New Salem Lions Club

New Salem STEM Event

Students learn about STEM through hands on carnival games

- Story by: Ann Estvold (Morton County News Journal)

New Salem Lions Club and Gateway to Science bring STEM experience to students

WC: 404

The New Salem Lions Club hosted a STEMzone event in partnership with Gateway to Science for New Salem-Almont Public Schools on Friday, September 20 in the New Salem Auditorium. Approximately 170 students from grades second through seventh attended.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and connects the fields in those areas for learning and problem solving. STEMzone is a Gateway to Science outreach program which aims to promote STEM education. The event features carnival-style stations that allow students to engage in hands-on, high-energy learning experiences.

The New Salem event featured ten stations designed to spark curiosity and inspire a passion for STEM fields. Stations included activities about magnets, optical illusions, circuits, air powered vehicles, satellites and architecture. Students could also participate in an obstacle course about balance, create a bus from building blocks and send it down a ramp, build catapults and launch pompoms or pretend to be an astronaut at the astronaut workstation. Each station focused on different aspects of STEM, providing a unique opportunity for students to explore, learn and engage with real-world applications of STEM concepts.

Community and high school volunteers helped run the different stations by explaining the activity and background information on the subject. Volunteers also helped with constructing the different projects and offering feedback on how to improve.

Annie Beck, STEM Educator at Gateway to Science, stated that outreach programs are a wonderful way to reach kids that may not have the opportunity to come to Bismarck. The outreach programs also highlight STEM careers and give the kids the opportunity to experience STEM.

“Our belief is that science is for everyone, whether you are one or 101,” said Beck.

She went onto say that Gateway to Science exposes people to all types of science and allows them to never stop learning.

Dan Klug from the New Salem Lions Club stated that the best part of the event was watching the students open their minds to STEM and seeing them try something new.

North Dakota’s Gateway to Science is located in Bismarck and is a trusted resource for educators, parents and students. Gateway to Science provides hand-on learning opportunities in the science center and through outreach programs which highlight STEM careers and industries.

The New Salem Lions would like to thank their members, community members and the high school students who came to assist with the event. All of their efforts helped make it a great success.

Pre-Event Announcement

New Salem Lions Club Hosts Gateway to Science STEMzone Event for New Salem-Almont Public Schools

New Salem, ND – September 20, 2024 – The New Salem Lions Club is excited to announce the hosting of the Gateway to Science STEMzone event for New Salem-Almont Public Schools, offering an interactive, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experience for grades 2-7, impacting approximately 240 students.

The STEMzone event will take place at the New Salem Auditorium on September 20, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This exciting event aims to promote STEM education and create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills in young students. It will feature ten engaging stations designed to spark curiosity and inspire a passion for STEM fields. Each station will focus on different aspects of science and technology, providing a unique opportunity for students to explore, learn, and engage with real-world applications of STEM concepts.

The New Salem Lions Club would like to extend a special thank you to Brian Christopherson, superintendent of the New Salem-Almont Public Schools, for his unwavering support and partnership in making this event possible.

“We are thrilled to bring this event to the New Salem-Almont Public Schools and provide an unforgettable learning experience for their young students,” said a representative of the New Salem Lions Club. “Our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators by giving them the opportunity to explore STEM in a fun and interactive way.”

The New Salem Lions Club is dedicated to serving the community through various service projects and initiatives, with a strong focus on education, youth development, and community engagement. For more information about the STEMZone event or to get involved with the New Salem Lions Club, please contact Dan Klug, (703) 785-2053 or Keith Olson, New Salem Lions Club President, (701) 226-1774.

Submitted by:

Dan Klug

(703) 785-2053

Dantk7@gmail.com