Photos from HCC’s 2022 Summer of STEAM

There was lots of fun and interactive learning this summer during HCC’s annual STEM + Arts = STEAM program. Check out the photos below to see some of the activities from this summer’s 8 weeks of STEAM activities for kids with their parents. The Tuesday morning portion of the annual STEM + Arts = STEAM program in Silver City is organized by Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties (HCC) and the program is open to all. Guest teachers are experts in their fields who come from many different organizations.

Bees and Other Pollinator Habitats

Kelly Clark, Chair of Carson City?s Bee City committee, and Linda Groves, master beekeeper, came to their June 14 event wearing bee ?antennae?! They set up activities about pollinators and a display showing which plants attract pollinators, and offered a honey tasting.

Kelly Clark, Chair of Carson City?s Bee City committee, and Linda Groves, master beekeeper, came to their June 14 event wearing their bee costumes including bee ?antennae? and even bee-themed socks and shoes!

School Readiness for Preschoolers

On June 21, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra brought hands-on fun for parents with their preschool age children. United Way?s AmeriCorps service members brought healthy snacks, free books, school readiness activities, and more. Nevada Health Centers and CCI?s Nevada Families First provided resource booths with lots of information about their programs. HCC offered toothbrush/floss kits and bicycle helmets.

**LEFT:** United Way?s annual event in Silver City includes free books!
**RIGHT:** CCI?s Nevada Families First provided resource booths with lots of information and goodies

Art and Design Careers Exploration

Michigan-based artist Brian Schorn, the summer visiting artist in Silver City, offered a workshop, ending with a fun art lesson, to about 40 teens from towns across Lyon County?s 2,000 square miles! With Master in Fine Arts degrees in graphic design, creative writing, fine art photography, and electronic music, Brian was able to give interns from HCC?s Comstock Youth Works program many ideas for career possibilities.

A career exploration workshop for teens on job possibilities in the art and design fields ended with a fun art lesson

Space Exploration Science

On June 28, parents with their children ages 8 to 12 learned about the science of space exploration. The presenter, Donald M. Scott, has a decade of experience with the Aerospace Education Services Program where he worked with NASA astronauts and scientists to develop K-12 activities. Kids got to launch model rockets, spun on an orbital mechanics turntable, and learned about spectroscopy. Related art and poetry by astronauts were integrated into the day.

Families enjoyed learning about the science of space exploration with Donald M. Scott, who had a decade of experience with the Aerospace Education Services Program.

Interesting tidbits about art and poetry created by astronauts were integrated into the morning?s activities

Children learned about space exploration science with activities such as a model rocket launch competition. Everyone wore safety goggles, of course!

Taking a spin on an orbital mechanics turntable is a fun way to learn new concepts.

Guided Meditation for Stress Reduction

On July 5 artist and college arts instructor Brian Schorn, who is also a certified meditation instructor with training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, led a free meditation session for teens and adults. The very relaxing event took place within the gallery space where Brian?s unique art was on display (?Comstock Wabi-Sabi). The session was co-sponsored by the Resident Artist Program in Silver City.

Experimental Electronic Music in the Park:

On July 12 on the stage in the park, Silver City?s summer artist-in-residence, Brian Schorn and Silver City musician Mylo McCormick offered a unique musical experience for all ages. The show included improvised sounds, and also ?music? from local flowers and plants and recordings of local birds and other sounds. Michigan-based multi-disciplinary artist Brian Schorn has a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Electronic Music and Recording Media and 3 other MFAs. His discography includes field recording, experimental jazz, musique concrete, etc. Mylo McCormick, recognized for ?Best Entertainment in Rural Nevada? by Nevada Magazine in 2019, performs with bands throughout Northern Nevada. The event was co-sponsored by the Resident Artist Program in Silver City.

Photo of Brian Schorn and Mylo McCormick courtesy of Don Scott

Robotics Engineering Mini-Camp

On July 19, the popular annual event led by the Society of Women Engineers Sierra Nevada Section and FIRST Nevada with volunteers from FTC Team 11574 Team Incognito attracted lots enthusiastic attendees. They participated in exciting competitions after they learned to create a program to make their robots go forward and back and drive in a square. Then they built a robot ?arm? and formed teams to compete with their robots! Younger attendees worked on fun activities that helped them understand basics of engineering.

Attendees learned to create a program to make their robots go forward and back and drive in a square

Competing with their robots is the culmination of the annual engineering mini-camp

Younger attendees did fun activities with Seena Drapala of Society of Women Engineers that helped them understand basics of engineering. In addition to Mechanical Engineering, Ms. Drapala also has a degree in fine arts (STEM + Arts + STEAM!)

Special Storytime with Vegetable Snacks from RHNI

On August 2, Linda Flaherty delighted children when she read Dayton author Lisa Selmi?s children?s book ?Oscar?s Big Adventure? while dressed as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. Afterward Linda, who is the Project Director for Healthy Communities? Rural Health and Nutrition Initiative, shared fresh vegetables from HCC?s River Road greenhouse with parents and children as special snack adventure. CCI?s Nevada Families First hosted a booth at the event and provided free children?s magazines and other goodies as well as information about their free home visiting program and other family resources.

Fresh radishes, tomatoes and more from HCC?s RHNI greenhouse with parents and children as an after storytime snack.

Renew, Re-Use, Recycle!

On August 9 Lisa Taylor, County Educator with University Nevada Cooperative Extension, led kids in hands-on ?Renew, Re-use, Recycle? activities. Famililes learned about the benefits of composting in a hands-on activity with live red worms! They learned how to make their own mini-compost bin out of recycled material. They also made and took home their own bird feeders made from recycled cardboard after they learned about the benefits of recycling and repurposing to reduce waste.

Learning about composting in a hands-on activity with live red worms!

Learning about recycling with a sorting game that all ages enjoyed.

Making bird feeders from recycled cardboard, seed and peanut butter

Toothbrushes, Bike Helmets, Plus Info on Health, Child Development, Affordable Insurance, STEAM Careers and More

HCC?s summer STEAM program also distributed toothbrush/floss kits, bicycle helmets, healthy snacks, and resource info was shared by Community Chest Inc, Nevada Health Centers, Nevada Health Link, Society of Women Engineers, FIRST Nevada, United Way, Carson City Bee City affiliate, etc.

Groups such as Nevada Health Link also distributed information during HCC?s summer program.

Information about educational clubs and career possibilities was shared by SWE during HCC?s summer program

HCC also distributed bicycle helmets, toothbrushes, and healthy snacks during the summer program.

Throughout the STEAM program, parents were offered copies of The Dandelion, the monthly newsletter by Healthy Communities Coalition that shares resource updates from HCC?s food pantries and HCC group partners.

Contact information

If you?d like to be on an email list for alerts about public summer STEM + Arts events at the Silver City Schoolhouse (community center), volunteer-led library, park, and outdoor stage (all at 385 High Street), please contact quest@hcclsc.org.

Silver City is located within a historic landmark on the Comstock 3 miles south of Virginia City and 7 miles from Dayton.