Nearly 300 STARS students to attend STEAM Day

Kids are covered with foam at STEM event.

(Submitted by Wood County Educational Service Center’s Community Learning Centers)

This summer, with the support of the United Way, and in collaboration with the Bowling Green City School District, the Wood County Educational Service Center’s Community Learning Centers STARS program is bringing all 8 of its districts, almost 300 students, to an in-house developed field trip at the BGSU Perry Field House.

On June 12, from 12 to 3 p.m., STARS students will have the amazing opportunity to participate in STEAM Day, a day full of hands-on activities, including marshmallow catapults, LEGO robotics, and various styles of dance. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This one-day, hands-on learning experience will allow students the opportunity to engage in various activities led by representatives from STEAM related career fields.

Companies such as American Chemical Society, Control Design Solutions, Wood Soil and Water Conservation District, and the SSOE Group will be in attendance and providing these activities to students.

Not only will students have the opportunity to participate in the above stated hands-on activities, but there will also be a station provided by the Challenger Center of Lake Erie West, where participants will experience the StarLab, an inflatable planetarium, and the Mars Map. In addition, there will be a station with inflatables, including a bouncy house, slide, and obstacle course; our little way of keeping students engaged and excited about STEAM.

The event is running similar to that of STEM², which was the name of last year’s field trip, however this year, we are incorporating the arts, changing the name from STEM to STEAM. We felt the arts were an important component to include, and one that was lacking in last year’s field trip.

The Community Learning Centers of the Wood County Educational Service Center provide quality enrichment and extended learning activities for elementary children – grades K-5. Our daily before-school, after-school, and summer STARS programs meet the care and supervision needs of parents during out-of-school hours, while engaging children in fun learning experiences that complement their school-day instruction.

Summer STARS hours are from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, the entire summer. Site locations include: Bowling Green-Crim, Eastwood, Elmwood, Genoa, North Baltimore, Northwood, Rossford-Eagle Point, and Woodmore. A generous sliding-fee/scholarship schedule is used to make the program very affordable for families.

Interested in learning more about the collaboration or how to register your child for STARS? Please contact Susan Youngpeter at 419-354-9010 or visit our website, http://www.wood.k12.oh.us/community-learning-centers-of-wcesc, for more information.