Youth Experience STEM Through Hands-on Activities at Annual STEM-A-Thon

In Valparaiso, Central Park Plaza hosted approximately 200 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. They participated in the annual STEM-A-Thon, engaging with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in interactive ways.

Activities ranged from flight simulators to robotic demonstrations. Kids also experimented with shooting balls using air compressors and tested the effects of centrifugal force by swinging cups of water overhead.

A 17-year-old participant named Leonard enjoyed posing for photos at the event. “I felt like I was on top of the world,” he said while standing at the Best Buy booth.

Among other experiences, Lincoln, aged 12, learned to use a handheld magnification device, emphasizing the precision needed to obtain clear images. Austin, 7, tried wearing astronaut-like gloves, gaining insight into the challenges astronauts face in space. He shared, “The gloves are super big and my hand is small.” Jean-Michel Sicaud, from Boeing, enjoyed seeing the children manipulate objects while wearing bulky gloves.

Laylah, 10, played with Air Toobz, using an air compressor to shoot balls through interconnected tubes. “I would tell my mom to buy these,” Laylah remarked enthusiastically. The activity illustrated the Bernoulli principle, relevant in industries like air hockey and wind tunnel testing.

Marcus Steele, Family and Youth Service Coordinator for Gary, shared his experience as a former club member. “I was a club kid myself for five years,” he reflected, highlighting the event’s relaxed educational setting.

Mike Jessen, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs in the region, highlighted the importance of gathering all clubs from Lake and Porter counties. “Getting all the clubs together makes the experience unique,” Jessen explained. He noted that during summer, children can spend up to 11.5 hours at the club, with frequent field trips to venues like zoos and museums.

Jake Klotz, formerly a member of Valparaiso Boys & Girls Club, shared his experience watching his former club’s transformation into a hotel. Now associated with Blockhead Beerworks, he recalled his connection to Denise Koebcke, now director of philanthropy for the Boys & Girls Club organization.

As part of the event, Denise Koebcke ensured lunches for the children while Karla Conrad from PALS taught them about centrifugal force. Conrad commented, “The object is to not spill the water and get things spinning in a circular motion.”

The event illustrated the collaborative efforts that foster a deeper understanding of STEM concepts among young participants.