As the global pandemic quarantine restrictions continued into the late spring months, West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s Challenger Learning Center at Paducah, came to the realization that our traditional summer camps would not be possible. Being on track to a record-breaking year with 300 registrations already received by March, we knew that our customers needed a fun, unique alternative for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. As our staff started brainstorming, the idea of the Blast Packs eventually came to be – literally thinking outside of the box brought us to the idea of summer camp in a box! We wanted the blast packs to be multi-faceted, so we included all the supplies for four activities per box, created introduction videos that were posted on our YouTube Channel and facilitated a Zoom follow-up session for campers to share findings and results from the activities and experiments they conducted.
The CLC offered three packs in June and three different packs in July, each one having its own STEM theme. June’s blast packs included the themes of Exciting Engineering, Space Food and Super Science. Campers built a robotic hand, a Newton’s Car, a catapult and a launch abort system. They also conducted experiments with UV beads, polymers, lima bean seeds and even diapers! They tested foods like bread and tortillas for lengths of freshness, made an astronaut drink bag and taste tested astronaut ice cream. July’s blast packs included the themes of Awesome Aerospace, Spectacular Space and Minute to STEM It. Campers built water bottle rockets, straw rockets, balsa wood gliders and parachutes. They came to the center one day for a drive through rocket launch where each camper was able to launch their water bottle rocket using a special air pressure launcher. Other activities included moon and star observations and fun STEM challenges that tested their coordination and problem-solving skills.
The CLC has done some other thinking outside of the box during the time that children have not been allowed in our center due to COVID-19 restrictions. We produced 27 Challenger Connections videos that provided mini- STEM lessons that students can easily do with items found around the house. These can still be found on our YouTube Channel or Facebook page by searching Challenger Learning Center at Paducah. They are not only educational, but really entertaining! We have also conducted an “Ask an Expert” series that has included Kentucky’s only astronaut, Terry Wilcutt, and NASA flight director and Princeton, Kentucky, native Rebecca Wingfield. We will be having another one soon that will feature NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Jim Green. As we did with Colonel Wilcutt and Rebecca Wingfield, the CLC will make the call for questions on our Facebook page and then pick the ten best submissions to join Dr. Green on a virtual session. Make sure you follow our Facebook page for the latest on all of our programming! Until we can see you again at the center, keep learning and reach for the stars!
