The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, Center of Science and Industry and NASA’s Glenn Research Center are working together to distribute Learning Lunchboxes and meals to Lorain County youth.
The groups distributed the lunchboxes filled with hands-on science, technology, engineering and math activities Aug. 28 at Ely Elementary, 312 Gulf Road in Elyria.
Catherine Graves, STEM integration manager for the Glenn Research Center, said this age range is the time students begin to make decisions about future careers.
“We want to capture their curiosity and inspiration while they’re young,” Graves said. “We want them to know that these opportunities are possible and careers are available.
“If they do like space exploration, they can stay here in Northeast Ohio and work at NASA Glenn.”
NASA’s Artemis Learning Lunchboxes aim to inspire youth and families by highlighting the diversity of STEM efforts as well as the upcoming Artemis missions, which include landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon and preparing for human exploration of Mars.
The initiative is made possible through NASA’s Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions program.
The event also kicked off the Boys & Girls Club branch at Ely Elementary during the first day of programming for the new school year.
Jeff Haynes, regional area director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, said the organization is excited about the opportunity for students to learn.
“It’s fun because this isn’t the typical first day of club for most students,” Haynes said. “The benefit of us being a part of the larger organization is that we’re able to have partnerships like this and create new experiences for our kids.
“We’re keeping some of the boxes here to do programming within the near future so we can continue to expose them to STEM and hopefully spark their interest.”
COSI and NASA employees and volunteers distributed the Learning Lunchboxes for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, along with hundreds of meals to community members.
Eight NASA scientists, engineers and professionals led STEM activities with students including simulating clouds.
Abigail Rodriguez, Elyria resident and NASA safety engineer, said she chose to volunteer to demonstrate representation.
“I live in Elyria, so it was really important for me to be here,” Rodriguez said. “Kids being able to see someone that looks like them being in a role like this is important and allows them to see that it’s not just a dream but an achievable reality.
“I came from Puerto Rico’s public school system and achieved my dream of becoming an engineer and working for NASA. So, I want to let the kids know that it doesn’t matter their background, because their dreams are achievable if they put the effort in.”
