This is a place where you can be yourself and let your imagination run free.
Of course, your grown-ups are always welcome here, but they must abide by the Lightcatchers’ code:
Find the good in the bad, the beautiful in the ugly, and the light in the darkness.
Are you ready? Come catch the light with me!
Lightcatcher since 1984
You can listen to the Lightcatchers Podcast wherever you stream podcasts. Get updates and download cool stuff at bealightcatcher.com.
PRESS RELEASE
How to Be an Astronaut
Mission Director’s Brief for General Public Summer 2025
Mission Director K. Peach
Have you ever thought you might like to be an astronaut? Many wish to enter space, but few are chosen. Here are some ideas to start training now.
Astronaut skill: Study Science
Before becoming an astronaut, a potential astronaut must have a degree in math, engineering, or science. They have to study hard so they can perform experiments and operate a space shuttle under pressure.
Training exercise:
Next time you do math, pretend that you’re on a space shuttle during an emergency. The clock is ticking! You have to be fast, but you MUST get it right or else this shuttle will veer off course! Try not to sweat on your homework sheet.
Astronaut skill: Straws
Simple things like drinking water can become complicated when you don’t have gravity forcing the water to fall into your mouth! This is why astronauts drink everything through a straw.
Training exercise:
To strengthen your straw muscles, ask your parents for a smoothie or some split pea soup to drink through a straw. Split pea soup is a good choice because its thickness will create a challenge, like weightlifting, for your mouth. Also, sometimes split pea soup has tasty little bits of ham in it.
Fig.
Astronaut Skill: Inspirational Words
When Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” he had to produce those words in a place with no air and very little gravity.
Training Exercise:
Next time you go swimming, if you’re capable, submerge yourself in the water and try to say something moving like, “Even in the darkest place, there is light on the horizon.” Or, “I think my bandaid fell off when I did that cannonball.”
As seen above in Figure. 002.
Astronaut Skill: Comfort with Dizziness
Astronauts don’t just prepare to navigate zerogravity; they use equipment like multiaxis trainers and centrifuges to simulate extreme gravity and the feeling of spinning in all directions.
Training Exercise:
Find a chair that spins, like a desk chair, and put on a helmet. Ask someone to spin the chair very fast while you are sitting in it. After getting dizzy, stand up and try to run while shouting about the space creatures that are chasing you.
Fig. 002
Astronaut skill: Problem Solving
Astronauts have to be ready to solve problems on the space shuttle; perhaps it’s a broken door handle or a leaky oxygen tank. Using their limited resources, they must fix it.
Training exercise:
Find a problem in your house and solve it. Is the remote control always difficult to find? Maybe you can think of a way to make it more visible. Does the shadow of your pile of laundry look like a monster at night? Maybe you can build an even bigger shadow monstrosity to fight it. Or, you know, just do your laundry. See example in Figure. 003.
Astronaut Skill: Bulky Work Conditions
Sometimes astronauts have to space walk. They leave the space station in a bulky suit and make repairs while tethered to the station so they don’t float away. Sounds awkward!
Training Exercise:
Put on your grown-up’s winter coat and boots, use a leash or belt to tether your leg to a heavy object, and attempt to make a sandwich or build a house of cards. Not so easy now, is it?
Get used to it, kid. This is the life of an astronaut. See example in Figure. 004
Bob The Bad Pirate
Story by C. C. Kimmel and the Island of Treasure
down in his bones sent shivers up his spine. It was a feeling all legendary pirates shared and it could only mean one thing: treasure was near. Bob the Bad Pirate lived up to his name, but not for the reasons many think when they first hear of him. Bob was never bad like Captain Blackbeard, who loved forcing both friend and foe to walk the plank. Bob wasn’t treacherous like Calico Jack, who let scorpions crawl down his beard before tossing them onto enemy ships.
No, Bob the Bad Pirate wasn’t bad because he liked to hurt people or call other pirates names like “Feather Sword” or “Petunia Pillow Pants.” Bob the Bad Pirate was bad because he just wasn’t very good at being a pirate. His crew loved him, and there was no lack of effort on Bob’s part. In the end, Bob just could never figure out how to do the pirate thing well. But what Bob lacked in skill, he made up for in persistence. He was determined to pirate every day he was alive until he found his final resting
With the feeling of treasure in his bones, Bob the Bad Pirate climbed to the crow’s nest and pulled out his spyglass to survey the sea. Even though his crew insisted he look through the small side of the spyglass, Bob the Bad Pirate preferred to look through the bigger end. Whenever they told him to turn the spyglass around he just shouted back, “It’s more comfortable, I tell you. And what pirate can’t use a bit of comfort every once in a while!”
Like most pirates of his time, he never went anywhere without his bird named Polly. However, unlike most pirates of his time, Polly was not a parrot that could talk and repeat all his commands. No, Polly was a pigeon. The crew tried to warn Bob the Bad Pirate that his trusted bird was not actually a parrot, but Bob loved Polly and insisted his bird was just
Seeing the spyglass, Polly the Pigeon walked along Bob the Bad Pirate’s shoulder and onto
Bob the Bad Pirate scanned the sea for any sign of land, stopping suddenly when an island came into view. The island seemed very far away to Bob, but he could still see the white sand shore and the rocky, craggy mountain rising up from the sea.
Bob the Bad Pirate jumped down from the crow’s nest and leapt to the helm. His first mate, Zoey, was waiting for him.
“Arggh, Zoey! Let us set sail for the island of treasure right away. I estimate with how far it is, we’ll be there by nightfall!”
The island, in reality, was only a few hundred yards away. A distance most of the sailors and crew could swim. Fortunately, Zoey was not a bad pirate.
“Yes, Capt’n!” Zoey replied. “At most by nightfall, but I bet with the speed of our ship, we can make it sooner.” Zoey nodded to the rest of the crew and grabbed hold of the helm.
Bob the Bad Pirate was so caught off guard by the sudden movement, he fell backwards onto the poop deck. Polly the Pigeon stared blankly at him before pecking at his beard. Despite being a pirate most of his life, Bob never seemed to have gotten his
Within a few minutes of lifting the sails, the ship was nearing the shore of the island of treasure.
While Zoey led the crew, Bob the Bad Pirate struggled to stand up and walk back towards the helm. Just before stepping up beside Zoey, ready to pull out his spyglass for another look at the island of treasure, he tripped over Polly the Pigeon and fell onto the wheel. As Bob the Bad Pirate fell, holding the wooden spoke they used as a helm, the ship took a sharp right turn and almost tipped over.
grabbed the helm in time to keep the ship upright and signaled to the crew to drop the sail.
Bob the Bad Pirate, unaware of anything that had just happened, stood back up. He looked to his left and was shocked to see the boat right beside the island of treasure. The ship couldn’t have been more perfectly docked beside the island if someone had tried.
“This is the fastest ship in the sea!” Bob shouted to his crew while he patted Zoey on the shoulder. “Now let’s drop the anchor and head onto shore.” The crew had already dropped anchor, but they pretended to do it again for Bob. “Swords out! We don’t know what may await us on the shores of the island of treasure!”
Zoey smiled and bounded down to the deck with the rest of the crew while Bob followed close behind, singing a pirate tune.
The Precocious Child’s Phrasal Template Word Game
A precocious child is a child that talks or acts like an adult.
Fill in the blanks with whatever words you like without reading the story, then read the story with your most adult-sounding voice.
My Vacation
I needed a vacation. Someplace warm like . I’ve been really slammed at school. I had a teacher breathing down my neck about a ______________ presentation that required a demonstration of a ________________, don’t ask me why!
[school subject]
[natural disaster]
Honestly, _________________Elementary would fall apart without me.
[Celebrity or Character name]
[vacation destination] [scent]
[kind of transportation]
Anyway, my folks and I headed out on the early _________________. It smelled of ___________ and ____________, as usual, and we were seated next to _________ children. I figured they would be a _________ nightmare, but they actually just watched _____________ Part 2: The Revenge and ______________ quietly. The attendant came around with coffee and I asked for my usual café ____________, but they didn’t have it, if you can believe that. I settled for black coffee and ___________ biscotti.
[liquid]
[movie title] [object]
[snack] [number]
[adjective]
[past tense verb]
[adjective]
[noun]
I was pleased when we arrived at our hotel, The Grand___________________ Resort. Very clean and decorated with gold _________. They even had a pianist playing soft, jazzy versions of _________________ songs. Things took a turn for the worse when we got out to the pool, which was supposed to be “adults and precocious children only,” but there were all these _____________kids doing cannonballs and __________ dives. I was annoyed for a little while, but then the kids tossed me a ____________ and I thought, What the heck! Sure. Why not? I showed off my best __________ jump and played a little water ____________.
[sport]
[most expensive food you can think of]
[favorite band or musician]
[animal]
[object]
[shape]
The buffet at the resort was fantastic. They served ______________-crusted ____________, braised _______________, and had a waffle bar with all the whipped ____________ you could ask for.
[seafood]
[lunch food]
[beverage]
[number]
[snack]
Now that I’m back, I need ___________ days to recuperate before heading back to school. Believe me, I don’t even want to think about it. But, overall, yes, I would recommend it. It was a ______________ relaxing vacation!
[adjective]
Dreamed up by K. Peach
Sylvia &
Questions for Your Grown-Ups
1. What was a game you played during recess?
4. Are you allergic to anything?
3. WHO IS GOING TO TEACH ME TO DRIVE?
If I were to ask for a pet snake, a teacup pig, or a cockatoo that will likely live for 50 years, which pet would you be most likely to say yes to?
9.Whatwasthefirstthing youlearnedhowtocook?
ELEVEN.
2. Did you ever “get in trouble” in school for doing something silly?
6. What has been your most unique Halloween costume?
7. What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
8. Do you think you can sing The ABCs faster than I can?
8a. What about slower?
10. Can you show me how you danced as a teenager?
What is your pump-up song for when you need to get jazzed for taking care of business?
10a. Why does it look like that?
12. How much time did you spend on screens today?
13. Can we figure out the best flavor of ice cream using a tournament bracket? Let’s check your screen time.
15. How long could you survive in the wild with nothing but a tent, a box of matches, and an ankle-length alpaca sweater?
14. When was the last time you fell in front of people?
16. Tell me about a time you felt your parents weren’t listening to you.
Do you need a nap? 17.
HOW TO DRAW A SPACEMAN
SILVER EYED SYLVIA
BOB THEBAD
MUSIC HALL
GYM CABINS
ROOM
RANGE
AQUARIUM
ONE LEGGED LORI
ZOEY
BOREDOM CORNER
Feeling bored? Here is an idea to engage your imagination and pass the time.
Community Support
Grab some chalk and write things on the sidewalk that you think joggers and dog-walkers would be delighted to read. “Your dog is cute,”“If you smelled your armpit I bet it would smell good,” and, “I could really go for a donut,” are good places to start.
Writing Prompts
Did you know that you can travel the world, explore the galaxy, and go back in time without ever leaving your room? When you write a story, you can go anywhere! As a fellow Lightcatcher, you are already imagining a great adventure. Here are a few prompts to get your story going.
There is a new girl in your class at school. She is shy and mysterious but smiles sweetly when you say hello to her at recess. After school she gets off at your bus stop and you watch her walk to the house across the street from yours. Instead of going to the front door, she walks in between two houses, and (this part is hard to believe but you saw it with your own eyes!) she disappears. Like, vanishes into thin air. Do you follow her? Ask her about it the following day? Write what happens next.
Monkeys are known to be silly, but when you and your monkey brother get lost in New York City, there is nothing funny about it! There are so many people and you are only the size of a football, hiding in the trees of Central Park. How will you and your brother get back to the zoo with the rest of your family?
Poetry Prompts
1. Close your eyes and imagine you are holding your favorite flower or a leaf from your favorite tree. What does it smell like, look like, feel like in your hands? Write section 1 by describing the details of your flower/tree in short, simple phrases.
2. Now imagine what time of year it is. Can you feel the sun shining or is it behind the clouds? Are you barefoot or wearing rain boots? Starting a new paragraph, write section 2 about how your body and heart feel in this imagined moment. Again, stick to short, simple phrases.
3. Lastly, rewrite your whole poem by alternating lines from each section. For example; line 1 = description of the flower, line 2 = how you feel, and so on until you’ve used all your lines. This is your poem, so play around with it until you’re happy. Title your poem with the name of your chosen nature item or with another phrase or word from your writing that stands out to you, and voila! You’re a poet!
Calling all young writers! Join one of our editors for an online writing group with the chance to be featured in the next issue of Lightcathers! Sign up info on p.31
FRUITS
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Find all the words in the list below.
2. Every letter will be used once.
3. Every letter will be next to, above, or below the previous or next letter in the word.
4. They can be backwards and bendy, but not diagonal.
Reference the key on p.31 when you’re done!
Coloring Page
Sunset Spritzers
Recipe by Norah Dahlgren
Ingredients
1 lb strawberries
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp water
3 cups lemon lime-soda
3 cups orange juice
Optional garnish: slices of lemons, limes, extra strawberries
Directions
1. Prep ingredients
Rinse strawberries and cut off leaves and stems. Set out other ingredients and prep garnishes if desired.
2. Make strawberry puree
In a blender or food processor, add strawberries, sugar, honey, and water. Blend until smooth. After it’s blended, pour puree through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl to remove the seeds. You might need to use a spoon to push it through the mesh. You can choose not to strain it, but I like the texture better without the seeds.
3. Put it all together
Fill 6 glasses with ice. Pour 1/2 cup of lemonlime soda into each cup. Follow this with 1/2 cup of orange juice, and add 1/4 cup of strawberry puree. Stir and enjoy!
4. Play with it!
Garnish each glass with a strawberry, lemon, lime, or any combination of the three.
About the Chef:
13 year old Norah lives with her parents, brother, and dog in Portland, Or. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and is not afraid to make a mess.
Tip from Norah: Help clean up the kitchen afterwards and your parents will be more likely to let you experiment again!
FOR A FRESH SPIN
Instead of store bought orange juice, use fresh-squeeeeezed
LEAN IN TO THE LEMON
Trade out the orange juice for lemonade
SKIP THE SODA & SUGAR
If you or your grown-up wants to avoid the sugar, just don’t add it to the puree and skip the soda altogether. The result will be less sweet and more smoothie than spritzer.
Good Night, Little Pirate
After a day of adventures, it was time for the little pirate to go to bed.
He yawned as his mother tucked him into his pirate ship bed. “Good night, little pirate!” she said, as she turned off the light.
The little pirate turned the light back on. “Arrr you sure it’s bedtime? Don’t we have time for ONE piratey question?”
His mother chuckled and said, “Okay, little pirate - just ONE.”
“Arrrr you sure God loves me even if I’m a pirate?”
“Yes, little pirate - no matter who you are or what you do, God loves you just as you are! Now good night, little pirate,” and she turned off the light again.
The little pirate flicked the light right back on. “But arrr you sure God loves me even if I’m not very good at being a pirate?”
“Yes, my little pirate, no matter how many mistakes you make, God loves you no matter what. Now good night, little pirate!” She turned off the light and started to leave when…
Flick! The light turned back on. “But what if I... sink the ship? Lose the treasure? Walk the plank?”
“Yes, yes, yes - my little pirate, God loves you no matter what you do or don’t do, no matter where you go or don’t go. God loves you just as you arrrr! And I do too. Now that was more than one piratey question - time to go to sleep.”
The little pirate yawned, closed his eyes, and sighed; “I love you Momma.”
His mother turned off the light and whispered one last time, “Goodnight, my little pirate.”
A bedtime story by Shealyn Visser
Illustration by Naomi Edwards
We hope you enjoyed Lightcatchers Magazine. We enjoyed making it.
But there’s more to Lightcatchers than this here magazine. Lightcatchers is a community of kids (and their adults) who find the good in the bad, the beautiful in the ugly, and the light in the darkness. To listen to the podcast, download coloring pages and other awesome things that will jam up the family printer, and submit photos and stories for consideration in the next magazine, go to bealightcatcher.com.
