Hands-on aerospace events for students coming to Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The Apple STEM Network, in collaboration with a team of elementary educators in Moses Lake, will host three Family STEM Nights this spring, according to an announcement from the organization. These events, sponsored by the Boeing Company, aim to ignite curiosity and foster an understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, among students and their families, with a special focus on sustainable aviation fuel and the future of aerospace.
The initiative addresses a critical need in the Moses Lake community: increasing local engagement and understanding of sustainable technologies, according to the announcement. With the establishment of Twelve's new SAF production facility and innovative aerospace developments by Boeing and Aerotech in the region, there's a pressing opportunity to connect these industry advancements with educational experiences for young learners.
The first event will be titled “Aerospace Forces, Kinetic and Potential Energy, and Flight Challenge,” according to the announcement. It will be Jan. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Garden Heights Elementary School in Moses Lake.
Participants will explore forces and motion through hands-on stations delving into kinetic and potential energy, and then design, build, and test their own flying creations to understand the science of flight. Dinner is provided for each class, and with the theme being space, the menu includes “Space Dogs” (corn dogs) and “Shooting Stars” (french fries).
The second, titled “Sustainable Aviation Fuel, States of Matter, and Clean Fuel Activity,” will take place 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, also at Garden Heights Elementary. Participants will perform interactive experiments showcasing solids, liquids and gases and learn how sustainable aviation fuel is produced and its impact on the environment. Dinner will be Space Sub sandwiches.
The third event will be 6-7:30 p.m. April 3, and held at Aerotech, 7810 Andrews St NE, Moses Lake. Titled “Research and Development in Aerospace,” it will offer participants an insider's look at aerospace technology and cutting-edge research through a tour of the Aerotech facility and up-close experience with actual aircraft used in pioneering innovations. Dinner will be pizza.
There is no charge for any of these sessions, and no preregistration is required, according to NCW Tech Alliance spokesman David Estrada. The series of events and planning activities have been supported by a philanthropic grant through Boeing and partnerships with industry leaders like Boeing, Twelve, and Aerotech, alongside educational institutions and community organizations such as Big Bend Community College, the Moses Lake Museum, the Museum of Flight, Simplot, NCESD Career Connected Learning, and the Garden Heights Parent Teacher Organization, Estrada wrote.
"Elementary students as young as 10 begin to eliminate potential careers from their future," Dr. Michelle Johnstone, principal of Garden Heights Elementary School, wrote in the announcement. "These Family STEM Nights provide incredible opportunities for our students to explore and consider futures in aerospace right here in Moses Lake. We're immensely grateful to our community partners for supporting these vital connections."