Library STEM Days present enjoyable studying alternatives for youngsters in Southeast Ohio

What do Hex Bugs, foldable microscopes and Play-Doh have in widespread? Each had been used within the 2025 Library STEM Days that Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service conducts each summer season, teaming with libraries in Scioto, Ross, Pike and Jackson counties in Southeast Ohio.

More than 50 youngsters attended every session, which included studying about engineering design processes, electrical circuitry and power. The funds for the Summer STEM days come from an ongoing grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, which funds the School’s PORTSfuture Program, in addition to from the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation as a part of its Growing STEM in Appalachia program. 

“DOE and AEP funding enables us to provide valuable opportunities for kids – our future workforce – to become engaged in the science, technology, engineering and math fields as early as possible to begin to prepare them for jobs in these fields,” famous Stephanie Howe, director of power applications at Voinovich School.

The Voinovich School STEM outreach to every of the 4 counties started a number of years in the past with a desk on the native county honest, the place attendees may play video games like pH Bingo and different hands-on actions that helped promote STEM engagement. For this summer season, the Voinovich School continues to emphasise making this system as experiential and hands-on as doable.

“Libraries serve as a vital resource for the community, and many, like Jackson, have very active summer programs,” says Jen Bowman, director of environmental applications on the Voinovich School. “And it’s important to have educational experiences that are free.”

The summer season actions are enjoyable for youngsters in Southeast Ohio and so they present vital studying alternatives.

“The weekly summer STEM activities, provided by faculty from the Voinovich School, were a wonderful opportunity for children to keep their minds active and curious,” says Jon Simmons of the Jackson County Library. “Just because a child is on summer break, doesn’t mean their mind has to stop learning.”