Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) participated in the Outdoor Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Laboratory during Naval Air Station Oceana's annual Air Show held in Virginia Beach, Virginia., Sept. 9-11.

The event drew more than 6,500 fifth graders from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, where they interacted with STEM displays provided by the Navy and Department of Defense organizations.

"Our goal today is to help these students open their mental model of where they want to go and what they want to do with their future," said Norfolk Naval Shipyard STEM Coordinator Valarie Fullwood. "These events help instill a structure of how to do more critical thinking by allowing them to implement what they are learning and put some of those concepts into practice."

This year the goal was to provide each student at least three meaningful STEM interactions via more than 100 access points positioned on the flight line within four STEM zones. Students were able to participate in creating snap circuits and straw rockets, as well as experience a virtual reality paint booth and control small submarines known as sea perches.

"We have the students building straw rockets in order to demonstrate aerodynamics," said Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas Mercer, from MARMC. "We allow the kids to build their own rockets so they can be creative and see how different designs perform. We give them some basic materials and instruction, but it will be up to them to create the best rocket."

Once the students created their rockets they were able to test them by placing them in a pneumatic tube which uses air pressure to shoot the rockets skyward. Other students experimented with the snap circuits, which are similar to Legos with circuits built into them. There are basic electronic components, including resistors, diodes, speakers, motors and power source switches. The circuits make the concepts of electronics a bit more understandable as students could see how each component interacted with the others to create sounds or to light up a bulb.

"I have always had an interest in STEM events," said MARMC Naval Architect Ross Oliveira. "In college, I did a lot of tutoring and would help out at the local schools. In terms of technology and the sciences, there are a lot of opportunities open to kids today that weren't around when I was in school. I think it is really neat that they have the chance to learn about these fields at such a young age. I still feel like a kid at heart, and being here in an aircraft hangar today gets me excited to share the experience with the students."

The experience of working closely with young students was even more personal for Mercer, as his son was in attendance at the event.

"My son entered fifth grade this year and his class is participating today. I thought it would be a great opportunity to be out here when he arrives and to show him and his classmates how fun science can be," said Mercer.

That enthusiasm was shared by all volunteers and the teachers of the students that were chaperoning the event.

"I think this is so cool for us to be able to provide a hands-on environment for our students. They are going to remember this for a lifetime," said Seatack Elementary Achievable Dream Academy Teacher Marie Craig. "Even though these kids live right here in the area, they don't always get access to these types of learning experiences. Today, they get to actually interact with a lot of great technologies that we don't have in the classroom."

"I think it is really important to hold events like these to keep young kids interested in going to college and maybe pursuing an engineering degree or something within the sciences. The more we build that interest now, the more likely they will continue on as they get older," said Oliveira.

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