Creating a New Mindset – Steve Spangler’s STEM Conference
STEM isn’t just about the obvious – science, technology, engineering and math… it’s about creating opportunity for children to think […]
A play day at the children’s museum
By Mary Bogest
About Town
Let the games begin! And they did in grand splendor.
It was the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Play Soiree.
To put it more succinct, it was an extravagant win at the STEM and Play Soiree at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum.
Play was not just for the children, but to the adults as well.
The definition was science, and for all ages — kids and adults!
“Fun for all ages — kids and adults!” Steve Spangler, the science superstar, television personality, frequent guest on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and best-selling author, was the shining star of the spectacular evening.
The parking lot was already full as I arrived at the event. That certainly is not a shock to me.
I mean it celebrated its third anniversary on April 30. That’s more than impressive. The numbers are staggering. The museum welcomed more than 474,805 visitors from all 50 states and all 100 North Carolina counties.
That’s an amazing number. And they came, they played, and they returned for more.
The reason is not just the mission and the exhibits, but the financial support as well.
While those figures are impressive, my favorite figure is $1.3 million.
Why? That is the amount of free and discounted tickets given to families. That is one of the reasons donors continue to be needed. So, the STEM & Play Soiree was not only a “thank you” to the donors but also an opportunity to reach new donors to experience the discovery of science.
Everything was first class and organized.
As I entered the museum, I celebrated its co-founder and former editor of The High Point Enterprise, giving it the recognition it so deserves. From the beginning, the museum’s mission has been to offer an exceptional experience to all children. I really think the mission is being fulfilled.
The event was called “Explore and Eat.”
At every turn, a food station (of course) packed with some incredible soul food.
There was charcuterie, chicken and waffles, bacon and cheese bar, burger sliders, parmesan squares, parmesan baked chicken bites and old-fashioned fresh popcorn, to name a few.
I was then ready to begin my Mary Milage.
A few of the most interesting “scientists” I discovered were Molly and Ronnie Young.
They are supporters, of course, and community icons. Ronnie is on the museum’s board of directors. They are always great to see.
Then I was talking with Katie Clayton, who was holding her son, Quinn. Katie, a native of the Cayman Islands, takes on a new significant role in the sports history: Hatter. Her son, baby-headed Flynn, was just born. Her husband is the new head coach for the HPU men’s basketball team.
I was also so great to see museum board treasurer Jo Adams and her husband Jim, who has been a former member of the museum board and is known for his work with Bundles of Joy, which benefits new mothers and babies from First Baptist High Point.
Also great to see their daughter, Monica, and her husband, Alan. I always enjoy talking to Monica’s friend, Gloria, and their friends Angela and Rick.
I wasn’t far along before everyone gathered in the performance gallery to hear Megan Ward welcome everyone and Steve Spangler went on stage to say, “Thank you to our donors and supporters.”
Ward also gave a special shout-out to all the exciting and awesome stations for the soiree.
There were science stations that included the HPU Mobile Science Lab (with reach grabbers to break out), Go Nuts, Go Bananas, Exploding Lamps and so much more.
The HPU science team, along with the museum volunteers and staff, created a magical science wonderland.
The balloon experiment was one of Ward’s favorites. She said, “It’s amazing how Steve Spangler can get 4.5 billion views on his science videos featured on social media.” One of the most fascinating videos on his fame in 2016 was the Mentos Diet Coke challenge that has remained a hit to this day.
Spangler also did a science experiment he calls “Flying Toilet Paper.” The experiment illustrates a science concept called Bernoulli’s Principle, where an entire roll of toilet paper flies up into the air in just seconds using the power of air from a leaf blower.
Spangler’s big finale produced a giant cloud that filled the museum lobby. But as Spangler says, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” That’s when he filled a 55-gallon trash can with 2,500 ping pong balls and sent them flying into the air with help from a little liquid nitrogen.
Wow. What an amazing night of wonder and discovery. Indeed, The Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum is just another reason we are High Point Proud!
