Sponsored KidWind 2023 students enjoying science exhibits at the Mesa Lab.
As part of HAO's DEI initiative, we recently sponsored nine 4th & 5th grade girls (and 1 boy) and 8 parents from Port Towns Elementary School in Bladensburg, MD, a predominantly low-income area near Washington, DC, to travel to Boulder and participate in the KidWind Challenge at CU. They had won the regional competition, which qualified them for a chance to compete here with their wind turbine.
The group arrived Sunday morning, May 14, and we shuttled them up to the Mesa Lab, where a group of volunteers was waiting. We expected the kids to be exhausted, having been up since 4am ET, but they were full of energy and the pizza was late, so they had time to run around outside for a while.
Sponsored KidWind 2023 students enjoying a science demonstration in the Mesa Lab cafeteria.
After lunch, we broke into groups and alternated between teaching them how we observe the Sun, how the Sun works, and its role in the Solar System through activities showcasing the visible light spectrum and the effect of UV light, the influence of magnetic fields in organizing the solar structures, and by touring the exhibits to learn more about the Sun-Earth connection and the atmospheric and earth sciences being pursued at NCAR. The kids asked some really great questions, showing their inquisitiveness. They cleaned out the cafeteria's ice cream supply before we shuttled them down to their hotel.
Thank you to volunteers: Kalista Tyson, Samaiyah Farid, Dana Lacatus, Alin Paraschiv, Sheryl Shapiro, and Holly Gilbert.
Sponsored KidWind 2023 students and parents enjoying a group photograph behind the Mesa Lab on the scenic nature trail.