Houston YPs Energize Kids

June, 2010 – Houston’s summer heat didn’t stop SPE’s Gulf Coast Section young professionals (YPs) from teaching students engineering concepts. A group of ten volunteers participated in family night at the Houston Children’s Museum on June 10th. Admission to the museum was free for both parents and kids for this event, resulting in a great turnout for a weeknight during summer vacation.

Teams of the SPE-GCS volunteers worked in one hour shifts in three parts of the museum.  Kids and parents learned about molecules and physical properties in the “Matter Factory”. Various kinds of forces and engineering machines were explored in the “Building Zone” and the “How Does it Work” exhibits.  Surface tension and a pressure versus density exercises were demonstrated at the “Experiment Bench.”

This was not a one-time outreach for these energetic volunteers. Throughout the year, they have educated youth on math, science, engineering and energy during the Houston Children’s Museum Invention Convention, a Girl Scout science and engineering badge day at Rice University, Houston’s Elves and More Bike Build, volunteer day at the Houston Arboretum, and a Boy Scout merit badge day. They also participated in six high school career fairs. All this in the last year!

Last February, the young professionals visited with Girl Scouts at GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) held at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The museum’s Grand Hall and permanent exhibit halls were filled with hands-on science and math activities. The SPE volunteers demonstrated the Energy4me Kit and talked with girls about engineering careers in the energy industry.