the team led by Vicky McWilliam, have made sure that the children and young people understand their mission from the outset and are enthusiastic participants."

Councillor McMahon, Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities said: "I was delighted to attend the launch of Shoot to Saturn and speak to the children and young people, and all the staff about their plans to recover the Cosmic Crystals. They were so enthusiastic and determined to reach their target, they've even tried to get the whole community involved by putting up posters in local community buildings.

"I recently walked 1000 miles over 100 days in a bid to get fit and improve my wellbeing, and I have decided to donate my S-Miles to New Cumnock Primary School. I hope this will help them reach their target."

Shoot to Saturn is led by the Education Service, is funded by the Climate Change Fund and supported by the Ayrshire Roads Alliance.