GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Kids will get a hands-on experience with all things STEAM this weekend at John Ball Zoo.
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. In an effort to get kids thinking about these topics and how they connect, John Ball Zoo is partnering with other organizations to put on STEAM Day at the Zoo.
This event offers activity stations that focus on STEAM topics. Kids can try out different instruments with the Grand Rapids Symphony, check out an interactive art display from the Ice Guru, learn about robotics and more.
While some activities center around animals—like feeding chimps and penguins and chatting with a pygmy hippo keeper—many center around other areas of STEAM.
Nick Milbratz, assistant manager of guest programs, said having a variety of activities was intentional to show how they intersect.
"We want to be kind of that connection with the community, because all of those things really do link together really well," he said. "And we want to celebrate education and educators."
Milbratz said STEAM Day at the Zoo gives kids a chance to see that STEAM topics can be interesting and fun, and how they can be used in their careers.
"I think there's been a long history of maybe sometimes science and technology can kind of be boring or hard to access, difficult to access, but it's really when you explore the fun ways to enter into those fields, it really just helps create that next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, artists and really those things working together is what just creates that better, brighter future for all of us," Milbratz said.
Teachers with a valid photo ID can get free admission to the event, and Milbratz said organizers would love to see teachers incorporating some of the hands-on activities into their curriculums.
STEAM Day at the Zoo is Saturday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is included with general admission. To see a full list of events and to get your tickets in advance, click here.
