What Now America

Last Saturday centered on science, combining useful scientific information with group games and interactive activities, which shared different ways that scientific concepts affect everyday life. For example, a demonstration using marbles showed how sound waves move in one direction. Illustrating the way that people localize sound using both ears, the youth played a game in which a blindfolded person had to guess where a sound was coming from. The game emphasized the importance of listening to directions and taking turns, as the youth needed to be completely silent as one person was making a sound. Other exciting games allowed the youth to engage in healthy exercise and stretch their brains by following complicated directions.  

In another component of the program, the youth learned about the process of engineering a successful design for a given task. In this case, the goal was positioning a straw on a balloon such that the balloon would go furthest when strung on a string using the straw. When the air was released from these balloons, they would move down the string, stopping at different distances and moving at varying speeds. Two test runs allowed the youth to experiment with different designs, helping them choose the ideal placement for the big final race. Suspense built in the air as the balloons were strung on the strings, and as the air was released, the balloons sped to the finish line, in close races where a single second could decide the outcome. Throughout the race, helpfulness and patience kept the competition friendly, with the youth sharing design tips and aiding each other with readying the balloons.  

The appreciations allowed the youth to express their enjoyment of the day’s activities, as well as giving the volunteers an opportunity to acknowledge youth for enabling positive interaction in the program. The volunteers recognized a participant for her respectful and helpful attitude, sharing the importance of constructive participation in the program, preserving the environment of learning and personal growth.