The Science Mill Goes Outside with a New Grant!

The Science Mill is honored to receive a Texas Outside grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) for our Science Outside! Club. The CO-OP was founded by TPWD in 1996 to help introduce underserved populations to environmental education, conservation and outdoor recreation programs. The Science Mill’s new Science Outside! Club will further this initiative by engaging fourth through eighth grade students (and their parents) from rural communities in Blanco and Burnet Counties in outdoor science and recreational activities.

“The Science Mill is committed to significantly expanding its out-of-school, outdoor science activities in order to better serve young people from underrepresented populations. Our goal is to inspire young people to envision themselves in STEM careers related to outdoor recreation, conservation and land management. We also want to foster a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, conservation and the environment,” said Dr. Robert Elde, Science Mill Founder, Science Director and Vice Chair of the Board.

The Science Outside! Club is a collaboration between the Science Mill and Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Inks Lake State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park and Blanco State Park. Club meetings will take place at the Science Mill, and participants will also have access activities and events hosted by our partner organizations.

“The Science Mill has a history of successfully offering STEM- and career-focused summer camps and field trip activities, and we are excited to begin collaborating with organizations whose expertise and outdoor spaces are necessary for doing first-rate science outdoors,” said Elde. “We are proud to partner with the State Parks near our communities, the Bamberger Ranch and the LBJ National Historical Park to create and deliver this program.”

Science Outside! activities will include using Micro:Bit and Weather:Bit technology to create personal, digital weather stations, studying aquatic science, learning about conservation efforts and more. Club participants will meet with experts from the Science Mill and local communities for hands-on learning sessions. They will also complete assignments on their own in between club meetings, and report back on their findings.

Keep an eye on this space and our social media profiles for updates on the Science Outside! Club! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Association for Women in Science Honors Science Mill Founder

Science Mill Founder, Bonnie Baskin, PhD, received an award in April 2018 from the Outstanding Women in Science Seminar, hosted by the Association for Women in Science-Gulf Coast Houston Chapter (AWIS GCH). Dr. Baskin was recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurship skills.

“The AWIS GCH was inspired by Dr. Baskin’s commitment to promoting careers in STEM and inspiring the future generation of scientists,” said Delphine BOULBES, PhD, Chair, Outstanding Women in Science Seminar Series.

AWIS GCH supports women in STEM in the Texas Gulf Coast and Houston region by providing opportunities to participate in leadership and career development workshops, including networking opportunities that are valuable for career advancement.

“The Science Mill’s mission is to ignite curiosity and inspire students to pursue post-secondary education in STEM fields,” said Dr. Baskin. “It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that believes, as we do, in the power of introducing young people to the possibilities of a lifelong career in science, technology, engineering and math.”

Congratulations, Dr. Baskin! Science Mill staff, members and visitors thank you for your vision and passion.

A Sneak Peak at Summer Camp

Curious about Adventures in STEM Summer Camp at the Science Mill?

Our STEM Career Immersion Camps offer five days of action-filled adventures. To be victorious, you’ll have to drop some STEM knowledge on these challenges. By the end of the week you’ll have new friends, new skills and new goals for your future!

Here’s a look at some of the activities and connected STEM careers:

Apocalypse Now… What?

To get ahead in a post-apocalyptic world, you need to build tools that can move with you. Engineer portable protection pods by manipulating the powers of air, water and pressure. Then put your skills to work combining textiles and circuitry to design “smart” accessories and wearable technology that help you stay mobile in a haywire, apocalyptic world.

Engineering is not just for buildings and bridges. Engineers develop the everyday products we use, and they keep people’s needs in mind when designing them. In a Hunger Games-like world, many things threaten everyday safety. Students will learn about being an industrial designer, become a part of the Hunger Games plot while working as a team to meet the potential needs of people surviving in the districts. Complete the task by designing a fashionable wearable technology (or technology enhanced) accessory to meet one of the needs of life in the districts. 

Robotics to the Rescue

You and your team are going to need some help getting out of this apocalyptic mess. Complete a team-based rescue challenge by designing a one-of-a-kind robot and then developing a mobile app to control it.

Today, robotics is a booming field, with an expanding role in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and a wide range of other fields, including jobs too hazardous to be performed by people. Explore the field of robotics by taking on a rescue mission too dangerous to be done by mankind. Tackle a dynamic course to overcome challenges in this post-apocalyptic world of falling buildings, caving structures, shattered bridges.

Zombies!

Just when you thought you had things under control, there’s a zombie outbreak and you’re infected! You know zombies, they’re always losing limbs. Can you bio-engineer your way out of permanently losing an arm or leg? Design and build a prosthetic limb before it’s too late!

Explore osteology, kinesiology, and bio engineering, all sciences needed to understand bones and movement, allowing scientists to develop and build prosthetic limbs. Become a STEM entrepreneur along the way as you learn how to best design, develop, and market your unique limb to your target customer. Campers will also learn about epidemiology, the study of diseases and how they spread. They will become disease detectives!

Did You Know…

Our Johnson City-based camps offer optional FREE round-trip transportation to the Science Mill from Burnet and Marble Falls.

Pre/post-camp care is also available in Johnson City: 8am-9am ($25/week) and/or 4pm-5pm ($25/week).

Limited scholarship funds are available, based on financial need.

Fit Kids, Fit Brains: Guest Post from Marathon Kids

Why is physical fitness so important for children?

Globally, physical inactivity has reached pandemic proportions. The first 10 years of life are game-changing; these years provide a critical window for creating a lifelong commitment to physical activity. Research shows that kids need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. However, only one in five kids currently reaches that minimum.

Physical inactivity and poor food choices cause all sorts of problems, like diabetes, problem behavior, low self-esteem, heart disease, mental health issues, liver disease, and poor school performance. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends active play as the best exercise for younger children, including running. Kids are designed to move and run, and it’s an activity that is easy for them as well as fun. If they are interested in participating in other sports, running provides the physical foundation to move; and if they are not, movement of any kind increases their coordination and mental focus. 

In fact, physical activity has multiple, far-reachingeffects that last into adulthood. For example, the physical training in a typical soccer practice helps reduce the risk for depression while the strength training in that same practice will increase long-term skeletal health. 

Science tells us that kids who create healthy habits of physical activity and eating well are sculpting both their bodies and minds in a positive way; this sets children on a positive path that will influence the rest of their lives. Frequent and consistent movement is associated with better grades, attendance, and behavior while in elementary school, and as they grow, this will become a trajectory that results in upward mobility for both themselves and their own children, later on. 

According to DesignedtoMove.org, research shows that physical activity can positively impact everything educators are trying to achieve. “When children move regularly in school, behavior, attention, attendance and academic performance often improve. In the future, these children will have better income prospects, improved physical and mental health, and higher productivity.”

What can we do to get kids moving?

Coach Maria Mendez, a K-5 PE teacher at Freedom Elementary School in Southside Independent School District (approximately 20 miles south of downtown San Antonio) is a lifelong runner herself and decided to start a running club with her 4th graders. 

“[Our running club] has really inspired my students to become closer to one another, and to me. It has taught them responsibility, given them stamina, courage, and a love for running. It has made me become a better role model for my students. They always know what days we are running, and if certain circumstances arise, and they can’t run, they aren’t very happy.”

https://marathonkids.org/turning-opportunity-action-coach-mendez-freedom-elementary-marathon-kids/

For more information on how you can start a run club in your home, school, or neighborhood, visit the Marathon Kids website. If you want to get kids moving, we're here to help! 

Cami Hawkins is the CEO of Marathon Kids, a non-profit based in Austin, Texas. 

For another great way to get the whole family moving, join the Science Mill for the second annual Science of Sports on Saturday, April 14! For one day only, Science Mill visitors can test balance, measure reflexes, improve focus and more at eight specially designed stations. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the scientific principles behind movement, plus great tips for improving your performance. Record your family's or group's highest score at each station for a chance to get on the Science of Sports Leaderboard. The highest scoring team of the day will win a Family Membership to the Science Mill!