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Orcutt Academy’s Weather Balloons Take Flight Once Again

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) - Large white balloons in the sky over Orcutt Wednesday and Thursday morning were part of a long-running science experiment at Orcutt Academy High School.

An egg survived a 300-foot parachuted drop as geology students got a hands-on experience launching weather balloons.

In summer-like conditions, the high school science class pocked the Orcutt skyline with the large white balloons.

The students attached gondolas—boxes that store their sensors—and raise them 300 feet in the air to take readings.

Teacher Ty Fredriks says this is the 18th year of what Orcutt Academy calls “Balloonfest."

“This is actually something that has been happening since Orcutt Academy started,” says Mr. Fredriks. “So our very first balloon fest was in 2009, and this is our 18th annual one. So it's really it's been a tradition. And, you know, the kid, the alumni come back and we go, ‘I remember Balloonfest!’”

Students are challenged to present their data to each other on Friday.

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Article Topic Follows: Education

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Jarrod Zinn

Jarrod is a North County Reporter for News Channel 3-12. For more about Jarrod, click here.

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