Devastated WA school students could miss out on $10,000 trip to Space Camp in the USA

Devastated teens from at least three Perth schools have been told they are likely to miss out on a Space Camp just weeks before they were due to leave for the life-changing USA trip costing $10,000 a ticket. Prestigious schools Perth Modern, Penrhos College and Christ Church Grammar have been left in limbo, unable to contact the tour company organising the trip, Victoria-based Edu School Tours. The Australian Travel Industry Association cancelled the company’s accreditation on Wednesday for breaching a section of the industry charter related to business compliance and governance. Perth Modern School principal Mitchell Mackay said the first inkling the trip was in jeopardy came when Edu School Tours stopped answering emails around a week ago. Forty students from the academically-selective public school had saved up about $10,000 each to pay for the trip. Mr Mackay said they would be covered by travel insurance. “We have got very little information about it so we’re still trying to figure out what the implications are for us,” he said. “If we have to cancel, it’s such a disappointment for these children, because a number of them were the ones who missed out on things when COVID was around.” Penrhos principal Kalea Haran said the college first became aware on Tuesday that the company contracted to run its 2024 Space Camp was potentially in financial difficulty. Involving around 50 Penrhos students from Years 10, 11 and 12 and six staff, the camp was scheduled to take place during the April school holidays. “We advised impacted parents of this within a few hours of becoming aware of the issue and have briefed students this morning,” Ms Haran said on Wednesday. “Despite efforts to directly communicate with Edu School Tours, we haven’t received formal confirmation from the company. “We are terribly disappointed for the students and their families and are working hard to understand the full impact of this issue. We will continue to keep parents and students informed as we unravel this difficult situation.” Students from several Melbourne schools have also been affected. Endorsed by NASA, Space Camp promotes science and maths by teaching students about space exploration. Students get to experience astronaut training exercises such as using a gravity chair, flying jet aircraft simulators and taking part in a simulated mission to Mars. The camp is held at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, where the Saturn V rocket which sent the American Apollo astronauts to the moon was developed. Edu School Tours states on its website it is Australia’s official Space Camp ambassador and the leading company taking students to Space Camp. The company, which did not respond to requests for comment, lists its main place of business in Victoria although its address for document delivery is in West Perth. ATIA chief executive Dean Long said the association had cancelled the company’s accreditation after receiving a complaint from an affected customer and following discussion with its owner. “While ATIA is not involved in the day-to-day operations of our members’ businesses, and does not have visibility of the numbers of customers impacted or the nature of the bookings made, we want to express our deepest concern for all those affected by this unfortunate event, including the many disappointed Space Camp students and their families,” he said.