The Science on Wheels Mobile Unit at the Arizona Science Center visited Camp Verde Community Library on August 31st for an evening of STEM activities, giveaways and more.

According to CVCL, this casual, drop-in, open house-style event is designed around families’ schedules.

As soon as the event tables were set up, enthusiastic families began exploring the Science Center’s offerings, including free school supplies, books, and a variety of activities.

“While all the supplies we provide are focused on getting back to school, the primary focus of this particular program is helping families recover from COVID-19. said Vanessa Gutierrez, educator and assistant manager of Science on Wheels.

Activities include a “form builder” that allows children to create their own 2D and 3D shapes, and a planet density interactive that uses cups filled with loose change to represent different weights of the planets in our solar system. was

Perhaps the most exciting activity for both children and parents was space postcards.

“This particular activity is really cool,” Gutierrez said. “We are partnering with Blue Origin. [Aerospace Company]Families and children can write their name and address, draw a small drawing on the back, and send it to the next one going into space. When you get back, put a stamp saying “I’ve been to space” and send it back. ”

Gutierrez said mobile units frequently travel to underserved communities and offer a variety of programs, including Science on Wheels, as well as Native Health programs.

“We are working with Native Health to provide a virtual kit with supplies that you can do at home,” she said.

One example of a virtual kit project is a ‘doodle bot’ created by attaching pool noodles and markers to an electric toothbrush.

“It’s basically an oversized wavy pen,” says Gutierrez.

Gutierrez explained additional outreach programs that provide opportunities to learn about different cultural traditions, such as the use of natural dyes.

“We work on different types of Latin American cultural dyes and go to Peru and Colombia,” she said. to make a print.”

“It’s really fun and a great way to vent your anger,” she laughed.

Gutierrez explained what the children he works with have in common.

“They are grateful,” she said. “I don’t want to carry too many supplies because I don’t want to take them away from people in need.”

Gutierrez said the science center is always trying to reach out to children, parents, libraries and resource centers.

“We always wonder if there’s a shortage in our community. We don’t want to see it, we want to fill it,” she said. “It’s really important that we reach out to them as much as we do.”

The science center receives funding from various companies, including Boeing, Ford Motor Company and Microsoft Intel, but the center also accepts donations, Gutierrez said.

For Science on Wheels, the center will receive funding from AZ OnTrack, a state-funded initiative designed to overcome learning losses that occurred during the coronavirus pandemic.

“With this particular program and AZ OnTrack funding, we were able to go to every county, which is great,” says Gutierrez. “We’ve been there a little more than others, but our real hit is with the local community and really trying to get the word out.”