‘Definition of resilience.’ Texas student attends space camp for visually impaired.

There’s no such thing as being too young to shoot for the moon.

Even if you can’t see the moon.

Graysen Head, a sixth-grader at Creekview Middle School in the Eagle Mountain Saginaw school district, recently attended a space camp for visually impaired students in Huntsville, Alabama, Sept. 26-Oct. 1. The camp is designed for students who are blind and visually impaired. They teach math, science and space science.

The camp also focuses on communication skills and teamwork. Each camper is assigned to a team that is tasked with completing a space mission. In addition, this experience provided new opportunities to practice social skills, travel and daily living skills.

“It was pretty cool. I got to sit in a moonwalk simulator thing. My favorite part was meeting people and doing simulations,” Head said.

Allie Dull, a teacher of students with visual impairments at EMS ISD, wrote the grant for her student. Head was selected to receive the full scholarship based on his independence, grades, maturity, desire to learn, and overall good-natured disposition.

Dull, known to her students as Ms. Allie, also helped Head prepare for his adventure.

“Graysen is a natural information seeker. He is always recommending a new book series to read, or giving random facts about history, or asking me super complex questions,” she said. “He always wants to try things on his own at first. ...

“Graysen is the definition of resilience and has never allowed his visual impairment to ever be a barrier for him. Each school year, his regular education teachers have recommended Graysen for the gifted and talented program, due to his love of reading, deep thinking skills, and high listening comprehension skills.”

Dull, Head’s teacher for five years, said he is a straight-A student, adding that he has never allowed his visual impairment to be a barrier. She said his regular education teachers have recommended him for the gifted and talented program.

“I often have to question myself, wondering who the actual teacher is, because Graysen is filled with knowledge and is always teaching me something interesting, or recommending a new book series to read,” she said.

All of which made him the perfect candidate for this experience, she said.

“I’m so proud of him,” Dull said. “Just being able to navigate the airport with a cane, rooming with a stranger and completing a space mission. He was completely confident and independent.”

Meanwhile, Head has a deeper quest in mind, going into actual space — and perhaps even meeting some new friends.

“If I could go to space I would explore the moon. Maybe I’d find aliens there,” he said.

Dull said his experience was inspiring to other students and adults. In fact, she’s already wondering which student to send next year.

“Graysen’s experience has inspired all of his classmates. He’s known as the kid who got to go to space camp, and now they all want to go too,” she said. “I have plans to write a grant for another awesome student to get to go next year. In addition, I’m going to try to attend as a chaperone, because it looks amazing.”