Eastern Wayne High School to host state science fest event
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 30, 2016 1:46 PM
Eastern Wayne High School has been chosen as a host site for "The Great Outdoors and the Night Sky," an event which is part of the 2016 North Carolina Science Festival.
This is the second year for the stargazing event at the local high school. It will be held on Saturday, April 9, from 6-10 p.m.
The festival, presented by the Biogen Foundation, is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was founded in 2010.
"We're inviting schools and the community to attend," said Joyce Thorpe, science teacher at Eastern Wayne. "If you have a telescope, bring it.
"We'll have the ROTC shoot off rockets, school clubs will set up booths and there will be fun activities and games set up for the whole family to participate."
In addition to guest speakers, the evening will feature hands on activities, vendors and demonstrations. Astronomers, hobbyists, experts and teachers are welcome to bring camping gear and enjoy the night sky, Ms. Thorpe said, although overnight camping is not allowed.
The kickoff will be from 6 to 6:30 p.m. followed by the evening's activities.
The school's science club has been organizing the endeavor, building on the inaugural event in 2015.
"Last year they had a really big telescope and we got to see Saturn," said Savannah Shoemake, a sophomore.
"We also found an app that could tell you what constellation you're looking at," added senior Tyra Artis, president of the science club.
This year's focus is on astronomy and the club hopes to attract a larger audience, said organizer Nation Best, a senior. The project manager for this year's event, he said it has been a team effort, with students working together to create a fun and educational experience.
"It's definitely going to be another chance to engage and interact and participate in higher learning and have fun at the same time," he said. "It's a chance to learn something new, probably things that you think you'll never use, and just gain more knowledge."
And it's free to the public, Savannah said. The state provides a kit and various materials, with students generating plans for what will take place at the host site.
"I would say my favorite part was when we got to look at the stars and the little kids, how excited they were, and to see the smiles on their faces," Ashley Wells, a junior, said of last year's event.
Senior Veah Velasco said that while the subject of science may be viewed as "bookish," it can also be fun.
"I think it's part of making it interesting and making it relate to us," she said. "It lets you work with people who don't necessarily know about science and creates this community sharing of a similar goal -- helping these people grow in their knowledge of science."
Savannah said she has appreciated going beyond the typical classroom setting of sitting at a desk all day and looking up information.
"This is an opportunity to learn hands on, by doing and not just by reading in the textbook," she said.
Even teachers at the school Eastern Wayne came away with a new insight about science after last year's event.
Math teacher Tyrese Starkey said, "I think it sparks an enthusiasm and an interest in science, not only just science but all the outdoor lovers, they get to come out and enjoy it."
Anjanette Artis, a math teacher whose daughter, Tyra, helped organize the event, said she hadn't known what to expect going in but was "amazed and overwhelmed" by what she saw.
"I heard people from the community talking about it," she said. "It was so relaxing. I don't know too much about science but the information they were giving, it was amazing and it was fun.
"My husband and other daughter were there and they were excited about the next year. It was awesome."
For more information on the stargazing event, contact Ms. Thorpe at joycethorpe@wcps.org. To learn more about the N.C. Science Festival based in Raleigh, going on throughout the month of April, visit the website, www.ncsciencefestival.org.