About 200 kids engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math activities at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana’s gathering on Monday. Held at Urschel Pavilion and Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso, the event was filled with diverse activities.
One participant, Leonard, 17, enjoyed his time at the Best Buy booth. He posed for photos and shared his experience as a YouTuber making play-along videos. Another attendee, Lincoln, 12, practiced focusing an image with a handheld magnification device.
Austin, 7, learned about the difficulties astronauts face using leather gloves to mimic space conditions. Jean-Michel Sicaud from Boeing assisted kids in tasks like pushing pipe cleaners through small holes. This activity highlighted the challenges astronauts encounter when handling objects in space suits.
Laylah, 10, and Leniyah, 11, enjoyed playing with Air Toobz. This tool uses an air compressor to push balls through tubes. Kids assembled the tubes and watched balls shoot out, understanding the Bernoulli principle and its application in aerodynamics.
Marcus Steele, the family and youth service coordinator for the city of Gary and a former Youth of the Year, emphasized the event’s importance. He mentioned how kids could explore science in a relaxed, school-free environment.
Mike Jessen, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, praised the annual STEM-a-Thon for uniting club members from Lake and Porter counties. Jessen remarked on the event’s growth and the opportunity for clubs to connect.
Each of the eight clubs in the region sent teams, providing chances for camaraderie. Over the summer, kids participate in various activities, visiting places like zoos and museums. Jessen also joined in games like Jenga with the kids.
Community members like Jake Klotz, from Blockhead Beerworks, and Denise Koebcke, director of philanthropy, supported the event. Karla Conrad from the PALS group taught the kids about centrifugal force using cups of water swung on a cardboard platform.
The event showcased engaging STEM experiences for the youth, involving both fun activities and educational lessons.
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