The Wallops Flight Facility NASA Visitor Center has kicked off its summer programs for explorer of all ages.
The Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Aug 31, and host free programs every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 p.m.
STEAM Labs are every Wednesday exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities. Each activity is approximately 45 minutes long, and is for children from the ages of six and up.
“The goal is to get children involved with STEAM,” said Allison Jennings, an environmental studies intern from the University of Pittsburgh, who oversees the STEAM Labs. “We’ll have activities involving earth science, research, wind tunnels, rocketry, engineering challenges, and more.”
The Friday Rocketry activities give the children a look inside the NASA Sounding Rocket program at Wallops. Each model or water bottle rocket launching will follow a short discussion. This activity could take up to an hour, and is for children ages six and up.
On Saturdays, the center will hold a tour of the solar system, presented in the Science on a Sphere theater. A Wallops informal educator will guide visitors through our solar system with stops at the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, and moons. This presentation is 30 minutes long and geared for ages eight and up.
“In addition to the public program offerings this summer, we will offer astronomy nights on the beach at Assateague Island National Seashore, two rocket launch viewings, rainy day activities, and pop-up programming,” said Kim Check, director of the Wallops Visitor Center.
Keep an eye out for pop-up events! Drop in for a guided activity about how the Earth, the solar system and beyond are being explored today. The dates and times for these activities are to be announced.
Stay up to date by liking the Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center page on Facebook @nasawffvisitorcenter.
The NASA Visitor Center is located on Va. Rt. 175 about six miles from U. S. Route 13 and five miles from Chincoteague. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter.
Photo Caption: Build a model of the James Webb Space Telescope is one of many hands-on activities at the NASA Visitor Center this summer.
Haley Weisgerber
haley.n.weisgerber@nasa.gov