On Monday, approximately 200 kids immersed themselves in science, technology, engineering, and math activities. These enthusiastic members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana gathered at Urschel Pavilion and Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso.
The event, titled Stem-A-THON, featured engaging activities such as flight simulators, robots, and challenges like swinging cups of water overhead. It aimed to bring club members from Lake and Porter counties together for hands-on learning experiences.
Leonard, aged 17, took center stage for photographs at the Best Buy booth, expressing excitement over the experience. “I felt like I was on top of the world,” he commented. Besides participating in the event, Leonard creates play-along videos on YouTube and boasts a one-hour video he produced six months ago.
Other participants included Lincoln, 12, who operated a handheld magnification device. He shared his insights, saying, “You have to zoom in the perfect amount to get it to resolve.” Austin, 7, got a taste of astronaut life by wearing oversized leather gloves to mimic the challenges astronauts face when handling objects in space.
Jean-Michel Sicaud, a Boeing employee, supported the children in various tasks, such as threading nuts onto bolts while wearing the gloves. He noted the interest in astronaut careers among some of the attendees.
Laylah, 10, enjoyed playing with Air Toobz, a set of plastic tubes and an air compressor that blew balls into the air. Her fascination was evident as she encouraged her mother to purchase the setup. Leniyah, 11, also enjoyed this and appreciated adjusting the air pressure for enhanced effect.
The Bernoulli principle, which they observed, finds applications in air hockey tables, hovercrafts, and wind tunnels for aerodynamics testing.
Marcus Steele, the family and youth service coordinator for the city of Gary, addressed the participants. Once a club member himself, Marcus emphasized the event’s growth and uniqueness, stating, “It just seems like it gets bigger every year.”
Mike Jessen, the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, valued the opportunity for clubs to unite. “Getting all the clubs together is what makes this experience so unique,” he said. The kids, who usually spend extensive summer hours at the clubs, participate in various trips and activities, including visits to zoos and museums.
Jake Klotz, a manager at Blockhead Beerworks, reflected on his time with the Boys & Girls Club and shared his experiences with the children. Meanwhile, Denise Koebcke, the director of philanthropy for the organization, was involved in the coordination and support of the event.
Karla Conrad from the PALS young professionals group educated the kids about centrifugal force, encouraging them to balance glasses of water on cardboard platforms while swinging them in circular motions.
These activities provided a fun and educational environment, highlighting how STEM concepts apply to everyday scenarios. The collective efforts of volunteers and organizers brought a memorable and enriching experience for all who attended.
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