Et cetera : Science Experiments Abound for AmeriCorps NCCC Team Cedar 5

NCCC Member Tyler prepares a bubble solution with third and fourth graders during Slime Time class

By: Caitlin Greig

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team Cedar 5 has spent the past three weeks working at the Science Station Summer Camp at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids, IA. Their work with the Science Station has given them the opportunity to mentor and play with children aged four to twelve years old while encouraging an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

For the past three weeks, NCCC Members have taken turns working with different age levels and getting in front of classes teaching as well as doing the behind the scenes work of snack preparation, curriculum writing, and marketing for the Science Station Summer Camp. This has given them an incredible opportunity to explore their interest in working with youth in the future, something several members have expressed an interest in throughout their service year.

The members of Cedar 5 have been working sixty hour workweeks but no complaints have been heard about the long days required by the project. Despite the lack of time, several members still took time out of their weekend on August 6 to do a few hours of work in Vinton aiding in the continuing clean-up after the July 11 storm that tore up many trees all over town. Once they finish with their project at the Science Station, the team looks forward to aiding another town in need and pushing forward with their mission of getting things done for America.