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| Jennifer Covington with Huber Technology explains how we are able to clean and reuse water |
CLICK to view the event video
A beautiful fall morning at the Duke Energy Explorium on Lake Norman: Who could have asked for a better setting for the Third Annual STEM Outdoor Catawba River Learning Laboratories?On Sept. 27, more than 500 fifth graders from schools in the River District came to get hands-on learning and inspiration about the importance of science, technology, engineering and math. The Catawba River District coordinated the event in partnership with the UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education
Scores of volunteers from local businesses, colleges and environmental groups oversaw the learning stations and shared their knowledge and enthusiasm with eager learners.
One veteran of previous STEM fairs was Jennifer Covington with Huber Technology. As she waited with co-workers for the first students to come to their water-cleansing activity, she reflected on how much learning takes place when kids have access to hands-on programs like this.
“There are so enthusiastic and ready to learn. They love touching things and looking in microscopes. They really just enjoy the entire event,” Covington said.
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| Instructor Wayne Fisher talks to the students about deer |
Craig Wyant with the NC Wildlife Federation had many animal skins for students to touch, while David Fogarty with the Gaston branch of the NC Cooperative Extension explained local flora. Wayne Fisher, who oversees science instruction in Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary schools, even got kids to pretend they were deer.
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| Mayors Patrick Cannon, left and Bryan Hough handle snakes for the crowd of kids. |
Lesson in snake handling
The event ended with lunch on the lakeside lawn and a chance for students and teachers to get one last lesson: in snake handling!
“Do you think these two gentlemen are going to be able to hold our snakes,” a naturalist asked to loud cheers as others handed large nonpoisonous snakes to the event’s two celebrity guests, Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon of Charlotte (now mayor) and Mayor Bryan Hough of Mount Holly.
Children and adults alike laughed as the two men cautiously let the snakes slither up their arms. The snakes don't see us as humans, the naturalists explained. They think we are trees for climbing!
Jeffrey Ruppenthal, principal of Mountain Island Elementary School, spent the day with his fifth graders. The STEM fair is a valuable learning event for his students, he said. “For one thing, they’re right next to the river. It’s important to see that not only is this the waterway for their community, but it’s also the water-drinking source, and then they’re out here doing hands-on experiments in the beautiful weather.”
Students also liked this different way to learn. “We had all these activities,” one boy said, “which made it fun.”
Interactive Learning Station hosts:
- Belmont Abbey College Elementary Education
- Carolina Raptor Center
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Elementary Science
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities - Grease Free Education Program
- DoYourPart - Terri Bennett
- Huber Technology
- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
- Mecklenburg County Air Quality
- Mecklenburg County Environmental Health – Groundwater
- Mountain Island State Education Forest
- NC Cooperative Extension – Gaston County
- NC Wildlife Federation
- ReCommunity
- UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education
- UNC Charlotte Recycling
- WCNC – meteorologist John Wendel
Participating schools
- Ida A. Rankin Elementary
- Catawba Heights Elementary
- Mountain Island Elementary
- River Oaks Academy
- Whitewater Academy
Event sponsors
- Duke Energy
- Huber Technology
- Piedmont Natural Gas
- Novant Health
- Catawba River District
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